Allyson Bradley, Matthew Wilcox elected to the Board of Directors of the prestigious FAE

CHICAGO, Ill. – Allyson Bradley of Michaan’s Auctions in California and Matthew S. Wilcox of Freeman’s Auctions & Appraisal in Philadelphia have been elected to the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Appraisal Education, the Chicago-based organization founded in 2002 to raise scholarship funds for professionals seeking aid in the field of personal property appraising.

Bradley and Wilcox both cut their professional teeth in the 1990s as co-workers at Butterfeld & Butterfield in San Francisco, before their careers took different paths. Today, over 15 years later and through sheer coincidence, the two were notified simultaneously of their election to the FAE Board (with the votes approved by the International Society of Appraisers, FAE’s parent entity).

 

Ms. Bradley held several positions while at Butterfield & Butterfield, including Preview Staff Manager, Jewelry Department Manager and Director of eBay Great Collections. Prior to that, she managed the Illinois Artisan Program and studied at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Mont. She is currently Director of Business Development at Michaan’s, based in Alameda, Calif.

Mr. Wilcox worked at Butterfield & Butterfield from 1997-2003, for three successive owners: Mr. Bernard Osher, eBay and Bonhams. He held numerous positions over this time, and worked in both the San Francisco and Los Angeles offices. At the end of 2003 he left his position as Operations Manager of Bonhams & Butterfields in Los Angeles to accept the position of Vice President of Trusts & Estates at Freeman's in Philadelphia. It is America's oldest auction house.

 

Both Bradley and Wilcox attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where each studied fine art. Bradley earned a BA degree in Art History and Fine Arts from GWU, with a concentration in ceramics. Wilcox earned a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies in 1994, after earning a Masters degree in Art History from the University of North Carolina in 1991.

 

The Foundation for Appraisal Education was originally formed as the ISA Education Foundation under Illinois law and was granted non-profit status in 2003. In 2008, the name was changed to the Foundation for Appraisal Education (it has no affiliation with the similarly named Appraisal Foundation, a Congressionally authorized not-for-profit that also services the appraisal industry).

 

The FAE began awarding scholarships in 2004 and today presents scholarships of $1,000 each to one new and one experienced appraiser, plus $1,000 to one selected candidate for the Rago Auctions Scholarship in 20th Century Design. Grants for group educational opportunities, such as underwriting educational speakers for the ISA annual conference, are also awarded by the FAE.

 

The FAE also publishes the Journal of Advanced Appraisal Studies, launched in spring of 2008 and written specifically for personal property appraisers and those who utilize appraisal services. The Journal is a compilation of research articles, integrative reviews and topical discussions of professional appraisal issues covering a wide variety of perspectives, theories and approaches.

 

To fund these programs, the FAE accepts memorials and gifts from groups and individuals, as well as corporate donations and sponsorships. The group is headquartered at 201 West Lake Street (Ste. 214) in Chicago. To learn more, visit www.foundationforappraisaleducation.org. Ms. Bradley and Mr. Wilcox will serve three-year terms on the Board of Directors, from 2015-2018.