Jim Johns stands as a highly accomplished Senior Director at JLL Value and Risk Advisory, operating within the United States and based in the thriving Tampa Bay region. In this pivotal role, Jim Johns dedicates his expertise to upholding the highest standards of quality assurance and appraisal review. His commitment ensures that JLL reports consistently meet and exceed the expectations of clients, intended users, and all stakeholders involved in each assignment. Jim Johns’ focus on precision and accuracy is paramount to JLL’s reputation for delivering unparalleled service in the real estate valuation sector.
Prior to his impactful tenure at JLL, Jim Johns cultivated extensive experience within the banking industry, dedicating eight years to commercial real estate appraisal reviews at both KeyBank and Citizens Bank. During this period, Jim Johns honed his skills across a diverse spectrum of property types, including multifamily residences, affordable housing initiatives, healthcare facilities, continuum care properties, hospitality venues, restaurants, and specialized use properties. Notably, at KeyBank, Jim Johns took a leadership position in refining the technical approach to Freddie Mac and FNMA affordable housing appraisals. His efforts were crucial in optimizing report ordering processes to not only meet but surpass the stringent requirements set forth by FNMA and Freddie Mac, ensuring compliance and best practices. Jim Johns became a trusted resource for underwriters, relationship managers, and portfolio managers within the banking sector, consistently providing invaluable valuation expertise to support critical decision-making processes.
Before transitioning to the banking world, Jim Johns established himself as a successful entrepreneur as the principal owner of a flourishing fee appraisal firm for a decade in Columbus, Ohio. During this time, Jim Johns and his firm successfully completed numerous valuation assignments for a wide array of property types, serving both financial institutions and local developers. Recognizing the importance of robust data for accurate valuations, Jim Johns spearheaded the development of a highly reliable commercial property database. This comprehensive resource grew to encompass 6,000 properties, meticulously cataloging comparable sales and income properties essential for appraisal assignments. Demonstrating his innovative approach, Jim Johns integrated this database with MS Word, significantly streamlining report writing while simultaneously ensuring the maintenance of highly reliable details for in-depth analysis.
Jim Johns continually seeks to enhance report quality, service delivery, and educational contributions within his field. This commitment is reflected in his proficiency with various technical software programs, including Argus modeling, MS Access database, MS Excel, and MS Word, which he utilizes to prepare insightful executive summaries and detailed written reports. Furthermore, Jim Johns leverages MS PowerPoint to create engaging and informative education and training presentations. His expertise has also been recognized by the Appraisal Institute, where Jim Johns is an esteemed instructor for the General Review Theory course, a mandatory component for individuals pursuing the prestigious AI-GRS designation.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Jim Johns is deeply committed to community service. He served as an Adjunct Professor at Columbus State, the third-largest college in Ohio, where he shared his knowledge by teaching real estate finance concepts, analysis methodology, and reporting techniques for both commercial and residential real estate courses. This part-time role was a significant opportunity for Jim Johns to contribute to the community, embodying a philosophy of “giving back” and “paying it forward” to the next generation of real estate professionals.
Education
- The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, MBA with a concentration in finance and real estate.
- Bachelor of Science with a dual concentration in city and regional planning plus marketing.
Affiliations
- The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, Alumni Advisory Board (8 years)
- City of Dunedin, Florida – Local Planning Agency board member
- City of Dunedin, Florida – Community Redevelopment Agency board member
- Country Woods Homeowners Association – board member
Certified General Real Estate Appraiser:
- Florida
