President’s Message

February 2016

President’s Message –  Spring 2016

Welcome to the new Rio Grande Chapter Website! It has been a long process getting this new template designed and set up. I believe it will be a useful tool connecting our chapter with the national Appraisal Institute website. Please let me know if there is anything you would like to see or add to the site as it has many capabilities.

Connecting members is one of our primary goals of the Appraisal Institute (AI Connect was the trademark theme of the National Convention in Dallas this past year). As incoming chapter president, connecting members will be my chapter goal.

My first connection with the appraisal business began soon after being hired straight out of college in a large appraisal firm in Des Moines, IA. At that time, all of the appraisers in the firm were members or candidates of one or both the Appraisal Institute predecessor organizations, the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers (AIREA) or the Society of Real Estate Appraisers. Within weeks, I was encouraged to attend our local chapter meetings. Unlike our meetings now centered around classroom education, meetings then were more social events. Our favored meeting venue was in downtown Des Moines’ infamous Babe’s Italian restaurant. Babe Bisignano opened the restaurant in the late 1930s with the added feature of a back-mezzanine “speak-easy” to circumvent strict post-prohibition liquor laws that did not allow selling liquor by the drink. To reach the speak easy, you would pass through the formal restaurant, down a hall into the kitchen, then slip through red velvet curtains to a door leading up a staircase into a large banquet hall featuring red leather booths, gilded-felt wallpaper, heavy shag carpeting, a dark mahogany bar and wrought iron stained glass chandeliers but no windows – a scene straight out of The Godfather.

The evening was centered on social conversation, a fine diner, bourbon and cigars, with a chapter meeting to make it official. As a young rookie, I was at first intimidated by this first generation of appraisers but they ultimately welcomed me into their group. Soon, I was able to connect with the best of the profession, both men and women, who guided me through the complexities of this business or competed with me. These connections served me for years especially when in need of advice on challenging property assignments or when working in other communities. I believe without my association with the chapter, I would have never been successful in this business.

Upon moving to New Mexico, I found the same friendly connectivity with members of our chapter, accepting me as an outsider and readily advising me on the unique quirks of appraising in New Mexico, especially my Spanish translation. I found the same connection with other appraisers by my participation as a regional representative at the Region VIII meetings and more recently at the National Convention in Dallas.

Even with all the changes over the years in the profession, such as the AI merger, adoption of USPAP, state certification, advances in computer technology, Internet, and economic swings, the fundamental purpose of the Appraisal Institute chapter still keeps us connected on the same page. I believe this connection with members, both seasoned and new, is still important in keeping this business professional, in terms of quality education, quality work and quality people. I encourage everyone to reach out to members, perhaps new faces you don’t know. I am sure they would greatly appreciate the connection you can give them, making an impression that may last for years.

I would like to thank my past-president, Meg Randall, MAI, and the rest of the chapter leadership for their efforts in keeping this organization running smoothly. I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve this organization and look forward to connection with everyone.

Bruce R. Gunderson, MAI

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Bruce Gunderson, MAI