Quarterly Membership LUNCHEON~ Featured Keynote Speaker: Mayor Walter Duke

After graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a major in real estate and urban analysis, Mr. Duke returned to South Florida where he has been actively appraising commercial properties throughout the Florida market since 1985.

Mr. Duke received the MAI (Member of Appraisal Institute) in 1990 and was named partner. He was awarded the prestigious CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation in 1997. He has served as President of the firm since 2000 and sole shareholder since 2011. In addition to managing his commercial appraisal practice, Mr. Duke is a frequent panelist, presenter and lecturer on topics relating to commercial real estate valuation. He is also in great demand for expert witness testimony for purposes of litigation support, tax appeal hearings and other quasi-judicial proceedings. In his appraisal experience, Mr. Duke has appraised and analyzed a wide variety of commercial property types, and provided critical consultation and litigation services to a diversified range of clients.

Mr. Duke is a member of several professional organizations, including the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, International Council of Shopping Centers, and the Appraisal Institute. He also is a graduate of Leadership Fort Lauderdale and the Appraisal Institute - Leadership Advisory Council, and has served on the Editorial Review Board of the Appraisal Institute's award-winning publication, The Appraisal Journal. Mr. Duke also regularly completes over 50 hours of continuing education annually. He is also proud to have served a number of roles with the South Florida Caribbean Chapter of the Appraisal Institute including a term as its president in 2000.

Mr. Duke believes it is important to give back to the community in which you live and work and donates a considerable time and/or expertise to worthwhile charities such as Broward Housing Solutions, Dan Marino Foundation, Women in Distress, Habitat for Humanity, Humane Society of Broward County, American Cancer Society and Lions Club. He was recently given the Compassion Award by the Jubilee Center which caters to the homeless population.

Mr. Duke is also currently serving his second term as an elected official. In his service as the Mayor of Dania Beach, he also is a member of the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Council, Governmental Affairs Committee of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Board of Realtors, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, and Sons of the American Legion. Mr. Duke resides in Dania Beach with his wife Lisa and together they have three teenagers and a rescue dog.