Mineola, NY Charissa Kwan, MAI, AI-GRS, has been elected president of the Long Island chapter of the Appraisal Institute for 2019. Serving Nassau and Suffolk counties of Long Island, the chapter assists local real estate appraisers to earn Appraisal Institute professional membership designations and provides appraisal education and networking to the real estate and related industries.

Kwan is assistant vice president and senior review appraiser/reviewer at Sterling National Bank. Kwan will lead the chapter to provide relevant and interesting education for both commercial and residential appraisers; support their candidate members; increase awareness of AI designations; develop future leaders; look for opportunities to bring new people into the profession; deepen association with related industries; focus on scholarship, sponsorship, and implement new technology and utilize social media outlets to benefit chapter members and the public.

Kwan, who earned her MAI designation in 2011 and AI-GRS in 2014, has been a member of the chapter’s executive board since 2014. In addition, she has spearheaded the external relations and general seminars committees and is a candidate advisor. 

She has also served the Long Island chapter as region representative, reception chair, program chair, Treasurer, and is an active member of the Government Relations Committee, traveling to Washington, DC as a Chapter representative. Ms. Kwan is a Certified General New York State Appraiser, and has been active as a commercial appraiser on Long Island and the Metropolitan New York Area for over 25 years.

Additional officers elected by the chapter for the Year 2019 include: senior vice president John Biordi, MAI, vice president Howard Morris, SRA, Secretary Anne Sheehan, MAI and Treasurer Hector Nieves, MAI, AI-GRS.

The Appraisal Institute has developed the largest body of real estate appraisal knowledge in the world. Appraisal Institute education is provided in coordination with their national office in the form of structured courses, full or half day seminars and dinner meetings, which fulfill state continuing education requirements and provide a forum for exploring new topics and networking. Through the Candidate Advisor program, members are assisted in achieving their designated appraiser goals.