Throwing away my MAI was a declaration: We can do better. 100x better. I believe in appraisers. I believe in the next version of our industry. We are the stewards of what’s next. Local Appraisal Institute chapters bring the mojo, but national feels like a bad relationship that’s hit rock bottom. Not just firing its former CEO (and subsequent salacious details), but an overdue confrontation with structural issues – leadership, culture and accountability. A systemic pattern of control by national leadership, using tools like bylaws, committee appointments, leadership selections and audit committee interrogations. Executive sessions are being used to obscure these mechanisms. There’s a need to dismantle this structure, expose it to transparency and stop the use of employment threats as leverage. And it’s not your fault. Appraisers are the smartest people in the room when it comes to real estate. We care about accuracy. We care about risk. We care about getting it right. But deep down, we all know something’s off. We need to define a new outcome. Craig Steinley gone. Step 1 of 10. Appraisers love comparables, so here’s a comp – RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is dealing with poor governance, unchecked execs and whistleblowers punished instead of praised. RICS’s governance flaws gave unchecked power to a few executives who operated without challenge. RICS sought and relied upon guidance from attorneys who protected the execs and board members, instead of protecting the organization and its members. When dissent arises – whether from local chapter leaders or members calling for reform – it’s met not with curiosity but control, not with listening but legalese. The structure itself has allowed this imbalance to harden into culture. Sound familiar? The AI at the national level is playing the same game. This isn’t all about scandal. It’s about structure. Like RICS, AI needs to stop patching drywall and rip the foundation out. Appraisers deserve leadership that serves, not hides. Pride in your profession isn’t enough – demand a system that earns it. Local chapters are holding this profession together. Small, committed groups of people who still care deeply. We need leadership with vision and a willingness to burn the old maps. What if local chapters stopped waiting for top-down reform and started becoming the future of the profession? What if trust, transparency and leadership started from the bottom up? Lean in. Take the mic. Shape what comes after. Because if we don’t define the outcome, someone else will…and we may not like what they decide. What got us here won’t get us there. #RebrandValuation #AppraisalFuture #LocalChapters | 
