Dear Chapter Members and Colleagues,

It’s hard to believe that we are already halfway through the year, though I do welcome the summer weather. I hope that everyone is finding some time away from work to recharge and enjoy our New England summer months with friends and family.

I would like to start off by thanking our leadership team and committee members as they work effortlessly to promote education, advocacy, and networking opportunities for real estate appraisers across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maine. If you haven’t read the headlines, our very own Lianne Andreucci was recently inducted into the MBREA Hall of Fame. Please join me in congratulating Lianne for this achievement and well-deserved recognition of her work in supporting our profession.

I’m proud to report that we have designated three MAIs and one AI-RRS year-to-date. Congratulations to our recently designated members, Stephanie Hitchings, AI-RRS, Andrew Van Hazinga, MAI, Matthew Santos, MAI and Richard Bernklow, MAI, SRA. Achieving these designations is such a milestone on our careers and will continue to set us apart from our competition. We have also welcomed five new Practicing or Student Affiliates to our Chapter. Please join me in getting behind these professionals to support their growth within our profession.

Looking forward, we have some excellent offerings to round out the second half of the year as we continue to focus on providing valuable resources and opportunities for our members to enhance their skills, expand their knowledge, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. We are having some fun too; I hope to see everyone at the Portland Seadogs game in August. And of course, our Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) continues to gain momentum, led by Tina O’Connell, MAI, AI-GRS.

Lastly, I want to recognize our current market environment. Not only is it one of the more challenging market environments from a market valuation standpoint, but it is also the most prolonged and choppy cycle that I have experienced over my 20-year career.  As members of the Appraisal Institute, we are part of a prestigious organization that upholds the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and expertise in the field of real estate valuation.

These virtues are at the foundation of the services we provide and are often put under a microscope in more challenging economics climates. Our education offerings, standards and community are what give us the tools to meet the needs of the market and remain strong as a profession.

I encourage all members to actively participate in our chapter activities, share their expertise, and contribute to the collective success of our community. Together, we elevate the appraisal profession, foster professional growth, and make a positive impact on the real estate industry throughout our region and beyond.

 

Zach Bowyer, MAI, is the 2024 president of the Massachusetts, Rhode Island & Maine Chapter of the Appraisal Institute and Senior Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield in Boston, MA