The Burt 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.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an AI professional who best demonstrates high ethical standards; contributed to the Appraisal Institute at the chapter, regional, national and/or international level(s); provided service to his or her community; and contributed to the appraisal profession. A minimum of 20 years of service is recommended to be eligible for this award.

The Outstanding Service Award is presented to an AI professional who has contributed ideas, service hours and dedication to ensure a specific program or effort is implemented at either the chapter, region, national and/or international level(s). This AI professional must be instrumental to the success of the program or effort, which also must be far enough along to measure and provide proof of success. Additionally, the program or effort must be beneficial to chapters, regions, national, international, designated members, candidates, affiliates, practicing affiliates and/or the profession.

Contact Joan Barngrover (JBarngrover@appraisalinstitute.org) with any questions.

2016 Burt L. Thornton President’s Award Winners

M. Lance Coyle, MAI, SRA

Lance Coyle currently serves as immediate past president of the Appraisal Institute. He was the 2015 president of the Appraisal Institute and at the end of this year will complete four years on the Executive Committee.

Coyle has been a member of the AI national Board of Directors and has served as president of the North Texas Chapter. He also has served as chair of the Appraisal Institute’s Education Committee and as chair of AI’s Strategic Planning Committee. He was a reviewer of two Appraisal Institute books, was part of the development team for the Advanced Concepts course, and has taught AI qualifying and advanced education courses. He also has been recognized as an Appraisal Institute “Volunteer of Distinction.”

Coyle is a graduate of Texas Christian University. He is a Texas certified general real estate appraiser and has a Texas real estate broker’s license. He is principal of Coyle Realty Advisors, a Dallas-based real estate services firm engaged in fee-based investment property valuation, analysis, research, expert witness testimony and counseling. He has been engaged in valuation and counseling of investment real estate since 1985. He currently concentrates on providing support in real estate litigation cases, and he has been a guest lecturer and author for several eminent domain conferences. 

James L. Henderson, SRA

James L. Henderson, SRA was honored with selection for the President’s Award for 2016 by President Scott Robinson, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS. Henderson completed eight years of service on the Board of Directors in December of 2016. During that time, he served three years as the chair of the Audit Committee. In addition, he has been on the board of directors of the International Center for Valuation Certification (ICVC), an affiliate organization of the Appraisal Institute. He also has served in numerous roles for the Central California and Bakersfield Chapters as well as Region VII including Chapter President (3 times) and Regional Education Liaison.  

While he has retired from actively appraising, he remains involved at the volunteer level within the Appraisal Institute and currently serves as treasurer of the ICVC and as well as a member of ADQC. An ordained Baptist minister, Henderson serves as the pastor of The Lakeland Church in Lakeland Florida. He, and his wife Wendy, have been married for 31 years and they have two grown sons.

John P. Robinson Jr., SRPA, SRA

John P. Robinson Jr., SRPA, SRA, is a lifelong native of Salisbury, North Carolina.  John received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Catawba College in 1958. While in college and immediately after, John was involved in land development, building, sales and appraising with Hobson Reynolds from 1957-68.  In 1968, he established Robinson Insurance and Realty, a firm involved in all aspects of insurance and real estate. 

In 1968, Robinson received the Jaycees Distinguished Service Award. In 1968 and 1969 he was president of the Salisbury Merchants Association. He received the SRA designation from the Society of Real Estate Appraisers in 1970. From 1971-75, Robinson served on the Salisbury Planning Board. He served as trustee and secretary for the Catawba College Board of Trustees in the 1970’s. In 1976 Robinson received the OB Michael Distinguished Alumnus Award from Catawba College. He served on the Salisbury City Council for four terms, from 1975-83.  He is a past president of the Salisbury Board of Realtors, has served in various capacities of leadership at First United Church of Christ, as well as other civic and public service groups. 

In 1983 he changed the focus of his company and renamed it Robinson Associates Appraisers and Consultants, with full time devoted to real estate appraisal and consulting. Robinson is a past president of the Piedmont Chapter of the Society of Real Estate Appraisers. He received his SRPA designation in 1988. From 1989-91, Robinson was appointed by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission to the Appraisal Committee—a precursor to the North Carolina Appraisal Board.  In 1991 he was appointed by Governor Rufus Edmistion to the founding membership of the North Carolina Appraisal Board, and received one of the first North Carolina Certifications, A-3.  In 1994, Robinson served as chair of the North Carolina Appraisal Board.  Since 1994, Robinson has been active with the North Carolina Chapter of the Appriasal Institute and has focused on residential and land real property appraisal and consulting. 

Robinson is married to Lucy and they will celebrate their 60th anniversary in June of 2017.  He has two sons, Scott Robinson, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, of Salisbury, married to Kim, and Brad Robinson, of Raleigh, married to Debbie.  He has four grandchildren; Ryan, Molly, Mckenzie and Miles.  

Stephen S. Wagner, MAI, SRA

Currently serving on the Appraisal Institute Board of Directors as Region V vice chair, Stephen Wagner was elected 2017 vice president. Wagner is a past and current vice chair of the Professional Standards and Guidance Committee. He is a past chair of the Demonstration Report Writing Panel, has served on the Admissions Designations and Qualifications Committee and has been involved in the development of the General Review courses and two Capstone case studies. He also teaches general qualifying education and advanced-level courses and seminars for the Appraisal Institute.

Since starting in real property appraisal in 1987, Wagner has appraised residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and other property types. A graduate of Purdue University, he has been a chief appraiser in a regional bank and currently is a senior appraiser in the appraisal firm of Terzo & Bologna in Indianapolis. 

2016 Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

Terry R. Dunkin, MAI, SRA

Terry Dunkin was the 2007 president of the Appraisal Institute, and served as president of the Maryland Chapter in 1990. He served on the national Board of Directors from 2000-08, and chaired the International Relations Committee from 2008-10. In addition, he has served on various Appraisal Institute committees, including the National Committee of Regional Chairs, Audit Committee, General Admissions Committee and the Master’s Degree Program Committee.

Dunkin has served on various public and private school boards and was chair of the Pastoral Search Committee for his church in Towson, Maryland. He is principal of Dunkin Real Estate Advisors, LLC in Lutherville, Maryland.

M. Ralph Griffin, MAI, AI-GRS

RM. Ralph Griffin Jr., MAI AI-GRS has been a member of the AI for 45 years, and has been active in the leadership of the S.C. Chapter of the AI for over 31 years. His chapter level service includes Chapter VP 1996, Chapter President Elect 1997, and Chapter President 1998. His regional/national experience in AI activities include +15 years of experience, serving on many committees including National Nominating Committee 2002, National Board of Directors 2001-2006, 2009-2012, Member of the National Executive Committee 2005-2006, and Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee 2007-2009. M. Ralph Griffin is currently the Chair of the Appraisal Institute’s Professional Practice Compliance and Enforcement Committee and the Chair of the Appraisal Institute’s Client Advisory Board. He was awarded the Appraisal Institutes President’s Award in 2007 & in 2010.He holds a BS degree from Clemson University in Building Sciences and a Master’s degree from Clemson University in Management. His business background includes being President of the Clemson University Real Estate Foundation in 2003 & in 2007.He is currently a practicing Fee Appraiser and Review Appraiser.

W. Calvin Reynolds, MAI, SRPA, SREA, SRA

“Calvin Reynolds has been an outstanding mentor to other valuation professionals for many years, helping numerous appraisers in North Carolina begin their careers,” said Appraisal Institute President Scott Robinson, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS.

Reynolds was active with both predecessor organizations of the Appraisal Institute, serving for six years on the International Board of Governors of the Society of Real Estate Appraisers, and as an instructor for the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers. He also served on various committees for the predecessor organizations, including Ethics and Review.

Reynolds helped establish scholarships at Appalachian State University, and has served on non-profit boards, such as the North Carolina Housing Industry Advisory Council, Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition and the High Point Occupational Education Advisory Council. He also was instrumental in helping the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority obtain the land for an expansion that led to more flights and economic development for the Greensboro, North Carolina area. He has been active with the Southern Railway Historical Association, the Norfolk & Western Historical Society and the Winston-Salem Rose Society.

He is a longstanding member of the High Point, NC, Association of Realtors and has Emeritus status with the National Association of Realtors.

Reynolds has been married for over 60 years to his wife, Nancy.  He is an Eagle Scout, and received the Boy Scouts of America’s Order of the Arrow’s Vilgil Honor.  Reynolds is president of W. Calvin Reynolds & Associates, Inc., in High Point, North Carolina.

2016 Outstanding Service Award Winner

Sandra K. Adomatis, SRA

Sandy Adomatis has authored and developed courses and seminars for residential and commercial appraisers through the Appraisal Institute’s Valuation of Sustainable Buildings Professional Development Program. She helped develop the Appraisal Institute’s Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum and the Appraisal Institute’s Commercial Green and Energy Efficient Addendum. She developed, wrote and instructs Appraisal Institute educational offerings on related topics, and she is the author of “Residential Green Valuation Tools,” a book published by the Appraisal Institute. Her honors include the Dr. William N. Kinnard, Junior, Education Award from the Appraisal Institute Education Trust and the Appraisal Institute President’s Award. She has served as vice chair of the AI Education Committee, on AI’s Admissions and Designation Qualifications Committee and as president of the West Coast Florida Chapter.

Named a Green Partner of Excellence by the National Green Building Standard, she serves as proprietor of Adomatis Appraisal Service in Punta Gorda, Florida

View 2015 Awards and Recognition