There’s a new deputy in town, Deputy Chief Appraiser Eldred Lesansee, that is. Formerly a regional appraiser within the Office of the Special Trustee’s Office of Appraisal Services, Lesansee has taken on this new leadership role. His position, which OST created at the beginning of fiscal year 2008, provides oversight for Fiduciary Trust Model and trust-reform efforts as they apply to appraisals.

Lesansee is a member of the Pueblo of Zuni. He grew up in Zuni, N.M., with a love of nature and a desire to be a good steward of the environment. He started his career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and soon became an appraiser trainee with BIA’s chief appraiser. After several years, he moved to the Bureau of Land Management as an appraiser. In 1994, he came back to BIA as the Albuquerque Area chief appraiser; BIA later changed the name of the position to regional appraiser. In 2006 BIA promoted him to regional supervisory appraiser.

In addition to his undergraduate degree with dual majors in real estate and trust and real property management, Lesansee has completed real estate and appraisal courses throughout his career. He is a Certified General Appraiser and holds designations from the National Association of Master Appraisers as a Master Senior Appraiser and a Master Farm and Land Appraiser. Lesansee is an active member of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

The deputy chief appraiser works with the chief appraiser, Georgia “Kay” Martin, who heads the Appraisal Services Directorate with the Department of the Interior’s National Business Center. Since Lesansee works out of Albuquerque and Martin from Washington, D.C., he said that he is pleased to have Internet and e-mail connectivity to simplify their communication efforts.

“I appreciate the support I have received from the leadership and staff of the BIA, OST, ASD, American Indian Tribes and Native Alaskan Corporations and Consortiums, and the OAS team, Lesansee said.  “I continue to find people at all levels who are committed to providing quality and timely services while maintaining ethical standards and successful personal lives.”

Lesansee anticipates the development of a specific policy manual for valuation of OAS Indian lands that will become part of the Departmental Manual. He believes an appraisal-trainee program that “grows” qualified people from inside the organization may help offset the number of people retiring from the appraisal field. “OAS appraisers have a common goal of providing services that meet the needs of the clients, Lesansee said. “We have a commitment to improvement and look to innovation to meet that challenge.”

For additional information about OAS and appraisal services, call (505) 816-1602.