Before the bubble burst, someone had to sign off on the value.In this episode of Appraisers on Purpose, Matt Jenkins reveals a surprising truth: your appraisal doesn't end when you hit "send."With over two decades of experience scaling appraisal firms and navigating capital markets, Matt shares how appraisers are more than form-fillers, they’re critical contributors in high-stakes financial decisions. From tie-outs to securitizations, your report could be the reason a loan stays in the pool or gets rejected.But that’s not all. Matt unpacks how a “startup mindset” helped him lead through rapid growth, product innovation, and industry change. His optimism about the future is contagious: AI, automation, and modernization aren’t threats, they’re tools for increasing revenue, reducing revisions, and improving the quality of life for appraisers who are willing to evolve.For Matt, staying curious, responsive, and adaptable isn’t just smart, it’s essential for staying in the game.🎧 Tune in now to hear Matt Jenkins’ powerful perspective on what it takes to not just survive, but thrive, in the new era of real estate valuation.

He walked away from burnout and built a career that saves both communities and dinner time.In this powerful episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” Eric Roman shares how a soul-crushing moment at the dinner table pushed him to rethink everything.What followed was a complete career transformation from burnout in fee-split chaos to purpose-driven work in the public sector.Eric now appraises properties most professionals only dream of: the Golden Gate Park, the bottom of the San Francisco Bay, missile ranges, and military bases. But more than that, he’s found balance, meaning, and impact in work that protects both public infrastructure and private property rights.He explains how right-of-way appraisal work, often overlooked, isn't just a job. It’s a chance to be the bridge between community needs and fairness for property owners.Eric also opens up about mentoring the next generation of appraisers, finding purpose through the Civil Air Patrol, and why working in public service offers more than a steady paycheck, it offers legacy.Tune in to hear Eric Roman’s inspiring path toward building a career with dignity, freedom, and deep-rooted value.

Two appraisals. One property. $8 million apart.

That kind of gap didn’t just raise eyebrows, it helped break the system in 2008.In this episode of Appraisers on Purpose, Ken De Feo pulls back the curtain on the wild inconsistencies in appraisal during the lead-up to the financial crisis and why some of those same risks are still lurking today.

Ken has seen it all: subprime chaos, default servicing, asset review, and now, he's helping lead the charge on UAD 3.6, the appraisal modernization project that might actually fix what’s broken.

Inside the episode:

▪️The $8M value gap that made Ken's team stop in their tracks

▪️How appraisal inconsistencies fueled the 2008 collapse

▪️Why UAD 3.6 could bring clarity, not more complexity

▪️What appraisers need to understand about how their reports are used downstream

If you think the appraisal report ends when you hit submit, this episode will change that. And if you’ve ever been blamed for a number someone else manipulated you'll feel seen.

Listen why Ken believes the best days of this profession are still ahead.

She started as a researcher. She ended up leading appraisal quality across the Americas.

In this uplifting episode of Appraisers on Purpose, Becci Curry shares how curiosity not credentials can be the key to building an extraordinary career in appraisal.Becci didn’t follow a traditional path. From helping her dad with legal descriptions at 11, to becoming Chief Appraiser at 35 while raising two kids, her story is filled with real-world lessons on growth, leadership, and finding your voice in a quiet profession.But what truly sets Becci apart is how she thinks.She doesn’t just complete assignments she builds systems, asks hard questions, and constantly looks for ways to improve the work around her.Now overseeing quality and risk management across North and South America for CBRE, Becci reflects on how:Small firms taught her resourcefulness.Sponsors (not just mentors) opened doors.And remote work gave her the clarity to design a career that fits her life.Her message? You don’t have to wait to be chosen. You can create your own lane and bring others with you.🎧 Tune in to hear how Becci Curry turned relentless curiosity into one of the most inspiring appraisal careers we’ve ever featured.

Brent doesn’t chase clients anymore, he outlasted the collapse, and now they chase him.In this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” expert appraiser Brent Henry shares how a career he never planned for became a path to leadership, credibility, and legacy in the valuation world.Brought into the profession by family tradition, Brent started by holding the measuring tape, but ended up building appraisals that hold up in court. Today, 90% of his work comes from complex, high-stakes litigation cases.His secret? A relentless focus on building better reports, telling the full story, and never settling for “good enough.”But Brent isn’t just looking back, he’s looking forward. He’s mentoring younger appraisers, offering courtroom exposure, and showing that there’s a future in this business beyond AMC grind and burnout.If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s more to appraisal than chasing forms and fees, this episode will give you a hopeful, powerful roadmap.Tune in to hear Brent Henry’s journey and how appraisers can build meaningful careers that outlast the trends.

Appraisals pay the bills. Vision builds the business.

In this episode of Appraisers on Purpose, David Ziccardi shares how an ill-timed investment during the 2008 crash sparked a bigger journey, one that led from doing reports to running a real business.

David doesn’t just talk about appraisals—he talks about building a career that scales.

From working under four supervisors just to get certified, to growing a 40% non-lender client base and mentoring trainees, his story is packed with lessons for every appraiser who’s feeling stuck.

You’ll learn:

• Why mindset, not just market data, determines your growth
• How embracing tech early gave David an edge
• What every trainee (and trainer) needs to hear about mentorship

This episode is for appraisers who are ready to shift from surviving to leading, and want to do it with purpose.

🎧 Listen now and see what happens when vision drives your valuation business.

What if the most important kind of appraisal is the one you’ve never heard of?

In this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” Bwembya Chikolwa shines a light on one of the appraisal world’s best-kept secrets: unitary appraisal—the valuation of sprawling, network-heavy assets like railroads, pipelines, and telecom infrastructure.Far from obscure, this niche is essential—yet few appraisers even know it exists. Bwembya believes that’s a problem—and an opportunity. With over 25 years of public service and international experience, he argues that appraisers who bridge real estate and finance can play a bigger role in shaping tax policy and infrastructure valuation.But it’s not just about technical knowledge. For Bwembya, adaptability is the superpower. His journey—from Zambia to Australia to the U.S.—proves that navigating uncertainty isn’t a setback; it’s a strength.He’s hopeful that more appraisers will explore this high-impact path—and he’s calling on appraisal organizations to finally recognize and train for it.Tune in to this episode to hear how Bwembya Chikolwa is reframing the future of appraisal—and inviting others to build it with him.

Can appraisers shape the future or are they stuck reacting to it?

Chris Williams has an answer.In this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose,” tech-savvy appraiser and valuation innovator Chris Williams flips the script on what it means to be an appraiser in today’s world of rapid transformation.Chris doesn’t see AI, MISMO, or modernization as threats. He sees them as building blocks. With a unique background in both appraisal and enterprise IT (Cisco, EMC), Chris brings a refreshing perspective: we can shape the tools—not be replaced by them.He shares how appraisers can thrive by:• Embracing technology as a collaborator, not a competitor• Reclaiming value through direct relationships with lenders• Using their expertise to build tax-free wealth through sweat equity• Blending analytical rigor with creative thinking. Yes, math and art togetherFor Chris, this moment isn’t about survival, it’s about impact. Appraisers aren’t being pushed out. They’re being invited to lead.Tune in to hear Chris Williams’ inspiring roadmap for navigating change, seizing opportunity, and redefining what it means to be indispensable in a modern market.

Want to write better reports? Start by reading the worst ones.In this episode of Appraisers on Purpose, Matt Cowan shares an unexpected truth: the path to becoming a better appraiser often starts with reviewing the worst of our industry.Matt’s journey spanning hurricane zones, forensic reviews, and modernization pilots proves that chaos isn’t something to fear; it’s something to grow through. Whether he was inspecting disaster-struck properties or digging into flawed appraisals during the recession, Matt learned to find clarity where others saw confusion.But this episode isn’t just about weathering storms. It’s about evolving through them.For Matt, success came from saying “yes” before he felt ready and trusting that learning would follow. He champions modernization, not as a threat, but as a tool to create more consistency and restore public trust in the profession.This is an episode full of hard-won wisdom and hopeful perspective.If you’ve ever questioned whether your skills still matter in a changing industry, Matt’s story will remind you why they do.🎧 Tune in to hear Matt Cowan’s inspiring journey and practical take on thriving through change.

What do Fannie Mae, a rock band, and the 2008 crash have in common?