Appraisers On Purpose

Before the bubble burst, someone had to sign off on the value. In this episode of Appraisers on Purpose, Matt Jenkins reveals a surprising truth: your appraisal doesn't end when you hit "send."With over two decades of experience scaling appraisal firms and navigating capital markets, Matt shares how appraisers are more than form-fillers, they’re critical contributors in high-stakes f...

He walked away from burnout and built a career that saves both communities and dinner time. In this powerful episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” Eric Roman shares how a soul-crushing moment at the dinner table pushed him to rethink everything. What followed was a complete career transformation from burnout in fee-split chaos to purpose-driven work in the public sector. Eric now appraises propertie...

Two appraisals. One property. $8 million apart. That kind of gap didn’t just raise eyebrows, it helped break the system in 2008.In this episode of Appraisers on Purpose, Ken De Feo pulls back the curtain on the wild inconsistencies in appraisal during the lead-up to the financial crisis and why some of those same risks are still lurking today. Ken has seen it all: subprime chaos, default servicing...

She started as a researcher. She ended up leading appraisal quality across the Americas. In this uplifting episode of Appraisers on Purpose, Becci Curry shares how curiosity not credentials can be the key to building an extraordinary career in appraisal. Becci didn’t follow a traditional path. From helping her dad with legal descriptions at 11, to becoming Chief Appraiser at 35 while raising two k...

Brent doesn’t chase clients anymore, he outlasted the collapse, and now they chase him. In this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” expert appraiser Brent Henry shares how a career he never planned for became a path to leadership, credibility, and legacy in the valuation world. Brought into the profession by family tradition, Brent started by holding the measuring tape, but ended up building appra...

Appraisals pay the bills. Vision builds the business. In this episode of Appraisers on Purpose, David Ziccardi shares how an ill-timed investment during the 2008 crash sparked a bigger journey, one that led from doing reports to running a real business. David doesn’t just talk about appraisals—he talks about building a career that scales. From working under four supervisors just to get certified,...

What if the most important kind of appraisal is the one you’ve never heard of? In this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” Bwembya Chikolwa shines a light on one of the appraisal world’s best-kept secrets: unitary appraisal—the valuation of sprawling, network-heavy assets like railroads, pipelines, and telecom infrastructure. Far from obscure, this niche is essential—yet few appraisers even know i...

Can appraisers shape the future or are they stuck reacting to it? Chris Williams has an answer. In this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” tech-savvy appraiser and valuation innovator Chris Williams flips the script on what it means to be an appraiser in today’s world of rapid transformation. Chris doesn’t see AI, MISMO, or modernization as threats. He sees them as building blocks. With a unique...

Want to write better reports? Start by reading the worst ones. In this episode of Appraisers on Purpose, Matt Cowan shares an unexpected truth: the path to becoming a better appraiser often starts with reviewing the worst of our industry. Matt’s journey spanning hurricane zones, forensic reviews, and modernization pilots proves that chaos isn’t something to fear; it’s something to grow through. Wh...

What do Fannie Mae, a rock band, and the 2008 crash have in common?

Technology won’t replace appraisers, but appraisers who use tech will. In this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” longtime industry insider Greg Ritter pulls back the curtain on a powerful truth: appraisers don’t have to stay in the field to make an impact they can help shape the future of the industry itself. Greg shares how his journey from residential appraising in Florida to managing valuatio...

When’s the last time someone reviewed your work? In this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” longtime reviewer and appraiser Susan Alley challenges the traditional path into the profession and offers a surprising alternative. Having reviewed thousands of reports from appraisers across the country, Susan believes that most appraisers are flying solo and that’s exactly the problem. Isolation breeds...

What if the key to a 40-year career in appraisal isn’t grinding harder but thinking smarter? In this inspiring episode of Appraisers on Purpose , industry veteran Scott Voltz shares how he built a lasting, trusted appraisal practice through bold focus, investor-level thinking, and a deep belief in showing up when it matters most. Scott didn’t chase every assignment or market trend. He built a care...

He stepped into appraisal during the 2008 crash—and stayed to lead. In this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” Danyl Collings proves that you don’t have to be born into the appraisal world to thrive in it. Starting in public relations and real estate sales, Danyl stepped into the industry during the 2008 financial collapse—managing a team before he was even certified. Instead of faking his way th...

From NASA to potato farms, Glen Kemp’s career proves that no path in real estate appraisal is ever straight, but it can still lead somewhere meaningful. In this inspiring episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” Glen Kemp reminds us that resilience often matters more than perfection. Across four decades in commercial real estate appraisal, Glen has seen it all — dairy farms disguised as grazing land, h...

From Seal Beach to $30M Estates: How MJ Carroll Built a Career on Curiosity, Mentorship, and GritIn this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” veteran appraiser MJ Carroll proves that you don’t need to have it all figured out to build a long, successful career—you just need to stay curious. MJ started his journey as a bank teller in Southern California. A few decades (and thousands of inspections) l...

From barges to bayous, how one riverboat captain built a thriving appraisal firm through heart, hustle, and local trust. In this episode of Appraisers on Purpose, we sit down with respected appraiser Joseph Mier, whose 30-year journey into the profession began in the most unlikely of places, the deck of a riverboat. Joseph shares how the decision to leave life on the water wasn’t just a career cha...

When a bad appraisal cost him big, Bruce Jones didn’t get mad, he got in the game. In this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” Bruce Jones shares how a single flawed appraisal sparked a career change, and a mission. After years as a successful broker, Bruce hit a wall: a refinance on a multifamily property was nearly derailed by a wildly inaccurate appraisal. But instead of walking away, he asked...

“UAD 3.6 isn’t the end of the form, it’s the beginning of a smarter process.” In this special episode of Appraisers on Purpose, guests Matthew Hyatt, Hansel Dobbs, and Gynell Vestal come together to break down what may be the biggest transformation in residential appraisal since the 1004 form was first introduced. Forget fear, this trio sees UAD 3.6 not as a burden, but as an invitation to evolve....

Big careers are built by those willing to take off, not just taxi. In this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” Rick Sagoo shares a powerful truth: thriving in real estate isn't about having a perfect plan — it’s about having the courage to take action. From chasing aviation dreams in London to building a career in appraisal through a $100 bet, Rick’s story is a testament to resilience, curiosi...

From Sharks to Square Footage: How Harrison Kennedy Turned Underwater Grit into Appraisal Clarity In this inspiring episode of Appraisers on Purpose, Harrison Kennedy shares an unexpected origin story—from tagging great white sharks as a freediving videographer to becoming a rising real estate appraisal professional. But it’s not just a career change. It’s a mindset shift. Harrison brings lessons...

What does it take to grow from local appraiser to national leader? Chad Barker’s story might just change how you see your future. In this episode of Appraisers on Purpose , we sit down with Chad Barker — an appraiser who proves that thinking big isn’t reserved for Silicon Valley. Chad began like many of us: no real estate background, just a degree in finance and a chance meeting that led him into...

What if appraisers—not economists—were the true experts in housing markets? Jonathan Miller thinks it’s time we embraced that. In this episode of Appraisers on Purpose , veteran appraiser and market analyst Jonathan Miller shares a refreshing perspective: the appraisal profession has more power—and more potential—than most of us realize. Jonathan doesn’t just value properties—he tells the story of...

He built an appraisal empire from scratch—without an MLS, fancy tools, or even a clear roadmap. In this episode of Appraisers on Purpose, legendary New York appraiser Jonathan Miller reveals how he turned chaos into clarity—and built a long-lasting business in one of the most complicated real estate markets in the world. While most professionals wait for better tools or more structure, Jonathan di...

What can appraisers learn from a physicist who sees the mortgage industry as a hidden coral reef? In our latest “Appraisers on Purpose” podcast episode, entrepreneur and former physicist Vincent Chu reveals a powerful truth: the appraisal industry isn’t small—it’s part of a trillion-dollar ecosystem hiding in plain sight. Vincent explains how appraisers are critical players in this complex system,...