Learn from the leader in professional education with McKissock

Alan Hummel, SRA has been a real estate appraiser since 1983, and currently holds a Certified General appraiser license in Iowa. His teaching style is interactive, drawing students into conversation to become more immersed in the topic of discussion. Alan specializes in the standards and principles of residential valuation for both lending and non-lending valuations and reviews, and was named by Inman News as one of the top 100 most influential people in real estate.

Alex has been a real estate appraiser since 1985 and currently holds a certified residential appraiser license in California. His teaching style is informal, but focused. Alex currently specializes in residential appraisal, review, and appraisal management for lenders. He has been teaching appraisal courses for over 15 years.

Chuck has been a real estate appraiser since 1978 and currently holds a certified residential appraiser license in Pennsylvania. His teaching style is participatory and personal, with the use of many real world examples. Chuck currently specializes in expert testimony, consulting, and VA appraising. He has a BS and MBA from Syracuse University, and is also a residential real estate broker in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Colorado.

Chuck has been a real estate appraiser since 1985 and currently holds a certified general appraiser license in Oregon. His teaching style is engaging with lots of participant involvement. Chuck currently specializes in appraisal education and practice consulting, with experience in a broad range of appraisal assignment and property types. He has a BA in Urban Studies and an MBA.

Dan has been a real estate appraiser since 1989, and currently holds a certified residential appraiser license in California. His teaching style is animated and fast-paced to keep students’ attention, while providing quality information and real world examples. Dan specializes in expert witness appraisals and is the former owner of the appraisal school in Los Angeles. He is also the Offensive Line Coach for the LA City Championship high school football team at Canoga Park High.

Dan has been a real estate appraiser since 1987, and currently holds a certified general appraiser credential in Pennsylvania. His teaching style is relaxed with clear explanations of the material complemented by broad experience. Dan specializes in USPAP, expert witness appraisal, appraisal review, and FHA appraisals. He holds an SRA designation from the Appraisal Institute and served two terms on Pennsylvania’s appraiser licensing board.

Diana Jacob has been a real estate appraiser since 1987, and currently holds a Certified General appraiser license in NC and TX and a Certified Residential appraiser license in LA. Her teaching style is animated with humor, analogous storytelling, and interactive illustration. Diana specializes in USPAP, Narrative Writing, Disaster Valuation, and Litigation Support. She appeared on CNN “Your Money,” participated in the first ECAFS, and assisted ASB in the presentation of the first National USPAP Update course.

Dan has been a real estate appraiser since 1974, and currently holds a certified general appraiser license in California. His teaching style encourages appraiser interactivity, with added humor to lighten up lackluster topics. Dan specializes in residential, VA/FHA, commercial/industrial with a focus on senior living facilities, single use facilities such as churches and marinas, and expert witness. He also teaches karate classes 3 times a week.

Greg Stephens has been a real estate appraiser since 1977, and currently holds a Certified General appraiser license in Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. His teaching style is high energy, engaging, and encouraging of class discussions and interaction, whether teaching in-person classes or livestreaming courses. Greg is a nationally recognized USPAP and valuation compliance subject matter expert and has been teaching USPAP since 1995. Greg serves as a mentor for the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board covering all aspects of USPAP with an emphasis on rules, real property appraisal development, and reporting.

Howard Kanter has been a full-time real estate appraiser since 1987 and currently holds a Certified General appraiser license in Florida. While he teaches appraisal principles, he prides himself in teaching the more important application of those appraisal principles. Howard specializes in Conservation and Preservation easements and other less than fee valuation assignments. Howard actually did his first appraisal in 1964. Can you guess what the fee was?

Founder and host of JMan Seminars, real estate guru Jeremias Maneiro specializes in professional development and tech training that challenge industry students to overcome their fears and elevate their careers. For more than 15 years, JMan has provided a fresh, authentic, no-frills perspective about the real estate space to audiences worldwide. McKissock partnered with JMan to offer CE Plus members expert industry insights through video tutorials, interviews, and more.

Jim Amorin has been a real estate appraiser since 1988, and currently holds a Certified General appraiser license in Texas. His teaching style is engaging, adaptive, and student-centered. Jim specializes in property tax, litigation support, and condemnation. Jim wrote the text for, “The Generative Shift: Preparing Appraisers for Artificial Intelligence Models Like ChatGPT.”

Jo Traut has been a real estate appraiser since 1997, and currently holds a certified residential appraiser licenses in Illinois and Wisconsin. Her teaching philosophy is to offer practical knowledge to simplify the complex. Jo specializes in appraising luxury homes, valuations for lending purposes, appraisal review, and appraisal compliance. Jo was Residential Chief Appraiser for the 5th largest Bank in the United States.

John Dingeman has been a licensed real estate appraiser since 2009, and currently holds a Certified Residential appraiser license in 11 states. His teaching style is not only entertaining and engaging but informative as well. John specializes in FHA and Residential Measurement Standards and currently is the Chief Appraiser for Class Valuation as well as a Registered Property Tax Agent in Arizona. He is the Past President of the National Association of Appraisers and the Coalition of Arizona Appraisers and served on the board of Arizona Helping Hands, a charitable organization supporting foster children in Arizona.

John Walker is a licensed North Carolina real estate broker and industry instructor. Partnering with his father in 2005, the two formed one of the highest-producing real estate partnerships in the area. John co-owns RE/MAX Diamond Realty, and he also serves as the COO for a networking company. He is also a regular teacher, speaker, and consultant on all things real estate. In 2019, he received the Distinguished Real Estate Instructor award by the Real Estate Educators Association; in 2020, he received the Rising Star Award by REEA. McKissock partnered with John to offer CE Plus members expert industry insights through video tutorials, interviews, and more.

Josh has been a real estate appraiser since 2006, and currently holds a certified residential appraiser license in Colorado. His teaching style is conversational with illustrations and participation. Josh specializes in compliance, valuation, workflow/teamwork, and investigations. He is also an adjunct professor at his local university.

Julie has been a real estate appraiser since 1999, and currently holds a certified general appraiser license in Missouri and Kansas. Her teaching style is to share her knowledge with real life examples, elaborate on specific topics, and encourage lively discussion among participants. Julie specializes in risk management and valuation from her extensive experience managing a team at a mid-sized regional bank. She’s an active voice for the appraisal community and serves as the Vice-Chair of the Missouri Appraisers Commission.

Kevin Hecht, MNAA, CDEI, ChE Chartered Economist^®, AQB Certified USPAP Instructor, has been a real estate appraiser since 1987 and currently holds a Certified Residential appraiser license in Missouri. As a McKissock Learning instructor, Kevin specializes in market analysis, USPAP, and real estate economics. His teaching style is highly adaptable and individualized. In addition to being an appraiser, Kevin is an Adjunct Professor of Economics and enjoys researching and examining the economy.

Kevin Hecht’s ASC profile

Larry has been a real estate appraiser since 1987, and currently holds a certified residential appraiser license in Kentucky. His teaching style is “to inform and assist”. Larry specializes in real estate consulting, teaching, and litigation support. He’s spent twenty years teaching professional appraisers nationwide, which he describes as “most gratifying”.

Larry V. Sherlock, RPLS #5453 is a registered surveyor in the State of Texas with over 44 years of experience within the profession. For over 18 years, Larry worked his way up from Rodman to surveyor-in-training (SIT), obtaining his license and becoming a registered professional land surveyor (RPLS) in 2001.

During his career, Mr. Sherlock has worked in nearly all types of land development, including commercial, residential, industrial, utility infrastructure, subterranean, and hydrographic surveying. He has worked with a wide variety of names familiar in the engineering and surveying community, including Carter & Burgess, T/E Inc., Stantec, SAM, RODS Surveying, and McKim & Creed.

Today, Mr. Sherlock is an active member of the Texas Society of Professional Surveys (TSPS) and served as president of Chapter 9 (Gulf Coast Chapter). He is also a member of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). He works with local school districts to promote the opportunities of the surveying profession among high school students and is an adjunct professor at Lone Star College.

With decades of experience in the appraisal industry, Mel Black is a Certified Residential Appraiser, Licensed real estate broker, and McKissock Learning’s Director of Appraisal Innovation.

Mel holds two graduate degrees in education, and has taught for 15 years at both high school and college levels. As an educator, Mel has earned multiple awards, including Educator of the Year and the Larry Outlaw Excellence in Education award.

Mel is also a practicing attorney who represents appraisal professionals before their state licensing boards. With more than 10 years as a director on North Carolina’s appraisal board and an officer with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission, Mel provides regular counsel on compliance and other industry-related law for appraisers and brokerage services.

Previously, Mel served as president of the Association of Appraisal Regulatory Officials; as a board member for the Council for Licensure Enforcement and Regulation; and as a member of The Appraisal Foundation Advisory Council. Currently, Mel is vice chair of the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.

Prior to working with McKissock, Mel owned and operated BrightPath Education, an appraisal and real estate school specializing in qualifying and continuing education. He also co-authored a book about teaching real estate and was acknowledged as a contributor to the Real Estate Commission’s “North Carolina Real Estate Manual,” 2011-2012 Edition.

Mike earned a B.S. in Business Marketing in 2005 from Saint Vincent College. He is certified by the American Home Inspectors Training Institute, a full member in good standing with the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors and fully compliant with the Pennsylvania Home Inspection Law. Mike is also a Certified Professional with the Building Performance Institute and is certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as a Radon Testing and Radon Mitigation Individual, PA DEP ID #2809. He is an instructor and course author for McKissock Real Estate Education since 2013. Mike is a Certified Master Inspector and has performed thousands of inspections.

Michael “Mike” Leighty is the owner and operator of Aries Engineering, LLC, providing professional residential, commercial, and environmental inspections and serves as the Senior Residential and Commercial State Licensed Building Inspector for client services. He also provides curriculum development for McKissock Real Estate’s Continuing Education for the home inspection industry.

He has a passion for providing high-quality, purpose-driven structural inspection services and helping others build and develop skills in home inspection through Continuing Education. Mike spent over 37 years in the Department of the Navy (DON) as an Aviation Electronic Technician in quality management and training development for front line forces in system operation, maintenance, and upgrade.

Mike holds degrees and certifications from Indiana University and George Washington University in the areas of Product/Project Management, Logistics Support Program Management, Continuous Performance Improvement, and holds a Master Black Belt in Lean/Six-Sigma.

Nikki Zotto is a licensed managing broker in the state of Illinois, as well as a licensed real estate broker in Arizona and Nebraska. With over twelve years of experience in teaching and curriculum development, Nikki strives to foster an energetic and engaging classroom experience. She was part of the Real Estate Educators Association’s first cohort of Gold Standard Instructors in 2018, and is approved to teach pre-licensing and continuing education courses in Arizona, Illinois and Nebraska. Her students describe her as awesome, energetic, fun and a truly gifted instructor!

Pam Teel has been a real estate appraiser since 1995, and currently holds a State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser License in Texas. Her teaching style is best described as coach style, or demonstrator, with a healthy balance between teacher-centered instruction and the student-centered approach. Pam has experience with commercial, industrial, and residential properties and currently specializes in instructing, mentoring, consulting, and course development. Pam spends her spare time with her ten grandkids.

Pat Kelly is a certified residential appraiser with over 20 years of appraisal experience and has been teaching appraisal courses for well over 18 years. Pat simply is a great teacher who sincerely cares about the success of his students. You can find Pat working with a student who needs a little extra help in a particular area. He can weave his broad experience, real world application of appraisal concepts, and a strong understanding of the academic side of appraisal theory into an effective, enjoyable method of learning appraisal methodology and application. He is a master of using just the right real-life example to give you that “Ah-ha” moment when the theory makes sense. Pat is well known for his ability to take a classroom of new students who have never taken an appraisal class and lead them through a successful trainee series to allow them to form the foundation for a successful career. Pat’s influence on the appraisal profession is immense and growing as he is now teaching a second generation of appraisers. So many trainee students have been recommended by former students. Pat has a wide following and a group of trainee students created a Facebook page titled Kelly’s Appraisal Scholars.

Paul Lorenzen is a commercial real estate broker and appraiser in Idaho, holding the prestigious CCIM designation for commercial investment real estate brokers and the MAI designation for Certified General Appraisers. He provides brokerage, appraisal, and consulting services to the commercial investment community and frequently works with attorneys in cases of real estate-related litigation. In addition to commercial real estate and appraisal services, he is a speaker and educator, both writing and teaching courses, and he holds the Certified Distance Education Instructor (CDEI) designation.

Philicia has been a real estate appraiser since 1988, and currently holds a certified general appraiser license and real estate broker license in New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Her teaching style is to keep things fun, moving, and interactive so students are never bored in class. Philicia specializes in both residential and commercial appraisals, as well as Florida law. She currently serves as an Appraisal Special Magistrate in Broward County, Florida.

Rob Luciani has been a real estate appraiser since 1980, and currently holds a certified residential appraiser license in Pennsylvania. His teaching style is informative, topical, and participatory. Rob specializes in tax assessment appeals. He is an adjunct real estate professor at Temple University & Community College of Philadelphia.

Dr. Bob has been a real estate appraiser since 1996, and currently holds a certified general appraiser license in California. His teaching style helps answer students’ USPAP questions by considering, “if it is ethical and more work for the appraiser, most likely that is the way to proceed.” Dr. Bob specializes in assignments for estate and income tax reporting, historical real estate research, tax assessment appeals, eminent domain, litigation, and private party issues. He teaches real estate courses at UCLA Extension and is an associate faculty member at Saddleback and Irvine Valley Colleges in California.

Rob Frazier has been a real estate appraiser since 1973, and currently holds a certified general appraiser license in Maryland. His teaching style is all about making the information relevant for both the professional and business management responsibilities in an appraisal practice. Rob specializes in residential, commercial, and industrial property markets, analytics, FHA, and workflow processing. He retired from the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2017 where he had served as acting director, deputy director, and housing policy advisor for Single Family Valuation Policy for FHA.

Rob has been appraising since 1986, and currently holds a certified residential appraiser license in California. His teaching style incorporates a logical approach and practical application with a touch of humor to make classes highly informative and engaging for his students. Rob specializes in residential appraisals, review, REO and other valuation services. He is always working on advancing his knowledge through education and has degrees in Communication Studies, Real Estate, Accounting, and Cybersecurity/Computer Networking.

Sam Martin has been a real estate appraiser since 1986 and currently holds a Certified Residential appraiser license in NC. His teaching style is empathetic and caring. Sam specializes in appraisal education and research. Sam loves his family and owls (of course).

Steve has been appraising since 1979, and currently holds a general appraiser certification in Florida. His teaching style is all about sending folks home with things they can use in their daily practice. Steve specializes in consulting as well as writing and teaching appraisal courses. He remodels/restores investment properties, and once wrestled a 450 pound bear.

Steven Vitale, Ph.D., P.E., has a B.S., two M.S., and Ph.D. degrees. He has been licensed as a Professional Engineer in six states. Dr. Vitale worked in the natural gas and liquified natural gas industry for more than 50 years. He served as the Vice President and Chief Engineer overseeing gas engineering and 28 production facilities across four states.

Additionally, Dr. Vitale taught University Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Fluid Dynamics, and has been a consultant in the Gas Industry for the past 20 years. He joins McKissock as an instructor on our Professional Engineer curriculum team.

Steve has been appraising since 1991, and currently holds a certified residential appraiser license in North Carolina. His teaching style is not only focused on knowledge but action, to get the most for each appraiser. Steve specializes in home financing, estates, divorces, hard money, tax appeals, Real Estate brokers assistance, and expert witness. He has been teaching for over 20 years and runs an appraisal office in Charlotte.

Tom Lundstedt is a recognized expert on the subjects of investment real estate and taxation with a unique and memorable “Laugh and Learn” style to his presentations. He has enlightened and entertained thousands of audiences from sea-to-shining-sea, including conventions, education events, client seminars and customized coaching/training programs. Tom is a former Major League baseball player with the Chicago Cubs and Minnesota Twins who couldn’t hit a curveball, but as a presenter he bats 1000!

Tony has been a real estate appraiser since 1986, and currently holds a certified residential appraiser license in Colorado, Wisconsin, Virginia, Texas, and Michigan. His teaching style is a fun and enjoyable, hands-on, practical approach that you can use every day doing your appraisals. Tony specializes in single family residential appraising and the regulatory and banking laws that govern appraisals at national banks and lenders. He had a previous life where he was an elected official and was appointed by the governor of Minnesota to a cabinet level position.

Wally has been a real estate appraiser since 1965, and currently holds a certified general appraiser license and a real estate broker license in Pennsyvania. He incorporates countless real life examples into his teaching style which he believes “keeps them awake so they learn something”. Wally specializes in residential, commercial, and review assignments. He likes to travel, especially in the western states and on cruises.