The Bert 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.
Contact Joan Barngrover (JBarngrover@appraisalinstitute.org) with any questions.
2019 Burt L. Thornton President’s Award Winners
Stephanie C. Coleman, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, AI-RRS
Stephanie C. Coleman, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, AI-RRS is senior manager, ethics and standards counseling with the Appraisal Institute. She assists appraisers and others with questions about standards, ethics and business practice issues, and screens referrals as part of the Appraisal Institute’s professional practice enforcement process.
Prior to joining the Appraisal Institute in 2000, Coleman was the compliance manager for the commercial appraisal group at Bank of America. She also was an independent fee appraiser. She served on the Appraisal Standards Board of The Appraisal Foundation from 1996-98. She has authored several articles in The Appraisal Journal and Valuation magazine, as well as three books. She is the developer of the Appraisal Institute’s “Business Practices and Ethics” course and co-developer of the organization’s four review appraisal courses. She has been actively involved in the development of numerous Appraisal Institute courses, seminars and publications, and is an AQB certified USPAP instructor.
James L. Murrett, MAI, SRA
James L. Murrett, MAI, SRA, of Hamburg, New York, is the 2019 immediate past president of the Appraisal Institute. He served as Appraisal Institute president in 2018, president-elect in 2017 and vice president in 2016.
Murrett has served on the Appraisal Institute’s national Board of Directors and Strategic Planning Committee and as chair of the Finance Committee, in addition to chapter roles, including as president of the Upstate New York Chapter. He also has been treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of the International Center for Valuation Certification, an affiliate of the Appraisal Institute.
He received the 2014 Appraisal Institute Edward W. Adams, SRA, Outstanding Board Service Award and the 2008 President’s Award, which is presented by the Upstate New York Chapter of the Appraisal Institute for ongoing commitment, dedication and service to the chapter and the profession.
Murrett received a bachelor’s degree in business management from Walsh University, in Canton, Ohio.
Since 2009, he has been in management roles with Colliers International Valuation & Advisory Services, based in Hamburg, New York, currently as the executive managing director, compliance & quality assurance,where he is responsible for the general oversight of appraisal quality for Colliers.
2019 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Stephen D. Roach, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS
Stephen D. Roach, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, has been an appraiser for over 40 years, and has been a co-owner of Jones, Roach & Caringella, Inc. since 1986. His appraisal assignments have included the valuation of numerous income-producing properties, historical valuations dating back to 1900, numerous partial acquisitions and other significant and complex assignments throughout the United States. He has extensive deposition and trial testimony experience in matters involving condemnation, construction defects, contract breach, fraud, professional liability, property tax appeal, appraisal methodology and many other issues. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Real Estate from San Diego State University.
Roach serves the Appraisal Institute as 2019 chair of the Education Committee, a member of the Body of Knowledge Committee, a member of the General Comprehensive Examination Panel, a member of the Editorial Board of The Appraisal Journal and as a trustee of the Appraisal Institute Education and Relief Foundation. He formerly served as chair of the International Relations Committee and the Curriculum Subcommittee.
Roach co-wrote the Appraisal Institute course, “Condemnation Appraising: Principles & Applications,” and has done extensive curriculum development and oversight for the Appraisal Institute. He has been published twice in The Appraisal Journal and is a contributing editor to 12 Appraisal Institute books and over 30 courses and seminars. His Appraisal Institute teaching experience includes basic and advanced courses on income capitalization, litigation and over 300 additional courses and seminars that have been presented to more than 8,000 participants. He has taught workshops and seminars relating to condemnation law and appraisal practice. In addition to teaching courses throughout the United States, He has taught appraisal courses, seminars or lectures in Switzerland, Germany, South Korea, Japan, China and Mexico. He has served as a visiting professor of Appraisal Theory and Practice at the International Center for Land Policy Studies and Training in Taipei, Taiwan since 2004, where his courses have been presented to students from more than 85 countries.
View 2018 Awards and Recognition