Professional Spotlight
Akia
Smith
MAI, CCIM
Founder & CEO, Salem Valuation Solutions
Commercial real estate valuation, and the next generation of appraisers.
- 25+years in real estate
- MAI · CCIMdesignations
- 2023inaugural Harps DEI Award
- 2025Houston Chapter President
01About
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
02Ventures
Salem Valuation Solutions
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.
Visit → Real estate professionalDominion Properties
Member of The Dominion Team, serving the Houston residential market.
Visit →03Service & initiatives
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.
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.
04Boards & committees
| Appraisal Institute, Houston Chapter | Immediate Past President | 2026 (President, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| National Society of Real Estate Appraisers | Assistant Treasurer | Current |
| Appraisal Institute, University Relations | Committee Chair | Dec 2025 |
| CCIM Houston / Gulf Coast Chapter | Education Committee | Current |
05Speaking & appearances
- Lead with Confidence and Elevate Your VoiceAppraisal Institute Wisconsin Chapter webinar (panelist)
- Distinguished Leaders Champagne BrunchCREW Houston
- Spotlight Speaker SeriesAscend Appraisers
- Face Value podcast: “University Relations”Appraisal Institute
- Past, Present and Future of the Appraisal InstituteLeadership Development and Advisory Council, Washington, D.C. (discussion leader)
- In the BoardroomBACE V-Suite, National Veterans Small Business Week
- African American Appraiser RoundtablesAppraisal Institute Annual Conferences (founder and leader)
06Awards & 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.