Appraisal Institute fires executive accused of sexual misconduct

The Appraisal Institute (AI) executive facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct is no longer serving in his position.

AI president Paula Konikoff announced on the trade group’s LinkedIn page Wednesday evening that Craig Steinley has been removed as AI’s vice president, stating that its board of directors “determined it was no longer tenable” for Steinley to continue in his position. 

Konikoff had previously said on LinkedIn that Steinley would cease making public appearances on behalf of AI. He served as the trade group’s president prior to his tenure as vice president.

“I know this has been a painful period for our members and our wider community,” Konikoff’s statement read. “This had become a matter of the wellbeing and trust of the Appraisal Institute as an organization, which is greater than any one individual.”

Steinley came under fire after an expośe from The New York Times surfaced sexual harassment allegations against him from multiple women who had worked at the Appraisal Institute, including former president Cindy Chance, who also disclosed the accusations in a wrongful termination lawsuit against the group.

The women accused Steinley of groping their buttocks and holding hugs for excess periods of time. Chance says he often called her his “girlfriend,” and the now-former director earned the nickname “Mr. Handsy.”

Steinley has denied all allegations.

Steinley’s name also appears in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by Alissa Akins, a former director at AI. She claims she was fired for blowing the whistle on erroneously graded appraisal license tests that gave many students who failed passing grades, and vice versa.

After she continued to press the issue, Akins says another executive said Steinley “will make it hell for you as long as you stay.”

The Appraisal Institute itself is increasingly under fire from its own members, many of whom believe it has ceased serving the profession’s best interests. That belief largely stems from what appraisers see as too cozy a relationship it has with appraisal management companies.

A group of appraisers critical of AI have created an alternative trade group called the Appraisal Regulation Compliance Council.

“Now also is the time for the Appraisal Institute to act … to ensure our policies, protocols and actions reflect best practices and demonstrate our unwavering commitment to fostering a safe and respectful environment for all members and staff,” Konikoff said in her statement.