ADI Program Advisor – Brett Rugar
Brett, a former Marine and veteran of the Persian Gulf War, began his financial services career in 1993. In 2002, he completed appraisal courses as a trainee under a very experienced supervisor and became a certified appraiser in 2004. He has worked in the property valuation field ever since, and for the last five years, he has been Director of Quality Control at Solidifi.
As part of his role at Solidifi, Brett volunteers his time as an Appraiser Diversity Initiative™ (ADI Program) advisor. He does this as a way to give back to the industry and encourage more people to join the appraisal field.
As a first-time advisor, Brett has truly enjoyed the experience and faced some challenges. These challenges include navigating each other’s various skillsets and personal obligations, as well as finding a meeting time that suits both schedules. For Brett and his advisee, flexibility was crucial in order to meet for at least an hour, whether that be Friday evenings at 6 PM or in the middle of the day during the week. While the program requires monthly meetings, Brett and his advisee average over four meetings per month, which has been particularly beneficial during the course phase of the program.
Brett’s role as an advisor has been mutually beneficial. They have had different life experiences, which has helped Brett appreciate alternate points of view. His advisee has significantly gained from Brett’s knowledge and expertise. Brett feels that:
Being an advisor is truly rewarding when you see the lightbulb moment confirming that your advisee has grasped a new concept you’ve diligently worked on together.
Brett is excited to see his advisee succeed. She is from a community in Florida that is currently underserved by appraisers, but that will soon change as Brett’s advisee will be providing valuation services for properties in this market in the near future.