Professional Biographical Sketch – Austin M. Smith, Jr., MAI **Mr. Smith began his professional real estate career in the late 1970s, by learning the carpentry trade and teaching himself to read blueprints and act as a construction foreman. Starting in 1980 Mr. Smith formed and was President of Foothills Construction, Inc, a residential construction company in Morganton, NC. Diversifying into all areas of real estate, Foothills Realty was begun in 1982 with Mr. Smith acting as Owner/Broker in addition to supervising the daily activities of Foothills Construction. Foothills Construction employed a full time construction crew while Foothills Realty employed up to eight real estate agents and support staff. Foothills Construction and Foothills Realty were closed in late 1988. In April 1987 Mr. Smith began a full time career in real estate appraisal, first working for another appraisal firm, and then in 1989 starting AUSTIN M SMITH appraisal services, which was incorporated in 1993. Mr. Smith and his wife, Kathy W. Smith, a North Carolina Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser, have operated AUSTIN M SMITH appraisal services inc. as a full service appraisal and real estate consultation firm since that date. **Over the course of the past 15+ years, Mr. Smith worked to achieve excellence in the appraisal profession by being in the first testing group for Certification as a General Real Estate appraiser by the state of North Carolina. In addition Mr. Smith attained the MAI designation in November 1993. The MAI designation is conferred by the Appraisal Institute upon members who have shown through study, testing, experience reviews and demonstration appraisal reports the ability to appraise any and all types of real estate. The MAI designation has been compared to having a PhD in real estate appraisal. Education is a strong component of Mr. Smith’s continuing professional development. **Mr. Smith’s appraisal assignments come from a wide variety of clients, including banks, mortgage brokers, attorneys, private investors and private individuals. Mr. Smith is approved to perform appraisals for the Veterans Administration (as well as construction compliance inspections) and for the Federal Housing Administration. Property types appraised also cover a wide variety including everything from farms to shopping centers and industrial complexes. Specialized properties appraised include churches, schools, inverse condemnation properties and environmentally contaminated properties. **Mr. Smith began offering his services for expert testimony early in his appraisal career, beginning with contract work for the North Carolina Department of Transportation in 1987. Over the past 14+ years, Mr. Smith has given expert testimony in a variety of cases, involving both property owners and condemning authorities as clients. Testimony has been offered in condemnation cases, equitable distribution cases, and bankruptcy cases. Testimony has been given in both state and federal courts. **Mr. Smith’s philosophy of business has evolved around strong professional ethics and the belief in offering high quality real estate appraisal and consultation services.  It is his desire to provide his clients with services that concentrate on their needs first, while working within the bounds of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.