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NCAI Connect: Running a Successful Appraisal Business: Best Practices for Today’s Appraiser
Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM EDT
Category: Events

This session is presented in partnership by the North Carolina Appraisal Institute (NCAI) and the NC REALTORS® Appraisal Committee.

Join us for an engaging panel discussion on how to build and sustain a successful appraisal business in today’s rapidly changing industry. Hear insights from experienced professionals as they share practical strategies and lessons learned, followed by an interactive Q&A session. 

Schedule at-a-Glance

12:00 pm  Welcome 
12:10 pm  Panel 
1:10 pm  Q&A 
1:25 pm  Closing Remarks 
1:30 pm  Conclusion 

Speakers

Brian CrowderModerator: Brian Crowder, MAI, SRA 
Brian Crowder, MAI, SRA, joined Hylton Crowder & Associates, Inc. in 2008 after graduating from North Carolina State University where he was a Caterpillar Scholar Athlete. Following in the footsteps of his father, who has been appraising real estate since 1972, Brian has built experience in the valuation of a wide range of property types, including both commercial and residential, in the Triad area of North Carolina. He has held various community and appraisal leadership positions over the years and currently serves as Vice President of the North Carolina Chapter of the Appraisal Institute (NCAI) and Vice Chair of the YMCA of High Point. In 2025, he was the recipient of the NCAI Innovator Award and in 2024 was recognized by the Triad Business Journal as one of the Triad’s 40 Leaders Under 40. 

Joel TatePanelist: Joel Tate, SRA, RAA
Litigation Support Work 

Joel Tate, SRA, RAA is a designated member of both the Appraisal Institute and the NC REALTORS® Appraisal Section, with more than 28 years of real estate appraisal, brokerage, and consulting experience in central and eastern North Carolina. He is the owner of Tate & Company, Inc., a Wake Forest-based appraisal and brokerage firm specializing in complex residential, land, and litigation support. Joel is a past President of the North Carolina Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, a recipient of the 2025 NCAI Leadership Award, and continues to serve the profession through leadership and mentoring.


Linda NelsonPanelist: Linda Nelson 
Bridging the Gap Between Realtors and Appraisers 
Handling reconsiderations professionally 
Keeping Deals Alive: Common Issues That Derail Transactions 
The Art and Science of Comparable Selection 
Diversifying your business in both professions 

Linda Nelson is the Principal of Elite Appraisal Services and has more than a decade of experience in real estate appraisal, brokerage, and valuation management across North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia. She specializes in residential, commercial, litigation, and complex appraisal assignments, while also leading appraisal education and training initiatives throughout the region. Linda serves as a board member and chair of several committees for the North Carolina Professional Appraisers Coalition and the North Carolina Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. She continues to support the profession through leadership, education, mentoring, and advocacy. 

Peter GalloPanelist: Peter Gallo, RAA, AHWD, C2EX 
Working alone vs starting a firm or partnering with other appraisers 
Setting up a corporation or LLC 
Hiring contractors vs having employees 
How to market your appraisal services 
The benefits of owning a firm 
How to recruit appraisers to work for you 
How to manage being an owner or chief appraiser 
Professionalism, ethics, and effective communication 
Risk management and liability protection 
Work file best practices 

Peter Gallo, RAA, AHWD, C2EX is the Owner and Chief Appraiser of HomeSight Appraisal in Charlotte, North Carolina, and has been a residential real estate appraiser since 1991. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Peter holds a residential appraiser certification in NC, SC, FL and NY. He is also an active real estate broker/advisor with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty and has experience as a homebuilder, previously owning and operating Vision Homes of Western New York, a luxury/custom home building company.  Peter currently serves as the Chair of the NC Realtors® Appraisal Committee. 

Claire AufrancePanelist: Claire Aufrance, MAI, SRA 
Working alone vs starting a firm or partnering with other appraisers 
Setting up a corporation or LLC 
How to manage being an owner or chief appraiser 
Professionalism, ethics, and effective communication 
Risk management and liability protection 
Work file best practices 

Claire Aufrance, MAI, SRA, has been appraising commercial and residential real estate since immediately following graduation from UNC Chapel Hill in 2002. Claire runs Aufrance Valuations, LLC, an appraisal firm founded in 2011 in Greensboro, NC. She has held various community and appraisal positions over the years and currently serves as Chair of the NC Appraisal Board. 

Registration

This free virtual event will be held on Zoom. Register by August 11!

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