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With Tom, it is probably easier to ask "What haven't
you done?" instead of "What have you done?" One of the many
hats he has worn, and he wears a lot of them, was owning a tire
business. During those years, he began to collect rental
houses. When several of his friends bought houses for their
collection of properties and later found them to be "Money Pits", he
started informally inspecting houses before they were purchased by
his friends. He did not do this for long when he had the
thought... Who inspects for the home buyers? 30 days later he
was in the business and now considers himself a "Ralph Nader" of
home inspections. His desire is to protect and educate the
consumer. He has even been accepted as an expert witness for
the Judicial System.
It was when he and another area inspector, Miki
Mertz, realized the shortage of education opportunities for
Inspectors that Midwest Inspectors Institute was born.
Background:
Certified Inspector, American Society of Home
Inspectors (ASHI)
ICC Certified Building Inspector, Plans Examiner,
Commercial Electrical Inspector & Combination Dwelling
Inspector
- Co-Founder of Midwest Inspectors Institute
President, Great Plains ASHI; 1995 & 1998
Speaker & Educator for Regional & National Home
Inspector Organizations & Code Enforcement Officers
Speaker of ASHI Council of Representatives; 2000 -
2002
Alternate to ASHI National Board of Directors; 2002
- 2003- ASHI National Officer's Nominating Committee; 2007 - 2008
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Tom Lauhon
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Miki has a passion for people in general, but
especially kids and houses. Miki has been actively performing home
inspections since 1992, but before that she taught in the classroom
for more than 10 years and continues teaching at Midwest Inspectors
Institute and as Band Director at a local private school. Before
Miki got her on the job training as a home inspector, she had no
mechanical background outside of handing tools to her dad as she
watched him perform delicate surgery during home repairs. In the
beginning, Miki looked up to established ASHI Inspectors as well as
most others, since she is only 5’2” when she stretches, but over the
years, she became one of the 1st 10 women to become an
ASHI member and has become one of the select few successful women in
what many perceive as a man’s profession. We at MII are quite proud
to have her affiliated with us. She is a top notch inspector and
educator. She has a way of story telling that gets the concept
across and she really enjoys helping the new inspectors get off to a
solid start in their chosen careers.
Background:
Certified Inspector, American Society of Home
Inspectors (ASHI)
Certified Radon Tester, National Environmental Health
Association (NEHA)- Co-Founder of Midwest Inspectors Institute
President, Great Plains ASHI;
1996, 1999
ASHI Council of Representatives; 2002 -
2006- ASHI Strategic Planning Committee; 2003
- ASHI
Committee Chair for Ethics Complaints; 2005
- ASHI National Officer's Nominating Committee; 2005 -
2006
ASHI National Board of Directors; 2006 - Present |
Miki Mertz
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