|
SMS
Appraisal
Services like
many businesses
was born out of
the owners
life’s
experiences.
"No
one ever went to
college to
become a
machinery dealer
and/or appraiser,
that I am aware
of."
 My
Background.
After leaving
the Army I went
to work at Smith
Tool Company as
a machinist
machining oil
drill bit parts,
learning to
operate various
machines as I
progressed
through that
career path.
After four years
learning to run
different
machines I quit
because it was
not where I
wished to build
a career. What is
your company history? Give a
description of achievements,
projects
and services of your company.
Shortly after I
met an older
gentleman while
looking for
another
business. He
asked me what
the hell do you
want? I
responded “a
job”. He handed
me a picture of
a 6” Landis pipe
threader and
said do you know
what this is. I
responded that I
had run one for
six months. He
asked if I could
sell it and I
said of course.
I was on my way
to selling the
very machines I
used to operate.
How SMS
Appraisal
Services began.
In February 1978
I made the
decision to
start my own
machinery sales
company and
needed to have a
name. My
first office was
near the Big “A”
sign at Angel’s
stadium, in
Anaheim, CA. My
brother in law
suggested
Stadium
Machinery Sales.
The name stuck
and was the
genesis for SMS
Appraisal
Services later.
During my more
than 32 years of
machinery sales
I was privileged
to build entire
manufacturing
plants for
companies like
Union Carbide as
well as install
specialized
manufacturing
cells. At times
I consulted for
major companies
to design
solutions for
manufacturing
problems using
my years of
experience to
find an
innovative
approach in
defense and
aerospace
projects.
All about
Machinery
Dealer,
Appraiser and
Project
Manager/Consultant
As a machinery
dealer I worked
with most of the
major
auctioneers in
the country to
auction
equipment or to
buy equipment
for customers.
My appraisal
business really
started when an
auctioneer I
worked closely
with, offered to
pay me to tell
him what a group
of machines
might be worth
at auction so he
could budget for
advertising.
I thoroughly
enjoyed the
experience.
I joined the
American Society
of
Appraisers-Machinery
& Technical
Specialties
discipline
approximately
1992 and began
attending
meetings every
month learning
about the
intricacies of
the appraisal
business. At a
meeting in 1995
I met Gordon and Carleen
Hjelmstrom who
took me under
their wing and
for more than a
decade taught me
every thing he
could about the
appraisal
business
including
commissioning
approximately
300 eminent
domain
appraisals. They
also encouraged
me to earn my
ASA
accreditation as
a Senior
Accredited
Appraiser. We
continue to work
together to this
day. For those
years I will be
forever
grateful.
I attended the
meetings for
nearly eight
years before I
was asked to be
on the board of
directors of the
Los Angeles
Chapter of the
American Society
of Appraisers.
I served as the
Treasurer for
four years.
In 2009, I was
elected
President
I am thoroughly
enjoying this
experience.
During my
presidency we
have launched
the creation of
a new web site
for the LA
Chapter and
continue to
create meetings
that are
educational as
well as
networking
opportunities
for our members.
It is my opinion
that everyone
who uses or
orders an
appraisal should
be educated in
their use. With
this in mind I
have created a
curriculum for
banks and
government
agencies
teaching them
how to order and
read an
appraisal. If
you are
interested in
having your
staff hear this
presentation
call me to
schedule a
presentation. | 
