It is hard to believe we are already in the 2^nd Quarter of 2021. Most of us are so busy right now we cannot remember what day it is, which will most likely continue into the foreseeable future.

The 1^st Quarter was very busy and productive as we finalized the merger of the Alabama and Mississippi Chapters. Unfortunately for the Alabama Members, that means we are saying goodbye to Alabama Chapter Executive Director, Pam Paulk. Pam has kept us organized and has been instrumental in the continued success of our chapter for over 14 years. She will be missed, and we are so grateful for all of her efforts over the years. Luckily, Pam has agreed to assist at future in-person educational offerings when needed, so I’m sure we will see her again in the future. 

And in other good news, we have hired an equally amazing new Executive Director in Myra Pitts. She is working diligently to merge our Chapter accounts, create a new website, and plan the remainder of our education & events for 2021. I am looking forward to our larger, stronger chapter and all the new networking opportunities for our members. I want to take this opportunity to personally thank Pam, Myra, and all of the members of the steering committee that helped to facilitate a successful merger.

Our Educational offerings have helped us grow and the Alabama/Mississippi Chapter is committed to providing the best education to our members. We have several upcoming education opportunities in the 2^nd and 3^rd Quarters that I encourage you to attend.

In order for this Chapter to remain strong, it is of utmost importance for our membership to continue to support our education offerings. Each upcoming class offering will be timely, relevant and paramount in helping you stay informed and at the height of your profession. Please read about our upcoming education offerings below and click the titles in blue to register for any or all of the classes that interest you:

May 10, 2021 - Lamar Ellis, MAI, SRA, will present his 3 hour virtual seminar entitled, Aerial Inspections for Real Estate.

Wouldn't you like to learn about the various types of aerial inspections and the different crossover real estate businesses using them? Become familiar with the Federal, State and Local rules and how to to obtain permissions for safe aerial operations. Watch from the skies as a residential home is constructed over a 10-month period and learn about the environmental and operational issues involved in multiple operational flight. There is a lot of material to be shared so get ready for a professionally produced, fast-paced, informative, interactive and fun program.

June 18, 2021 - Robert Moorman, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, will present an Appraisal Institute 7 hour virtual seminar entitled Getting it Right from the Start: A Workout Plan for your Scope of Work.

The scope of work decision is the most critical one you will make in the development of an appraisal. After identifying the key elements of the assignment, you decide what needs to be done to arrive at assignment results that address the needs of the intended users of the appraisal. This seminar will help you become familiar with the broad range of services that you can offer under USPAP and give you practice determining the appropriate scope of work for various types of assignments. Return to your office with greater confidence when making scope of work decisions.

July 29, 2021 - we are pleased that Stephen Roach, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, has agreed to present an Appraisal Institute 4 hour virtual seminar entitled Litigation Assignments for Residential Appraisers: Doing Expert Work on Atypical Cases .

Find out the basics of analyzing atypical residential properties for purposes of litigation. In the first case study, which is about a new house on an old dump, the class will initially identify the appraisal problem. The seminar includes opportunities to distinguish between partial and complete remediation and the role of each in this appraisal problem. Learn to differentiate between pounds of paper and critical information. Then discover how disclosure of defects may affect market value. Identify what to do when a typical sales comparison approach is not applicable. Enhance your skills in an entertaining learning environment.

The 2021 Appraisal Institute Annual Conference is coming up in Orlando, Florida on August 9^th and 10^th.  This is an excellent opportunity to engage with the thought leaders of our profession.

In the fall, the AL/MS Chapter is planning to hold an in-person education offering on the Mississippi Gulf Coast (Biloxi) with a Chapter Meeting/Happy Hour to follow. This will be our first opportunity for the newly merged chapter to network and meet face to face. Please stay tuned to your inboxes for more details concerning this event.

And lastly, our annual Holiday Party will be held on December 3rd, 2021 at the Birmingham Country Club. We will offer a 3-hour seminar from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with the holiday party starting at 6:00 p.m. This will be another great opportunity for the networking and meeting of new members. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. We are looking so forward to being in person again. I would love to see many of you there. 

Respectfully Submitted,

Jennifer McDade, MAI, SRA

2021 AL/MS Chapter President 

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you how much being the Executive Director of the Alabama Chapter has meant to me. It has been a pleasure to work and get to know each of you over the last 14 years and to be part of such an important and growing chapter.

I would especially like to thank my "PPs" (Past Presidents)! You all were great to work with and you each contributed so much time and effort for the chapter. I will enjoy my retirement knowing that you are in such capable hands with Myra Pitts. I will also probably see you again as I will be available on a needed basis.

Please feel free to contact me at 205-542-6126 or [email protected]. Again, thank you. 

- Pam Paulk

UPCOMING CHAPTER MEETING

The Alabama/Mississippi Chapter’s Q2 Membership *Meeting will be held virtually on June 23rd, 2021 via ZOOM.

Start Time:

3:00 p.m. Central Time

This meeting will last 1 hour or less.

You must register HERE to attend this meeting. 

The ZOOM link & agenda will be sent to all registered attendees 1 day before the meeting.

Please register in advance to ensure you receive the join link.

• *A camera is not required to attend this meeting. You will be able to join using your laptop - OR - by phone.

• *No CE credit is available for attending this meeting.

Please contact Executive Director Myra Pitts with questions.

SLATE OF OFFICERS

The ALMS Chapter Nominating Committee has submitted the following slate of officers for 2022:

Chapter Officers

Hayden Scott, MAI..........President

Rusty Rich, MAI..............Vice President

Mike Brooks, MAI, SRA......Treasurer

Chris Pettey Jr., MAI.........Secretary

Chapter Directors

Scott Lakas, MAI – 1 year Board of Director

Jennifer Rigby, MAI, AI-GRS – 1 year Board of Director

John Evans, MAI – 2 year Board of Director

Jason Garner, MAI – 2 year Board of Director

Robert Grantham, MAI – 3 year Board of Director

Jane Anna Waide, MAI – 3 year Board of Director

Jennifer McDade, MAI, SRA – Ex-Officio

Regional Representatives   

Rusty Rich, MAI – VP & Regional Representative

Roger Ball, MAI, AI-GRS – Regional Representative

Mike Brooks, MAI, SRA – Regional Representative 

The election will be held during our virtual chapter meeting on June 23, 2021. You must register HERE to attend this meeting

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to Jane Anna Waide, MAI, of Starkville, for being chosen as one of the Top 50 Under 40 in Mississippi.

The Mississippi Business Journal will feature the bios and photos of each winner in a special keepsake edition set to publish on May 28th, 2021.

Jane Anna Waide, MAI

The AL/MS Chapter will begin featuring a "Member Spotlight" in each quarterly newsletter. The goal of this new feature is to recognize AL/MS Chapter Members' accomplishments across all career stages and to help members from AL and MS feel more connected by learning a little bit more about each other.

W. Michael Brooks, MAI, SRA is the principal appraiser for W. M. Brooks & Associates, LLC of Starkville, MS. With a staff that includes both interns and certified appraisers, the firm is a full-service appraisal shop that accepts residential, commercial, and industrial assignments. With over 25 years of timberland harvesting and management experience, Mike also has a large land practice. Additionally, Mike is a real estate broker and developer primarily focusing on the rehabilitation of distressed properties.

Mike is a Mississippi State University alumnus with a Bachelor of Professional Accountancy Degree. Upon graduation, Mike moved to New Orleans and joined the tax department of Arthur Andersen & Co. With the passage of the Economic Recovery Tax Act, the early 1980’s was an exciting time to be a tax accountant. However, once tax season was over, the Partners needed something to occupy the time of all the greenhorn accountants. So, they sent us all to computer school. Mike says, “I didn’t know it at the time, but the computer training I received was invaluable to my career. There is no way I could have paid for this myself.” Mike’s staff currently utilize a proprietary appraisal order management system that was developed in-house. 

Eventually, the lure of home proved too great, and Mike moved back to Mississippi and formed a family timber business. “We were land poor. By that, I mean we had lots of land but didn’t have the cash we needed to purchase some equipment." The bank’s appraiser showed up in a Jeep, rode over the property and the loan was approved. Realizing a good thing when he saw it, Mike signed up for his first real estate class in 1987. “I mean, what could be better than riding around in a Jeep and looking at property and getting paid to do it. In fact, I still drive a Jeep today.” 

In addition to his real estate career, Mike is a licensed commercial multi-engine pilot and was the Chief Pilot for Garan Manufacturing Company from the late 1980’s to the mid 1990’s. “I thoroughly enjoyed flying, but as my children came along, I wanted to be at home more.” Focusing full-time on his real estate career, Mike trained several appraisers and slowly added to his staff. 

After working on numerous municipal projects for the City of Starkville, Mike was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission in 2013. Since 2015, he has served as Chairman of the Commission.  He also served on the City of Starkville Comprehensive Plan Advisory Panel in 2015 and 2016. At the urging of Mississippi’s former Education Chair, John Thomas, SRA, Mike developed and presented 4-hour and 7-hour seminars entitled Zoning and its Impact on Highest and Best Use.  For a smaller city, Starkville has been on the cutting edge of adopting new trends in zoning. When he developed the course, Mike wanted to try something a bit unique. “I incorporated a bus tour where we actually were able to see how these new trends in zoning were being applied.” With his term on the Planning and Zoning Commission expiring in June, Mike is currently campaigning to be Starkville’s next Ward 4 Alderman.

Outside of work and civic duties, Mike does find time to relax. He is an avid bicyclist. “I try to ride at least 100 miles per week, weather permitting.” He can also be seen around Starkville riding his other bike, a Harley Road King. He and his wife Gina, have three children, and five grandchildren. They enjoy boating and traveling in their Prevost Motorcoach with their two rescued pit bulls, Ruby and Rosie. “We are big MSU football fans. We attend all the home games and try to make a road trip or two each year with MSU’s traveling RV group, The Rolling Bulldogs.” 

“To my existing Mississippi friends, and my new Alabama friends, please know you have a standing invitation to join us at any Mississippi State home football game. Gina and I will do our best to make you feel at home."

Introducing ...

Myra Withers Pitts | Executive Director

Myra has extensive knowledge of the Appraisal Institute and will bring a considerable amount of experience to this position.

Originally from the Mississippi Delta, Myra spent two years at Mississippi State University (and had a blast) before moving to Nashville in 2001 to complete her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Literature at Middle Tennessee State University. She worked in the sales department at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center before accepting a position as the Executive Director of the Greater Tennessee Chapter of the Appraisal Institute in 2007.

Finding an earnest interest in this new realm of real estate, she earned her Realtor’s License in 2013 and began helping friends and family buy and sell houses in addition to working for the Appraisal Institute.

Myra met and married her husband, Stephen Pitts, in 2016 and they moved to Memphis shortly thereafter. The timing of this proved ideal since the Mississippi Chapter of the Appraisal Institute was looking to hire a new Executive Director. Her new Memphis locale made her an ideal candidate for the job, and she has been working with them since the end of 2018.

One year later, Myra helped broker a merger between the Memphis and Greater Tennessee Chapters to form the current Tennessee Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. That experience proved itself to be useful as the realities of the COVID-19 Pandemic began to take shape. The MS Chapter quickly realized the need for a merger was imminent, and they approached the Alabama Chapter with a proposal to do so in the summer of 2020. With the help of many members from both the Alabama and Mississippi Chapters, a successful merger of the two became official on February 27^th, 2021. Myra has been working as our new Executive Director since that time.

Please join us in welcoming Myra Pitts to the new Alabama Mississippi Chapter of the Appraisal Institute.

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