Dear Members,

As I write my fourth and final President’s Message, my hope is still that each of you and your families are staying healthy and safe.

As this year draws to a thankful close, I want to tell you what a privilege it has been to serve as your Chapter President in 2020.  It has not been what I imagined when I agreed to serve in this capacity, to be sure, but an honor just the same. 

One of the things I was most looking forward to in my year as President, was connecting with our members across the great state of Tennessee and beyond at our chapter, region, and national meetings.   COVID-19 made that impossible.  Instead, a different reality emerged.  It was a reality consisting of emails, conference calls, texts and many a ZOOM meeting!  While it was not what I expected, it has certainly been a learning experience and likely one I will never forget.  I have leaned heavily on my fellow chapter officers, board members, as well as, Myra Pitts, Executive Director.  I will always be grateful for them as they each played an instrumental role in keeping our AI message on course, on time and always in the best interest of our membership.

I also want to recognize and personally thank the members of our education committee, Seth Rohling, MAI, AI-GRS; Ben Sellers, MAI; and Andy Crook, as they continue to make the hard decisions involving our class schedule for 2020 and now 2021. 

Making these education decisions is especially difficult in a state like Tennessee where “in-person” education is still required in many cases; but becomes a very challenging endeavor when trying to balance state restrictions regarding COVID and the health and safety of our instructors and students.  In extraordinary circumstances, our education committee has persevered and done their best to project the needs of our members and appraisers across the state. 

The year 2021 is looking to be a great bounce back year!  The TN Chapter will be back in full swing with all in-person qualifying education classes as well as an extensive list of virtual continuing education options.  Please bookmark our chapter’s website, tnappraiser.org. It remains the most efficient place to view our most up-to-date education schedule all in one place and at any time.  Registrations links for next year are also available to you all now!

A huge congratulations are in order to all the members who obtained their AI designations in 2020.  This is quite the accomplishment in a most unusual time.

On a regional level, I would like to recognize and thank Mike Tankersley, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, AI-RRS for his service as Chairman.  He has certainly represented TN and Region IX well over the last few years, and I feel certain we will continue to see great things from him. 

The TN Chapter will be holding our fourth quarter board and general membership meetings via ZOOM on December 10th, 2020.  I hope many of you plan to attend by registering HERE.  We will conduct our installation of officers for 2021.  In addition, we will hold our annual silent auction virtually. The funds from this auction will be used to fund our Leadership Development & Advisory Council (LDAC) attendees next year.  All items will be available on the website in advance of the meeting.  Please stay tuned to your inboxes as more information will be forthcoming on how to participate.

I wish our new leadership team the best in 2021.  Incoming president, Steven Goodpaster, MAI, MRE, is a thoughtful, energetic, all-inclusive driving force.  I cannot imagine anyone better suited for me to pass the baton to in this uncertain time.  I am confident that our membership and board will enjoy working with him immensely.

My thoughts and prayers will be with each of you and your families during the holiday season.  Stay safe and please wear your mask!

Sincerely,

Murray W. Huber RM, CRP
2020 Tennessee Chapter President

The TN Chapter’s Installation of Officers and Q4 Chapter Meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, December 10th, 2020 via ZOOM.

Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Central

Incoming National Appraisal Institute President Rodman Schley, MAI, SRA will be in attendance to install the officers for 2021 and give a brief State of the Appraisal Institute Update.

Other chapter business will include the presentation of our annual awards and a virtual silent auction.  Some fabulous items have been donated and, as usual, many of them will make great Christmas gifts! 

Additional information will be forthcoming on how to submit your bids, so please stay tuned to your inboxes. 

We hope many of you can join us.

*Please note that you must register HERE to attend this meeting. 

The ZOOM link will be sent to all registered attendees 1 day before the meeting.

• *A camera is not required to attend this meeting.  You will be able to join using your laptop  - OR - by phone.
• *No CE credit is available for attending this meeting.

Please contact Executive Director Myra Pitts with questions.

The TN Chapter of the Appraisal Institute has the following continuing education opportunities remaining in 2020: 

December 14th - Ignorance Isn’t Bliss: Understanding an Investigation by a State Appraiser Regulatory Board or Agency (4 hrs)                    8 AM - 12 PM Central Time,                    Instructor: Jim Atwood, SRA

December 14th - Litigation Assignments for Residential Appraisers: Doing Expert Work on Atypical Cases | (4hrs)                                              1 PM - 5 PM Central Time,                      Instructor: Steve Roach, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SCHEDULE FOR 2021

The chapter will continue to offer virtual continuing education throughout 2021. 

However, all qualifying education will be held in person at the Nashville School of Law located at 4013 Armory Oaks Drive in Nashville.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, extra precautions will be in place to ensure the health and safety of our students, instructors, and staff.

The classrooms there are large and can hold 40-50 people, all safely socially distanced.  Additionally, masks are required to be worn in all public areas of the building, and no outside food or drink is allowed currently (with the exception of bringing in your own water bottle).

We are optimistic about students being willing and ready to get back into the classroom next year.  We feel confident in our ability to host our in-person education safely and sufficiently in 2021.

Additional virtual, CE opportunities will be added throughout the year as they become available. 

As always, you may visit our local chapter website tnappraiser.org at any time to see a complete list of all classes and events. 

Please contact Executive Director Myra Pitts with questions. 

The Bert L. Thornton President’s Award is given at the President’s discretion to a person(s) who is:

• committed to the organization
• currently engaged in its activities
• an effective spokesperson
• representative at all times
• and in touch with both the needs of other AI professionals and the changes that the organization must help its AI professionals to meet.

Esteemed Tennessee Chapter Member, Leslie P. Sellers, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, was awarded the aforementioned "President's Award" in 2020.

Sellers is principal appraiser and owner of Sellers & Associates Valuation & Advisory Services in Clinton, Tennessee, and holds a B.S. degree in Real Estate and Urban Development from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. An active real estate appraiser, broker, and developer since 1973, Sellers’ other work experience has been in the development of office complexes, multi-family residential, industrial and single-family subdivisions through another company he owns, Sellers Land and Development Company LLC in Clinton, Tennessee.

He is a long-standing member of the Appraisal Institute education faculty, and has taught real estate valuation courses and seminars for the Appraisal Institute, in 19 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Kuwait and the People’s Republic of China. He has served as chair of the Appraisal Institute Body of Knowledge Committee, the Professional Standards and Guidance Committee, the International Relations Committee and serves on the International Valuation Standards Council Advisory Group. He is an author and co-author on many seminars and has acted as a reviewer on Appraisal Institute courses, seminars and publications. Sellers was an author-contributor to the 14th edition of “The Appraisal of Real Estate” textbook and the “Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal,” 6th edition. He was the recipient of the Appraisal Institute Life Achievement Award in 2018 and the Appraisal Institute Education and Relief Foundation Dr. William Kinnard, Jr. Award in 2019.

He has testified before U. S. Congress and presented to the United Nations on real estate valuation, and has served as a resource in the national press for stories in CNBC, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and numerous other publications. He also was appointed in 2011 by the International Valuations Standards Council to their Advisory Working Group and has served in that capacity to-date.

The TN Chapter would like to offer congratulations to the following members who earned designations in 2020. 

It takes a lot of hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and time to achieve this professional goal. We wish you much continued success in the future.

Gary Easterly, SRA

Mike Walsh, SRA 

John Talbert, MAI 

Mark Abbotoy, MAI, SRA 

Richard Neu, MAI 

Kurt Stieghan, SRA 

Mike Tankersley, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, AI-RRS

Eric L. Boozer, MAI, AI-GRS 

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