African American Appraiser Roundtables
Initiated and led roundtables at the Appraisal Institute’s 2021 and 2022 Annual Conferences, building community and a pipeline of appraisers.
AkiaSmith
Founder & CEO, Salem Valuation Solutions
MAI, CCIM
Commercial real estate valuation, and the next generation of appraisers.
About
Akia Smith, MAI, CCIM, is the Founder & CEO of Salem Valuation Solutions, a commercial real estate appraisal and consulting practice. Her experience spans multifamily, office, retail, industrial and government properties, as well as vacant land and eminent-domain assignments.
She leads in the profession as well as in practice: Immediate Past President of the Appraisal Institute Houston Chapter, Assistant Treasurer of the National Society of Real Estate Appraisers, and a driving force behind the Institute’s outreach to universities and the next generation of appraisers.
Education. Economics, Hampton University.
Ventures
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Salem Valuation Solutions
Founder & CEO
Commercial-property appraisal for lenders, owners, insurers, attorneys, investors and government agencies: single assets and portfolios, eminent domain and right of way, retrospective valuations, tax consulting, and development and investment analysis.
Dominion Properties
Real estate professional
Member of The Dominion Team, serving the Houston residential market.
Service & initiatives
University relations
Chairs the Appraisal Institute’s University Relations work, connecting colleges and universities with careers in appraisal.
Appraisal-bias research
Member of the Appraisal Institute’s Bias Research Solutions Project Team, whose findings supported the Institute’s January 2023 testimony to the Appraisal Subcommittee.
Home buyer education
Volunteers teaching home buyer education courses in the Houston community.
Boards & committees
Appraisal Institute, Houston Chapter
Immediate Past President2026 (President, 2025)National Society of Real Estate Appraisers
Assistant TreasurerCurrentAppraisal Institute, University Relations
Committee ChairDec 2025CCIM Houston / Gulf Coast Chapter
Education CommitteeCurrent
Speaking & appearances
- Aug 2026
Lead with Confidence and Elevate Your Voice
Appraisal Institute Wisconsin Chapter webinar (panelist) - Apr 2026
Distinguished Leaders Champagne Brunch
CREW Houston - Feb 2026
Spotlight Speaker Series
Ascend Appraisers - Dec 2025
Face Value podcast: “University Relations”
Appraisal Institute - May 2025
Past, Present and Future of the Appraisal Institute
Leadership Development and Advisory Council, Washington, D.C. (discussion leader) - 2024
In the Boardroom
BACE V-Suite, National Veterans Small Business Week - 2021 – 2022
African American Appraiser Roundtables
Appraisal Institute Annual Conferences (founder and leader)
Awards & press
William S. Harps DEI Award
Inaugural recipient, 2023. Appraisal Institute.
Valuation magazine feature
“Akia Smith is focused on the next generation of appraisers,” Winter 2023/Spring 2024.
CREW Houston member spotlight
April 2026, on leadership mindset and purpose.