Vice President

MAI

Smedmore Bernard, MAI, of Chicago, Illinois, is the 2026 vice president of the Appraisal Institute. He will serve his one‑year term as vice president in 2026, president elect in 2027, president in 2028, and immediate past president in 2029. He will also serve on the Appraisal Institute’s Executive Committee and on its policy‑setting Board of Directors through 2029.

Bernard began his valuation career in 2005 and has built nearly two decades of experience across commercial appraisal, review, and right‑of‑way valuation. He currently serves as Managing Director at 1st Aerow Valuation Group, where he leads right‑of‑way appraisal and consulting services for public agencies, as well as providing expert witness testimony. His prior experience includes senior roles at CBRE, Bank of America, Midwest Bank, and Integra Realty Resources, with responsibilities ranging from multi‑state USPAP compliance review to complex industrial, retail, office, multifamily, and land valuations. He is recognized as an expert witness in multiple Illinois courts and is MBE/DBE certified.

Bernard’s service to the Appraisal Institute includes earning the MAI designation and holding leadership positions at the chapter, regional, and national levels. His Appraisal Institute involvement includes serving as a member of the National Diversity Panel (2016–2018), Regional Representative (2016–2017), Regional Nominating Committee Member, and Chair of Region 3 on the National Board of Directors. His additional professional service includes leadership roles with the International Right of Way Association’s Chapter 12, where he served as Secretary (2016–2017), Vice President (2017–2018), and President (2018–2019). He also has served on The Appraisal Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

Bernard earned a B.S. in Economics from Morehouse College and completed graduate studies at Loyola University Chicago’s Graduate School of Business. He holds Certified General Appraiser licenses in Illinois, Indiana, Washington, Wisconsin, and Tennessee and has completed all required continuing education through the Appraisal Institute.