Lee was raised on a dairy farm in central New York and, on some level, has always been a farm boy at heart. His uncompromising commitment to excellence in all he does has earned him a reputation as one of the great minds of his generation in real estate valuation, and as an appraiser meticulous in his work and insightful in his analysis.

Since starting his real estate practice in 1963, Lee has taken on a multitude of assignments for a wide array of clients in the financial, commercial, legal, nonprofit and governmental sectors. In addition to his renown as an appraiser, Lee built a national reputation as an instructor of real estate appraisal theory and principles. In 1970 he received the SRA designation from the Society of Real Estate Appraisers, followed in the next three years by the SREA, SRPA, and the MAI designations, all the highest distinctions for appraisers. He has made a career of exceeding clients’ expectations and delivering on his commitment to be fair, unbiased, and objective. In early 2008, after nearly 45 years in practice, Lee announced his retirement to pursue other interests. In the face of the economic downturn that commenced later that year and persists to this day, Lee has chosen to keep his hand in on a more limited basis.

In the summer of 2013, Lee and his wife Martha celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Proud grandparents of 6, they are now great-grandparents, and intend to spend as much time as possible with their family. Says Lee, “We may spend more time visiting my son and his family out in Arizona; we may even build a little getaway near the old family farm upstate. All the while I plan to keep my brain sharp by taking the occasional assignment when a particularly interesting job comes my way. I have always enjoyed teaching, mentoring and consulting, and I look forward to continuing in that capacity. Michael started with me in 1993, and excelled at every kind of assignment he accepted. It is especially rewarding to me to be able to pass the baton.”

“I met Lee when I was a fledgling appraiser – he taught the very first appraisal course I took,” says Michael. “Years later, I jumped at the chance to work for him, which allowed me to soak up as much as I could from his decades in the business. When he announced his retirement in 2008, Rob and I made sure that our day-to-day connection with Lee – and his day-to-day connection to the profession he loves – was kept alive. When he decided to postpone his retirement, we maintained that arrangement, which continues to this day. I relish having Lee fill this role of mentor and consultant to MDA&A. It has been my good fortune and my distinct pleasure to work side by side with him through the years. He has set the bar very high, and I am committed to maintaining those standards.”