Staying close to the field: How Rachel Treadwell approaches leadership in valuations

As part of HousingWire’s Editor’s Choice awards spotlight series, we’re spotlighting past Women of Influence honorees whose careers, leadership and insights continue to influence the industry. This series offers a closer look at the experiences and decisions that have shaped their paths.

HousingWire reached out to Rachel Treadwell, Chief Valuations Officer at Nationwide Property and Appraisal Services (NPAS), to hear her perspective on leadership, valuation trends and the importance of staying connected to the realities of the field.

Treadwell was selected as a 2024 Women of Influence honoree for her leadership in developing NPAS’s Quality Control program, her ability to connect operational execution with client needs and her broader impact on advancing appraisal practices.

Leading from experience

For Treadwell, effective leadership starts with understanding the work at a ground level.

“The experiences that most prepared me for the leadership role I’m in today came from actually doing the jobs of the people I now lead,” she said.

That hands-on experience continues to inform how she leads teams and makes decisions.

“It helps me make more practical decisions. I’m not just thinking strategically, I’m thinking about how those decisions will play out in execution for my team and my clients.”

Staying close to the field

In the appraisal space, Treadwell emphasizes that strong leadership requires more than tracking metrics.

“You can’t lead effectively from the desk view—you have to lead from the field perspective, too.”

While turn times and compliance benchmarks matter, she notes that they don’t capture the full complexity of the work.

“The real insight comes from understanding what it actually takes to complete an appraisal—access challenges, property complexities, varying lender requirements, regulatory changes and shifting market conditions.”

That perspective allows leaders to set more realistic expectations and build stronger relationships with appraisers—ultimately improving outcomes for clients.

Advice for the next generation

Treadwell encourages future leaders to take a broader view of the housing ecosystem.

“Invest in understanding the business end-to-end. The more you understand how different parts of the housing ecosystem connect, the more confidently you can lead across teams and influence outcomes at a higher level.”

She also highlights the importance of building strong professional relationships.

“Strong sponsorship and honest feedback are often what accelerate careers—not just hard work alone.”

Nominations for HousingWire’s 2026 Women of Influence award are open through May 31.