From MIT Math to Mortgage Mayhem

Season 2, Episode 10: Navigating Change & Setting Goals with Nationwide AMC CEO Sri Velamati

25 Years from “Accidental Appraiser” to Four-Deal CEO

  • First gig: 1990s Appraisal Institute analyst → commercial appraiser globe-trotter (cell-towers to Swedish department stores).
  • REIT era: Invested / developed every property class through the 2008 crash.
  • COVID pivot (2020): Took NPAS helm, closed four AMC acquisitions, kept 500-plus staff glued together via Zoom holiday parties and Jackie-Moon short-shorts.
  • 2023 mantra: Resilience—survive the volume drought, keep promises, invest when rivals retreated.

2023 Recap – Resilience & Roll-ups

  1. Texas takeover: Merged with Integrity Appraisal; Lone Star State is now NPAS’s #1 volume market.
  2. Product lab: STR Pro short-term-rental form (Charlie’s baby) + AI-powered BioShield bias/QC engine.
  3. Culture win: Ops teams “work for each other,” not the boss—late-night saves to keep AE clients whole.

2024 Playbook – Innovate, Consolidate, Scale

  • Client consolidation = AMC consolidation. Fewer, larger lenders want one bullet-proof partner.
  • Tech bros fade; durable AMCs remain. NPAS will build, not hype-pitch.
  • “Innovate & grow—or die.” More AI QC, faster ops, new alt-valuation forms, and selective M&A.
  • North Star: Create value for both sides of the coin—lender throughput and appraiser efficiency.

Rapid-Rush Highlights

Question Sri’s Answer Side-Comment
Apple or Android? Apple – 100 % Green-bubble AEs weep.
Super Bowl pick ’24 Baltimore Ravens KC hosts grimaced.
Favorite course played Blackwolf Run (WI) Pete Dye pain = fun.
Bucket-list course Augusta National Join the club, sir.
Hardest MIT class Urban Economics – Bill Wheaton Toro-Wheaton > Case-Shiller?
Dream foursome Tiger, brother (1 hcp), eldest son, Sri Family goals ≥ birdies.
Biggest gray-hair culprit (sales) “Your boss, Mike Moore.” Shots officially fired.
Why Nationwide ’24? “Do the right thing, innovate, grow with you.” Elevator pitch = survive + thrive.

L;DR – Episode 10 Takeaways

  • Resilience > rate sheets. 2023 beat-downs forged a tougher culture.
  • Tech that works. STR Pro & BioShield show AI is only useful when it cuts risk or turn-time.
  • Clients are consolidating; AMCs must, too. Scale + service ≠ optional.
  • “Innovate & grow—or die.” Sri’s 2024 north-star: fewer forms, faster QC, smarter ops.
  • Augusta dream tee-time still open—Tiger, call him.

📌 MIT math, four mergers, and Jackie-Moon shorts—Sri Velamati proves a CEO can crunch numbers and rock costume day.

👉 Catch every episode: rss.com/podcasts/valunation
📸 Follow the show: @valunationpodcast on Instagram

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