Kelli Kline Mayhew, MAI, SRA

2025 has been a tumultuous year for the Appraisal Institute, yet the North Carolina chapter has accomplished much to be proud of and has many reasons to be grateful. Your executive officers and board of directors met their every responsibility - and every challenge - with grace, professionalism, and a steadfast commitment to steering this chapter in a positive direction. Your committee chairs executed their responsibilities with enthusiasm, creativity, and an eye toward strategically building opportunities for service to you, the members, in 2026 and beyond.

In particular, I would like to thank Shep Overton, MAI, who as Chair of the Government Relations Committee, was called to lead our effort to address multiple bills introduced into the NC Senate in March of this year. The GRC team put together a fantastic effort that included a legislative lobbying day in Raleigh, hiring a lobbyist to represent our interests, negotiating with other stakeholders, and ultimately collaborating on a piece of legislation that ensures the implementation of PAREA curriculum in North Carolina for licensed and certified residential appraisers beginning in January of 2026.

Your leadership team also worked together to host four in-person quarterly meetings in cities across our beautiful state – making it possible for more members to join us than we have seen since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been such a pleasure to see so many friendly, familiar faces again. One thing that became apparent from these meetings is that we have missed each other. We missed the camaraderie, the networking, and the opportunity to celebrate together more often. I would like to recognize the hard work put in by our Executive Officers as they planned these events. I tasked each of them with taking on one of the quarterly meetings and creating something wonderful for us in their home cities. And they sure delivered.

In Charlotte, Erica Butler, MAI, sandwiched our first quarter meeting between a new two-day educational conference focused on litigation and law as it applies to the appraisal world. The Valuation Law Symposium featured homegrown education developed by our instructor, Josh Wood, JD, MAI, AI-GRS, and the first offering in the nation of Fair Value, Market Value and Fair Market Value, developed by the Appraisal Institute. The symposium included a Q&A session between our instructor and Appraisal Institute 2025 President Paula K. Konikoff, MAI, AI-GRS, on the subject of appraisers in arbitration and mediation. Both the symposium and the chapter meeting were a huge success, and set the stage for a great year of gatherings and education.

In High Point, Brian Crowder, MAI, SRA, created a series of events that wowed our attendees in the second quarter. The board meeting was held in one of the conference rooms of the gorgeous Congdon Yards development. Attendees of the chapter business meeting were treated to a private tour of Congdon Yards and heard from five featured speakers during the meeting:

• Megan Oglesby, a member of the Congdon family and the owner of the Carolina Core FC soccer team spoke about the journey to redevelop Congdon Yards, what it meant to her family and to the community, and about becoming a female owner of a professional soccer team.
• Christi Barbour of Barbour Spangle Design spoke to us about the power of design, particularly in the redevelopment of historic buildings like Congdon Yards.
• Alex Field of DeLille & Field Commercial Real Estate discussed how Congdon Yards was positioned and leased in the High Point market, and how it has impacted revitalization in the surrounding downtown area.
• Jon Hardister of Elevation Strategies and Scott DiBiasio, Director of Government Affairs for the Appraisal Institute gave an update on the impact of our legislative day in May and the status of multiple pending bills.

We capped the night off with dinner, drinks, and a Carolina Core FC soccer game in Truist Point Stadium. This event was our most attended quarterly meeting, and we definitely had a great time.

In the third quarter, Laura Gourlay, MAI, AI-GRS, created an event that allowed us to help support the recovery of Asheville after the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene. Vic Isley, President & CEO of Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, was our featured speaker during the chapter business meeting. She shared stunning insights into the recovery and resilience of western North Carolina following the storm, and highlighted how communities in the area have pulled together to support their collective regional economy. The third quarter board of directors meeting and chapter business meeting was paired with an offering of Business Practice & Ethics, taught by our very own John Bosworth, MAI, SRA.

For the fourth quarter, President Elect Greyson Morgan, MAI, has put together a great line up of speakers to help us kick off our end of year celebrations and the installation of the 2026 leadership team in Greenville, NC. Appraisal Institute 2025 President Paula K. Konikoff, MAI, AI-GRS, will be back to give us an update on current events with AI national and to install our new officers. Jon Hardister will be joining us to give a legislative update for 2025 and an overview of what we can achieve in 2026. NC House Representative Dr. Tim Reeder will also be joining us as a featured speaker to address how the NC chapter can be more effective in building relationships, and influencing the legislative initiatives that impact the appraisal profession at the state level. We will also announce the winners of the first ever chapter awards! The process of accepting nominations and selecting the winners was an extremely moving and heartwarming process for the Chapter Awards Committee and we cannot wait to tell you more about the amazing work the winners have done on your behalf. The fourth quarter event will be held at the Brook Valley Country Club, where Greyson has planned a night of dinner, drinks, fellowship, and celebration for all of us.

I hope you will join us this week in Greenville, NC ~ it’s not too late to register! And, I hope you will join us as often as you can next year, as our leadership team puts together new and exciting events for you. One of the events currently in the planning stages includes a first ever WIN conference that is scheduled to take place in conjunction with our first quarter meeting in March. The planning team for that event includes Vanessa Hall, MAI, AI-GRS, who is also Chair of the national WIN committee. Vanessa has been working closely with our chapter WIN Committee Chair Linda Nelson and other members of our leadership team to plan the conference. NCAI initiated the creation of the Region V WIN Speaker Series to help market the upcoming conference. NCAI hosted the series launch with a presentation by Sara Bronin of National Zoning Atlas on December 4th. The event was made possible by a successful application for a Chapter Innovation Grant, which covered the speaker fee and all expenses, allowing NCAI to offer the event for free for all 147 attendees. The event drew participation from AI members across the country, members of NAR, CCIM’s, NCPAC, BREAC-NC, as well as students/faculty from UNC-Charlotte, UNC-Chapel Hill, NCCU, CPCC, Fayetteville State University, Appalachian State University, and UNLV. 

I would be remiss if I did not mention the continuing success of our REVC events this year, and every year. REVC continues to be our premiere educational offering, generating the most attendees and highest net revenue for the chapter. This year, the commercial and residential planning committees did a phenomenal job drawing speakers to cover the topics that matter to you. This year, I tasked both teams with a challenge to seek new speakers, fresh perspectives, and new topics. The planning committees exceeded my every expectation, and provided us with a high quality event rivaling that of any other educational opportunity available to appraisers anywhere in the country.

In 2025, NCAI offered 18 hours of homegrown continuing education credit, covering unique topics and containing content our members could not get anywhere else. The quality and content of NCAI-developed education is second only to the gold standard set by the Appraisal Institute. I encourage you to support your chapter by taking NCAI educational offerings as often as possible. Our financial success allows us to serve our members more. Help us help you.

While our national organization and other chapters struggle with member retention, NCAI membership is growing! Eight (8) NCAI members have earned a designation in 2025, and five existing Associate members have moved into the Candidate for Designation status, an excellent indication of more designated members to come in 2026. We attracted 22 new Associate and Affiliate members and three (3) Student Affiliate members in 2025.

Earlier this year, as our national organization struggled, I reached out to remind you that the value of the Appraisal Institute and the credibility of our designations are not derived from our national leadership or our governance structure. Our professional credibility and collective value come from our members. Never forget that the Appraisal Institute exists because of you and your commitment to its ideals.

We thrive as a team. We succeed because you care enough to participate. In 2026, I challenge each of you to be present, for yourselves, your peers, and your profession. Let 2026 be the year that you attend at least one meeting and sign up for at least one NCAI course. Join us as NCAI moves forward together as a team with an unfaltering commitment to uplifting our profession.

It has been my great honor to serve as your President in 2025. Thank you for your faith and your support.