Jim Amorin, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, of Austin, Texas, was elected 2015 vice president of the nation's largest professional association of real estate appraisers by its board of directors in Austin. Amorin's one-year term at the Appraisal Institute will begin Jan. 1, followed by one year each as president-elect, president and immediate past president. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the organization and the profession, and I look forward to being part of a great leadership team," Amorin said. "I appreciate being given this wonderful chance to contribute, and I'm honored to be elected to this position." Amorin currently serves on the Appraisal Institute Board of Directors as Region VIII chair; he also is chair of AI's Strategic Planning Committee. Previously, he served on the AI Executive Committee, National Nominating Committee, Finance Committee, Audit Committee, AI Relief Foundation Board of Directors, General Appraiser Council Admissions Committee and Qualifying Education Committee in addition to region and chapter roles. He was the 2009 Appraisal Institute president and also has served as national president-elect, vice president and immediate past president. He received the Appraisal Institute's Bert Thorton President's Award in 2012 for work related to the Capstone program as well as work on several project teams. In 2013 he was awarded the Appraisal Institute's Y.T and Louise Lee Lum Award. A 1988 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in finance and real estate & urban land development, he received an MAI in 1992, an SRA in 2003 and an AI-GRS in 2014. He also has received a SR/WA designation from the International Right of Way Association.