Outstanding Members Revisited—Third Quarter 2025
NACVA's Oustanding Members—Revisited
Over the years, NACVA has recognized hundreds of members for their great service to the Association by awarding them Outstanding Member recognition. Their recognition is published in the Association News each quarter and we have been doing this since around 1994. Recently, a light bulb went on for the team at HQ thinking how interesting it would be to check in with our past Outstanding Members going back to when the Award started to see how their careers have unfolded. Because many deserving of the Award have moved over from their role in NACVA to make room for the next generation to rise and we would love to hear from them. Notwithstanding, many early recipients are still very involved and have become cornerstones in NACVA’s foundation of success.
Roberto H. Castro, Esq., MST, MBA, CVA, CMEA, CVPA has shared the following letter to bring us up to date on his life and career.
Roberto H. Castro, Esq., MST, MBA, CVA, CMEA, CVPA has shared the following letter to bring us up to date on his life and career.
Dear Parnell and NACVA Staff,
Thank you for inviting me to share my thoughts and professional experiences with you and Association news readers. Back in the 1990s, there was limited information about how professionals could properly value a partial or majority business interest, much less, how to value intellectual property or calculate damages. The idea of using a multiplier was simple, far too simple and not backed by data. In my law practice, I was unable to add value or help business owners embroiled in a business divorce, much less business owners seeking to capital. NACVA provided me the educational tools that enabled me to understand the complexity involved valuing business and intellectual property interests, damages, and the how to challenge purported experts. I thoroughly enjoyed the educational component and was impressed by NACVA’s ability to offer courses that were current. Above all, the conferences and other events enabled me to meet many other professionals across the board and become part of a like-minded community. In retrospect, I have to say that I was a lucky person and thank many of those that I met at Conferences and through webinars, state chapter meetings, AVW and QuickRead.
In enjoy my current roles with NACVA, as a correspondent with AVW and Technical Editor with QuickRead. These roles enable me (and NACVA members) to remain current with best practices, learn from specialists, and better understand how one’s professional role will evolve over time. As I share this, I am thinking of how AI will transform our practices. For me the emergence of AI is promising. It will challenge us to be more proactive, but also require us to challenge us to ask deeper questions. The latter will help us better serve our clients and become better practitioners.
With time, I see the wisdom of those that came before us. Seneca in his letters to Lucilius reflects on change and learning—especially in how they relate to personal growth, philosophical maturity, and the pursuit of wisdom. Seneca did not treat learning as mere accumulation of facts (for example, this is FCFF vis a vis FCFE, etc.).
Learning is a transformative process that reshapes character and perception. In Letter 76, Seneca encourages Lucilius to study not just for knowledge, but for wisdom—the kind that leads to virtue, tranquility, and resilience. I read this to apply to our professional education and endeavors. In Letter 6, Seneca praises Lucilius when he sees signs of moral progress, not just intellectual development. I share this idea because it is relevant to us, we transform ourselves by learning and being open to the possibility that … perhaps there is more to learn. NACVA membership offers a portal to serve, become part of a community and transform ourselves.
Regarding my current practice, I enjoy mentoring legal practitioners—who like me many years ago--are unaware of the complexities of valuation and damages. Besides practicing law and editing, I am relearning classical guitar and hoping to reach Level III by next summer (which means reading music and playing intermediate pieces from the likes of Bach, Tarrega, and Carulli properly), improving my written and spoken Italian and French, hiking, continuing to compete I road and gravel cycling events and reading.
It takes a community and I thank many now still with us and who have since passed for their time and knowledge passed.
Thank you for inviting me to share my thoughts and professional experiences with you and Association news readers. Back in the 1990s, there was limited information about how professionals could properly value a partial or majority business interest, much less, how to value intellectual property or calculate damages. The idea of using a multiplier was simple, far too simple and not backed by data. In my law practice, I was unable to add value or help business owners embroiled in a business divorce, much less business owners seeking to capital. NACVA provided me the educational tools that enabled me to understand the complexity involved valuing business and intellectual property interests, damages, and the how to challenge purported experts. I thoroughly enjoyed the educational component and was impressed by NACVA’s ability to offer courses that were current. Above all, the conferences and other events enabled me to meet many other professionals across the board and become part of a like-minded community. In retrospect, I have to say that I was a lucky person and thank many of those that I met at Conferences and through webinars, state chapter meetings, AVW and QuickRead.
In enjoy my current roles with NACVA, as a correspondent with AVW and Technical Editor with QuickRead. These roles enable me (and NACVA members) to remain current with best practices, learn from specialists, and better understand how one’s professional role will evolve over time. As I share this, I am thinking of how AI will transform our practices. For me the emergence of AI is promising. It will challenge us to be more proactive, but also require us to challenge us to ask deeper questions. The latter will help us better serve our clients and become better practitioners.
With time, I see the wisdom of those that came before us. Seneca in his letters to Lucilius reflects on change and learning—especially in how they relate to personal growth, philosophical maturity, and the pursuit of wisdom. Seneca did not treat learning as mere accumulation of facts (for example, this is FCFF vis a vis FCFE, etc.).
Learning is a transformative process that reshapes character and perception. In Letter 76, Seneca encourages Lucilius to study not just for knowledge, but for wisdom—the kind that leads to virtue, tranquility, and resilience. I read this to apply to our professional education and endeavors. In Letter 6, Seneca praises Lucilius when he sees signs of moral progress, not just intellectual development. I share this idea because it is relevant to us, we transform ourselves by learning and being open to the possibility that … perhaps there is more to learn. NACVA membership offers a portal to serve, become part of a community and transform ourselves.
Regarding my current practice, I enjoy mentoring legal practitioners—who like me many years ago--are unaware of the complexities of valuation and damages. Besides practicing law and editing, I am relearning classical guitar and hoping to reach Level III by next summer (which means reading music and playing intermediate pieces from the likes of Bach, Tarrega, and Carulli properly), improving my written and spoken Italian and French, hiking, continuing to compete I road and gravel cycling events and reading.
It takes a community and I thank many now still with us and who have since passed for their time and knowledge passed.
Michael Gregory, NSA, MBA, ASA, CVA has shared the following letter to bring us up to date on his life and career.
I appreciate you contacting me and asking me to tell my story. Everyone has a story. Take the time to really listen to others, and you may find a path and alternatives that you may never have imagined.
History
Educationally, I started out as a civil engineer with a BS and MS in civil engineering and then civil and environmental engineering with degrees from Valparaiso University and the University of Wisconsin- Madison. Going to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Chicago, I was a civil engineer, study manager, and project manager. I became a registered Professional Engineer in 1982 and maintained that license through 2012. Working as an engineer project manager, I realized that nothing is built unless it is funded. I returned to school while working and earned my MBA in Finance at DePaul University. My last course addressed business valuation. I loved that class.
I found out about a position at the IRS valuing businesses and real property, and analyzing research and development in corporations, so I went to work at the IRS. In my first two years, I worked on dozens of cases and testified twice in winning cases in the U.S. Tax Court. A manager’s position opened up in the Minneapolis-St. In the Paul area, I applied and became the manager. We had nine technical employees in the Twin Cities and St. Louis. Providing what internal customers needed, we grew from 9 to 21 technical employees, plus support employees, in three years, with another post of duty in Kansas City. I managed the group for seven years and became a Federal General Real Property Appraiser (1992-2013). We became known nationally as a litigation support group with valuation and engineering issues.
With some other career changes, working in research at the IRS for four years with PhD economists and statisticians, I applied lessons learned in business valuation to improve voluntary compliance nationally. Moving over as a controller for two years, I was called upon by the IRS CFO to help restructure the budget of $10.5 billion from five regions and 31 districts to a new organization with 13 business units. Upon my return, I was an acting Assistant Director for two years. As an executive, you need to be where you are required when called. Due to other family health issues, I returned to the IRS Engineering Program as a Territory Manager and, among the territory managers, volunteered to head up business valuation from 2000-2011. During that time, I had 14 to 17 states at any one time.
Along the way, I became a qualified mediator with the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2004. Mediation became part of my passions, both in my vocation and my volunteer interests. As a former litigation specialist, I mediated having learned the value of listening actively and saving time, money, resources, mental toil, and physical toil on me and my clients. Mediation and negotiation became part of my passions at work and with volunteering. We trained over 2,000 specialists at the IRS in mediation.
I became an Accredited Valuation Analyst (AVA) as a government employee with NACVA in 2003 and was later converted to a CVA. I became an ASA in business valuation in 2004 with the American Society of Appraisers. From 2000 to 2011, I was involved with most of the Fortune 500 companies in my area and addressed mediation and valuation issues nationally.
In July 2011, I retired from the IRS. Jim Hitchner had me on his Valuation Products and Services webinar in August. In September, three parties asked me to do some work for them, and I formed Michael Gregory Consulting, LLC. A publisher contacted me to write a book on how to work with the IRS. We preannounced the book in January, and the book will be released in June 2012. I was asked to speak at over 50 locations, but could not address all of them while starting up a business. Now, 14 years later, I have written 12 books, contributed to three others, and written over 55 articles and given over 700 presentations.
My firm focuses on conflict resolution, negotiations, mediation, and consulting related to business valuation. The work has focused on business to government (IRS), business to business, and within businesses (succession planning, shareholder disputes) and lately more diverse issues such as a break up of a law firm in Washington DC, tribal issues with indigenous tribes, internal issues with national unions, and union – healthcare contract negotiations. I have morphed into working on issues I am interested in and where I feel I can add value. This has been very rewarding for me. I still critique business valuation reports that may be submitted to the IRS to point out areas where the IRS may take exception and offer ideas on minimizing risk for business valuers monthly.
Further Insights with NACVA
NACVA has been very good to me at several levels. NACVA agreed to work with the IRS to help train and continually educate IRS employees in business valuation. It was the most open organization of the appraisal organizations, and that was greatly appreciated.
When I left the IRS, NACVA members encouraged and helped me, as mentors, to set up my firm and review my reports. I knew nothing about marketing. I was told I needed to get in front of five people a week. That seemed daunting. However, it started to pay off between phone calls, emails, and writing short notes offering to take others out for coffee or lunch. I needed to listen to them actively, and they needed to like me, trust me, and see value added in what I offer. Using social media like LinkedIn daily, blogging weekly, and developing my web page made a huge difference. Speaking over 50 times a year and using other techniques, with feedback from my SEO advisors, has also had a major positive impact.
Around the Valuation World was new when I opened up my firm. In 2012, I began contributing to the program. Over time, I have typically offered insights on several publications for 10 minutes monthly, interviewed guests, and led panels on the program.
I am pleased to present almost annually at NACVA conferences and with other professional appraisal organizations, state CPA societies, Estate Planning Councils, and others. Marketing is continually needed. NACVA members taught me that.
In the third quarter of 2013, NACVA honored me by naming me an Outstanding Member.
It has been my pleasure to serve on the Valuation Credentialling Board and the Ethics and Oversight Board, including as chair. I have also served on the ASA Business Valuation Committee. Volunteering and participating actively in an organization like NACVA provides great insight, develops relationships, and fosters growth.
Winding Down and Moving Forward
I volunteer as a mentor for four startups and six ongoing businesses, meeting monthly via Zoom or over coffee. With my understanding of listening actively from mediation, I ask probing, open-ended questions and gently guide with suggestions to help them sort out areas where they are looking for guidance. I find this very enjoyable. It has developed from my business valuation and mediation background.
At this point in my career, I am winding down my valuation work and expanding my voluntary work on conflict resolution, poverty issues, and other volunteer activities. With my wife of 47 years, who retired seven years ago, I look forward to spending more time with my children, their spouses, our grandchildren, and our grand dogs. We are blessed that they all live within 10 minutes of our house.
As you proceed with your career, reflect on what gives you joy and spend time in those areas that work for you. By keeping a balanced perspective and working in this field, I have found a happy place with my career, and I hope you can, too.
History
Educationally, I started out as a civil engineer with a BS and MS in civil engineering and then civil and environmental engineering with degrees from Valparaiso University and the University of Wisconsin- Madison. Going to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Chicago, I was a civil engineer, study manager, and project manager. I became a registered Professional Engineer in 1982 and maintained that license through 2012. Working as an engineer project manager, I realized that nothing is built unless it is funded. I returned to school while working and earned my MBA in Finance at DePaul University. My last course addressed business valuation. I loved that class.
I found out about a position at the IRS valuing businesses and real property, and analyzing research and development in corporations, so I went to work at the IRS. In my first two years, I worked on dozens of cases and testified twice in winning cases in the U.S. Tax Court. A manager’s position opened up in the Minneapolis-St. In the Paul area, I applied and became the manager. We had nine technical employees in the Twin Cities and St. Louis. Providing what internal customers needed, we grew from 9 to 21 technical employees, plus support employees, in three years, with another post of duty in Kansas City. I managed the group for seven years and became a Federal General Real Property Appraiser (1992-2013). We became known nationally as a litigation support group with valuation and engineering issues.
With some other career changes, working in research at the IRS for four years with PhD economists and statisticians, I applied lessons learned in business valuation to improve voluntary compliance nationally. Moving over as a controller for two years, I was called upon by the IRS CFO to help restructure the budget of $10.5 billion from five regions and 31 districts to a new organization with 13 business units. Upon my return, I was an acting Assistant Director for two years. As an executive, you need to be where you are required when called. Due to other family health issues, I returned to the IRS Engineering Program as a Territory Manager and, among the territory managers, volunteered to head up business valuation from 2000-2011. During that time, I had 14 to 17 states at any one time.
Along the way, I became a qualified mediator with the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2004. Mediation became part of my passions, both in my vocation and my volunteer interests. As a former litigation specialist, I mediated having learned the value of listening actively and saving time, money, resources, mental toil, and physical toil on me and my clients. Mediation and negotiation became part of my passions at work and with volunteering. We trained over 2,000 specialists at the IRS in mediation.
I became an Accredited Valuation Analyst (AVA) as a government employee with NACVA in 2003 and was later converted to a CVA. I became an ASA in business valuation in 2004 with the American Society of Appraisers. From 2000 to 2011, I was involved with most of the Fortune 500 companies in my area and addressed mediation and valuation issues nationally.
In July 2011, I retired from the IRS. Jim Hitchner had me on his Valuation Products and Services webinar in August. In September, three parties asked me to do some work for them, and I formed Michael Gregory Consulting, LLC. A publisher contacted me to write a book on how to work with the IRS. We preannounced the book in January, and the book will be released in June 2012. I was asked to speak at over 50 locations, but could not address all of them while starting up a business. Now, 14 years later, I have written 12 books, contributed to three others, and written over 55 articles and given over 700 presentations.
My firm focuses on conflict resolution, negotiations, mediation, and consulting related to business valuation. The work has focused on business to government (IRS), business to business, and within businesses (succession planning, shareholder disputes) and lately more diverse issues such as a break up of a law firm in Washington DC, tribal issues with indigenous tribes, internal issues with national unions, and union – healthcare contract negotiations. I have morphed into working on issues I am interested in and where I feel I can add value. This has been very rewarding for me. I still critique business valuation reports that may be submitted to the IRS to point out areas where the IRS may take exception and offer ideas on minimizing risk for business valuers monthly.
Further Insights with NACVA
NACVA has been very good to me at several levels. NACVA agreed to work with the IRS to help train and continually educate IRS employees in business valuation. It was the most open organization of the appraisal organizations, and that was greatly appreciated.
When I left the IRS, NACVA members encouraged and helped me, as mentors, to set up my firm and review my reports. I knew nothing about marketing. I was told I needed to get in front of five people a week. That seemed daunting. However, it started to pay off between phone calls, emails, and writing short notes offering to take others out for coffee or lunch. I needed to listen to them actively, and they needed to like me, trust me, and see value added in what I offer. Using social media like LinkedIn daily, blogging weekly, and developing my web page made a huge difference. Speaking over 50 times a year and using other techniques, with feedback from my SEO advisors, has also had a major positive impact.
Around the Valuation World was new when I opened up my firm. In 2012, I began contributing to the program. Over time, I have typically offered insights on several publications for 10 minutes monthly, interviewed guests, and led panels on the program.
I am pleased to present almost annually at NACVA conferences and with other professional appraisal organizations, state CPA societies, Estate Planning Councils, and others. Marketing is continually needed. NACVA members taught me that.
In the third quarter of 2013, NACVA honored me by naming me an Outstanding Member.
It has been my pleasure to serve on the Valuation Credentialling Board and the Ethics and Oversight Board, including as chair. I have also served on the ASA Business Valuation Committee. Volunteering and participating actively in an organization like NACVA provides great insight, develops relationships, and fosters growth.
Winding Down and Moving Forward
I volunteer as a mentor for four startups and six ongoing businesses, meeting monthly via Zoom or over coffee. With my understanding of listening actively from mediation, I ask probing, open-ended questions and gently guide with suggestions to help them sort out areas where they are looking for guidance. I find this very enjoyable. It has developed from my business valuation and mediation background.
At this point in my career, I am winding down my valuation work and expanding my voluntary work on conflict resolution, poverty issues, and other volunteer activities. With my wife of 47 years, who retired seven years ago, I look forward to spending more time with my children, their spouses, our grandchildren, and our grand dogs. We are blessed that they all live within 10 minutes of our house.
As you proceed with your career, reflect on what gives you joy and spend time in those areas that work for you. By keeping a balanced perspective and working in this field, I have found a happy place with my career, and I hope you can, too.
Please send your life and career highlights to Melissa Cardwell, Executive Director, at MelissaC1@NACVA.com.
