INTERESTING TIDBITS ABOUT THE AUTHOR

He has:

·       Ridden an ostrich and an elephant.

·       Gone over a waterfall in a canoe.

·       Flown in a sailplane (glider), and after seven hours of instruction, soloed an airplane.

·       Battled forest fires and scaled logs.

·       Crashed in a hot air balloon.

·       Been covered in fire ants.

·       Worked as ranch hand.

·       Been an aerial photo interpreter.

·       Cruised timber in the swamps of northern MN.

·       Trapped skunks and been kicked in the stomach by a mule.

·       Spent his first four months of marriage living in a tent.

·       With his 14-year-old grandson, climbed to the top of Lizard’s Head Rock and discovered  its secret.

·       Fired a bazooka.

·       Played a lot of tennis and some volleyball, golf, skiing, softball, iceboating, hockey, and an expert in snowball fights.

·       Captured and released into the forest numerous wood rats and rattlesnakes (like similar persons, they deserve each other).

·       Died three times (came back each time!)

·      Cast member of the Sedona Art Center stage production of "You Can't Take It With You"

·       Rafted the Grand Canyon.

·       Had to sell a business to the Mafia.

·       Always had a dog and loves animals.

·       Invented and patented the “Tot-Lok,” a cabinet latch for protection of small children.

·       Traveled to Singapore, Columbia, Switzerland, Panama, France, Bangkok, Saint Lucia, Germany, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Austria, Mexico, Australia, Bermuda, Netherlands, Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Canada, Costa Rica, Grand Cayman, Great Britain, Belgium, and the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii).

Education

·       Became a real estate broker in three very different states: Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona.

·       Obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from the University of Minnesota.

·       Earned a graduate diploma from the American S&L Institute and its School for Executive Development at the University of Washington.

·       Achieved  both the MAI and SRA real estate appraisal and consulting designations of the Appraisal Institute, the largest and most prestigious professional appraisal organization, and has been granted coveted Life Membership status.

Business Experience

His varied business accomplishments have included:

·       Owning a bottled water company.

·       Founding and for ten years was the editor and publisher of UPDATE CAPE CORAL, a  real estate magazine and newsletter with subscribers in all fifty states and 24 foreign countries, still being published.

·       Operating his own full-service real estate brokerage and property management company.

·       Appraising real estate in twelve states and American Samoa.

·       Developing residential subdivisions.

·       Serving many times as a Commissioner for District Court in condemnation cases.

·       Being  a home designer and remodeler.

·       Testifying as an expert witness on residential, commercial, industrial, and special purpose properties and in County, Circuit, District, Federal District, and Federal Bankruptcy Courts.

·       Being VP and Chief Appraiser for a large savings and loan in Minneapolis.

·       Serving ten years on the International Profession Practice Committee (i.e. ethics) and the IPP Review Committee of the International Society of Real Estate Appraisers in Chicago.

·       Being VP and  Ft. Myers FL branch manager for AmeriFirst Appraisal Co. of Miami.

·      Originated the appraisal and consulting division of The Towle Company in Minneapolis.

·       Being editor of the following club and professional newsletters:

1.     Southwest Breeze of the SW Minneapolis Kiwanis Club.

2.     The Correlator (which he originated) of the Minneapolis Chapter of the SREA.

3.     Tire Tracks of the Sedona Car Club.

·       Being President of:

1.     David S. Cross & Associates, appraisers and consultants, St Louis Park, MN

2.     Cross Associates Ltd. Inc. of Cape Coral, FL, appraisers, brokers, and consultants.

3.     Update, Inc., Cape Coral, publishers.

4.     Davida Consultants, Inc. of  Ft. Myers, FL, and Sedona, AZ, appraisers, brokers, and consultants.

·       Surviving  55 continuously active years in the grinder of the business world and still doing real estate consulting.