President's Message
How John Udelhofen is Moving Us Forward
I want to give a shout-out to John Udelhofen, our Interim CEO. His impact is being felt across every corner of the Institute, and I am proud to highlight what he has helped us achieve.
Driving Educational Innovation
We are hitting our stride in developing education that is both timely and rigorous. I’ve seen first-hand how John’s focus on member needs has accelerated our ability to deliver new content.
We’ve rolled out companion courses to support the transition to the new UAD and URAR, launched experiential programs that strengthen the business side of appraisal practice, and are preparing innovative content on effective communication, upzoning, and artificial intelligence. These are tools we can use right now to thrive in a rapidly changing marketplace. I’m especially excited about programs like the AI on AI series, education that will prepare all of us for the changing environment and positioning us for success in an evolving marketplace.
I have seen John’s steady hand in rebuilding our education development and delivery teams, introducing artificial intelligence, our avatars Stephanie and Stephen to enhance PAREA’s mentor workloads and participant experience, and expanding our instructor bench for national course rollouts.
Advancing Technology and Operations
John has driven meaningful changes, including improvement in process of response to questions received by phone. I have used this new system, and it delivers what it promises – first a short “hold,” and then a conversation with a live person who directs your question to the person who can provide the information or answer the question. This was achieved by installing Zendesk in 2024 and creating our Customer Care Center. Already, four out of five requests are resolved in a single touch - delivering the better member experience John always envisioned
Accelerating Awareness: SRA Designated Member Advantage Campaign
Another area where John’s leadership has shined is in branding and outreach. Our SRA Designated Member Advantage campaign is already opening doors by showcasing the credibility and depth of knowledge SRA-designated appraisers bring to assignments beyond traditional lending - such as litigation support, insurance claims, and residential property tax disputes.
New connections are being made between Appraisal Institute members and prospective clients, particularly attorneys, tax professionals, and real estate owners and developers. This is the kind of recognition our members deserve, and we’re building on that momentum with targeted outreach to lenders, credit unions, and major industry conferences.
John Udelhofen’s leadership has helped deliver value faster, smarter, and more effectively. I am grateful for his vision and his focused determination. Looking at what we have achieved as a team in this past year, I am excited about what lies ahead for our members and our profession.
Looking Ahead: Join Us in Nashville for the 2026 Annual Conference
With so much momentum, I’m looking ahead to next year. Come to Nashville, April 14–15, 2026, for the Appraisal Institute’s Annual Conference. It will be a gathering of ideas, connections, and inspiration, all in the city of great music and great food, - I hope to see you there.
