2017 ASA International Appraisers Conference Wrap-Up

The American Society of Appraisers recently held its annual 2017 International Appraisers Conference on October 7-10, 2017 in Houston, Texas at the Hilton Americas. In keeping the tradition of providing the highest-level of education for appraisal experts, this year’s IAC featured more than 40 sessions of the most comprehensive educational programming available taught by preeminent thought-leaders from all appraisal disciplines. IAC’17 kicked off Saturday night with a Welcome Reception, allowing attendees to get to know one another and network.

Sunday was the first full day of the conference with introductions and welcoming remarks from the Conference Chair and International President, Sharon A. Desfor, ASA. Immediately after was the keynote presentation by Tom DeLuca, whose approach of education through entertainment, taught us how to overcome obstacles to success. Following the keynote presentation, attendees adjourned to the appropriate specialized educational track they chose.

The first educational sessions of the day included presentations on Oil/Gas: Refining Trends and Outlook by Karl Bartholomew, ASA; Forevermark Diamonds, Value Beyond the 4Cs by Sam Panasiuk; Navigating Current Markets and Estates with Millennials by Mark Prendergast; Conducting a Reappraisal for Ad-Valorem Taxes – The Mass Appraisal Experience by Lisa A. Hobart, ASA; and Attacking & Defending while Staying Out of Trouble by Ted Whitmer, MAI, AI-GRS, CRE, CCIM. Educational sessions continued with topics on Estimating the Fair Market Value of a Solar PV Project; Top Ten Report Corrections: Make Your Next Report Your Best Report; David Webb: An American Classic Past and Present; and Scope of Work within Appraisal Review by Steve Dean, ASA, Sandra J. Tropper, ASA, Mark Emanuel, and Joel D. Gonia, ASA-ARM & MTS respectively.

Lunch and the International Awards Presentation followed these educational sessions. During the Awards Presentation, ASA members, volunteers, chapters and staff were recognized and honored for their achievements. William A. Johnston, ASA won the Jerry F. Larkins Award in recognition of exceptional volunteer service to and support of ASA, its members, its staff and the appraisal profession, Joy L. Brown of ASA headquarters staff won the Sylvia Wade Olson Award in recognition of outstanding dedication and commitment to ASA and invaluable service to the appraisal profession, Sandra J. Tropper, ASA won Examiner of the Year in recognition of exemplary ethical standards, and Cheryl Kessler, ASA won Chapter Member of the Year in recognition of outstanding dedication and commitment to ASA’s San Diego Chapter. Chapter awards winners included NorCal Chapter for Best Membership Recruitment Program; Philadelphia Chapter for Outstanding Chapter Education Event; NorCal Chapter for Best Outreach Program; and Chicago Chapter for Outstanding Chapter of the Year.

After lunch, sessions touched on topics of Plastics Industry Market Trends and Recent Developments & State of the Semi-Conductor Industry by Kenneth M. Heyse, ASA and Alexander Steele, ASA; Dealing with Disasters: Documentation, Standard Practices and Case Studies by Elissa Gydish, AM, Rosa Lowinger, and Steve Pine; Focus on Fluorescence – Exploring UV LW/SW Testing of Gems by Claire Mitchell, FGA, DGA; Valuation Issues as They Relate to The Assessment of Complex Commercial and Industrial Properties by Alexander Hazen, ASA, IFAS and Joseph G. Kettell, ASA; and What’s New at the IRS on Estate and Gift Tax Matters by James F. Hogan. The last sessions of the day included presentations on Truck & Trailer/Construction Equipment by Wade W. Whitenburg and Michael E. Winterfeld, ASA; Print Identification: Old Masters to Modern Processes by Kelley Magill, Ph.D.; The Emergence of ’60’s & ’70’s Jewelry by Gina D’Onofrio, ASA, MGA; Introduction to Going Concern Valuation by Robert C. Schlegel, FASA, L. Deane Wilson, ASA, and William P. (Bill) Wilson, FASA; and Tax Assessment and Appraisal Review by Richard J. Conti, ASA, ARM-PP.

The Educational Foundation Auction and President’s Networking Reception followed Monday’s educational classes in the evening. There was a silent auction, which was a huge success due to over 60 items being donated. Items in the silent auction included jewelry, wine, books, classes and even liquor. The auction and President’s Networking Reception concluded the first full day of the conference.

Monday was busy with over 20 educational sessions from more than 30 industry experts. A second keynote presentation was scheduled for Monday morning at 8:00am. Donna J. Walker, FASA, ARM-BV, Carla Glass, FASA, Sheryl Gillett, FASA, and Richard W. Gilmore, FASA presented on Changing Perceptions of Value. Educational sessions began immediately after with topics ranging from You’re the Expert: Write Your Own Blue Book; Bayou Bend and Rienzi: Two Houses and Collections of the MFA Houston; ROLEX – Vintage Sports Watches a Chronological History; Being a Better Expert Witness: Real Property Mock Trial; You’re the Expert: Write Your Own Blue Book; Mass Appraisal of Business Personal Property; ARM: Report Reviews Affect All Appraisers; ASA Update; and Appraisal Review in the Banking & Finance Industry. Leaders in the profession instructing these sessions were Sharon A. Desfor, ASA; Dave Mendenhall; Mike Clark; Bradley Brooks; Misty Flores; Adam Harris; Bruce D. Greenberg, ASA, ARM-RP; Brent Bersin; Christina Maccio; James Munisteri; Steve Ryan; Robert Stanley; Susanne Alaman; Hal Long; Jack Young, ASA, ARM-MTS; Theresa Brossmer, ASA, MGA, ARM-GJ; Melanie Modica, ASA, ARM-PP; John Russell; Todd Paradis; and Paul R. Cogley Jr., ASA.

Following lunch were presentations on Preparing for an Appraisal Review – Financial Statement Audits and Litigation by Robert S. Svoboda, ASA and Robert J. Stall, ASA; The Great Divide: Difficulties in Divorce Property Cases by Robert Goldberg, ASA; Classification of World’s Opal by Damien Cody: Is There A Place for Iowa Curve Analysis by Richard Ellsworth, ASA; Moving the Estate Appraisal to Market: Liquidating Unique Residential Contents by Shirley Sanders; Issues Affecting Appraisers and Synthetics by Tiffany Stevens; Marketing Your Appraisal Services by Bruce D. Greenberg, ASA, ARM-RP, Melanie Bartlett, Kimberly Bindra, Todd Paradis, and Debra Sweeney; A Bridge to International Standards by Thomas Boyle; MTS and BV – How Two Disciplines Work Together by Raymond D. Rath, ASA; They Came, They Installed, They Valued: Monumental and Unusual Works by Beatrice Chan, Laurance D. Triplette, ASA, and Kyle Young; The Organics of Coral by Eric Fritz; Market Extracted Adjustments by Gary Snowdon, ASA; Common USPAP-Related Errors and What’s New in USPAP by Carla Glass, FASA.

The Women’s Networking Reception and ASA’s Rising Stars event was held Tuesday evening. These receptions gave attendees the opportunity to meet and network with prominent women across all of ASA’s appraisal disciplines as well as rising professionals in the appraisal industry.

Wednesday was the last day of the conference and consisted of over 10 educational sessions ranging from How to Market and Grow Your Visibility as an Appraisal Professional by Analee McClellan, ASA; Impossible Comps and Possible Solutions: Navigating Market Road Blocks Successfully by Jane C. Jacob, ASA; The New Moving Target: Vetting Synthetics by David Skuza; Real Property Appraisal Review from Basics to Business Development by Travis L. Avant, ASA; Writing Effective Reports by J. Mark Penny, ASA, ARM-BV; Elements of an Appraisal Report by Sandra J. Tropper, ASA; Using Effective Social Media Profiles to Drive Business Development Results by Shavonna Roberts Schreiber; Pricing and Rarity of Fancy Colored Diamonds by Oren Schneider; Deepening Learning for Participants in Your Workshops and Classes by Jack Young , ASA, ARM-MTS; Reports in Courts: How to Write Reports to Withstand the Witness Stand by Charles T. Rosoff, ASA, Kenneth Linsner, ASA, and Edith Yeomans, FASA; Developing a Database For Your Practice by Matthew Kaufman, ASA; and an off-site tour to Minute Main Park for all Machinery and Technical Specialties attendees.

ASA hosted a series of pre-conference educational courses in Houston prior to IAC2017. The given courses were AR208 – Appraisal Review Report Writing Workshop; BV202 – Introduction to Business Valuation, Income Approach; BV204 – Advanced Topics in Business Valuation; BV401 – CEIV Course – Valuation for Financial Reporting; MD220 – Ethics and the Appraiser; ME202 – Machinery and Equipment Valuation Methodology; ME204 – Machinery and Equipment Valuation – Advanced Topics and Report Writing; PP445 – Personal Property Appraisal Report Writing Update.

The American Society of Appraisers would like to thank HeliValue$, Inc.; Knowcraft Analytics; Trugman Valuation; Business Valuation Resources; Sweeney & Bartlett; MG Valuation; Kersten’s Antiques; ASA Houston Chapter; The MTS Journal; ASA PAC; BV Review; Valuation Review; Borrowman; Veristrat, Inc.; New Orleans Auction Gallery; TagnFi; RCReports; American Business Appraisers; International President and Conference Chair Sharon A. Desfor, ASA; and the planning committee and advisors Matthew Kaufman, ASA; Juanita E. Addeo FGA GG, ASA, MGA; Paul R. Cogley, Jr., ASA; Melanie Modica, ASA, ARM-PP; Ronald E. Prat, ASA; William M. Engel, ASA; Bruce A. Johnson, ASA; Rosanne Aumiller, ASA; Jaclyn Burket, ASA; Jay E. Fishman, FASA; George Hawkins, ASA; Kevin M. Janke, ASA for all of their hard work and support. Photos from the 2017 International Appraisers Conference can be viewed here.

Save the Date! Make plans to attend the 2018 International Appraisers Conference at Anaheim, CA on October 7-10, 2018.

Thank you again to all of our sponsors for making ASA’s 2017 International Appraisers Conference a great success!