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The American Guild of Appraisers
The voice of the professional appraiser, protecting the public interest

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight

Leo:  Please tell me about your experience in the appraiser industry? Why did you come into
the profession?

Lori:  My initial exposure to the industry was in high school when I worked as an office
assistant at a local appraisal firm. A few years later, I asked my appraiser boss for an
apprenticeship, and I’ve been involved in the industry ever since. That was 17 years ago,
and today I’m currently working toward my certified general credentials. I enjoy
problem solving, independence, and the outdoors, so appraising in southern West
Virginia fit my career ambitions very well.


Leo:  Please tell me if your expectations of the industry have been satisfied. Are there areas
in the profession that have been gratifying? What would you like to see improved?

Lori:  I have to admit, the past 8 years were quite revealing and I often reflect on the
significance of “Too Big to Fail”. I strongly believe the financial collapse was completely
avoidable had the powers to be acknowledged the appraiser’s words of warning early
on.
That being said, there’s room for improvement in our profession; I believe working
together takes us in the right direction. Although HVCC has long since retired, we’re still
weeding our way through the interference it caused. Today, appraisers address the
additional costs and time expenditures created by Dodd-Frank, UAD formatting, and the
added layers of unregulated client specific guidelines that generate an entirely new and
often unnecessarily (costly) dynamic.
A positive note is West Virginia joined the ranks of dozens of other states passing AMC
Regulation and Registration this 2013 legislative session. Several critical issues are
covered in the Bill that protects appraisers and consumers from unregulated, third-party
interferences. It’s one more step toward improvement and goes into effect July 1, 2014.


Leo:  Would you recommend the Professional Appraiser industry to someone looking for a
good profession to enter?

Lori:  Appraising is a rewarding profession on so many levels and I’d most definitely
recommend it as a career. From a mentoring aspect, it’s an appraiser’s right of passage
to pass the torch with dignity to the next generation. Appraising is unique in that
studying and practicing appraising involves an ongoing training and mentoring platform.
In other words, regardless of credentials, we never stop learning. It’s ideal for
individuals who prefer an evolving career.


Leo:  Please name your coalition and tell me about how the coalition has helped you
personally and influenced the industry in general.

Lori:  The West Virginia Council of Appraiser Professionals (WVCAP) organized in October
2012 as a grass roots effort to provide appraisers representation as stakeholders in the
AMC legislative process. Our mission is to represent all appraisers in West Virginia with a
united voice through non-partisan communication with other appraisal organizations,
other business related organizations, legislative bodies, and government agencies.
WVCAP coordinates communications for appraisers with emphasis on education for
appraisers as well as the public. There are so many impressionable and talented
appraisers across the state with experience and knowledge to share. The professional
networking is priceless with benefits still unfolding.


Leo:  Please tell me about your experience with/in the AGA? Why do you think it is
important to be a member of AGA? What do you feel are our priorities for continuing to
improve quality, service and making the Appraisal Profession stronger in the industry?

Lori:  The most receptive aspect of the AGA is the message of how meaningful appraisers are
to the industry, but more importantly their motivation to reflect the benefits of our
importance to the consumer. Being a member allows me as an individual, and our
profession as a whole, to have the ear of the consumer when it comes to any industry
changes or dynamics.
The most important priority for appraisers is to protect the public trust. We do this by
defining our profession, and identifying the outside influencers, regardless of their size,
from defining the profession for us. We certainly share the message that neutrality is
essential for market successes and that without that neutrality, nothing works.