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The American Society of Appraisers’ Houston Chapter will host its 2020 Energy Valuation Conference on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at the Federal Reserve Bank in Houston, Texas. Event Chair Carol Akers Klug, Location Chair Paula Lindsey, Sponsor Chair Laurie-Leigh White, Speaker Chair Alan Harp, and IT Chair Michael Morgan provided an overview:

Q: Can you provide Learning Objectives, Presenters and Topics of the 2020 Energy Valuation Conference?

A: Houston Chapter’s Energy Valuation Conference is designed to bring together prominent energy valuation professionals along with exceptional networking opportunities. Featured speakers are remarkable leaders in the energy industry from all corners of USA demonstrating a variety of perspectives in BV & MTS:

1. Jeff Gustavson of Chevron speaking on Acquisition & Divestment Activity in the Permian Basin;
2. Alex Lidbeck of Chemical Data on Extensive Chemical Investments. Increased Exposure to the International Market;
3. Art Berman of Energy Specialist & Consultant on Oil & Gas Property Valuation – Litigation Support;
4. Dr. Kenneth Medlock of Baker Institute on Geopolitical Energy Outlook;
5. Robert Teigman of Houlihan Lokey on Midstream Market Conditions / Update;
6. Cameron Alguire of Tudor Pickering Holt on Investment Banking – Global Energy & Power;
7. Adrian Galis & Steve Sprenger of RSM on Energy Storage/Distributed Generation, MTS;
8. John Fossum of Petrie Partners on Current State of the Upstream Market.

Q: What makes energy valuation so important to appraisers?

A: This very dynamic and cyclical industry affects all cities across the world from Denver to Houston to South America. Even if your client isn’t an energy company, energy can still play a vital role in its performance.

Q: What did attendees take away from 2019 EVC? Diversified attendees made perfect networking.

A: The 143 attendees (25% from out of state) gained a better understanding of the current economic and geopolitical conditions of the industry, and found solutions to challenges faced in energy valuations. EVC is a very holistic and well-rounded conference that attendees enjoy and learn from – not just appraisers. 2019 attendees included: 35% CPAs, 25% ASA.BVs, 20% ASA.M&E, 15% CFAs, 10% Engineers/Industry executives.

Q: When is 2020 EVC? Where can you register?

A: Register on the ASA Houston Chapter website: https://houstonappraisers.org/energy-valuation-conference-evc/ to attend or sponsor the May 13, 2020 Energy Valuation Conference.

• Early bird until March 31 and (after April 1 fees) are: $250($300) for members; $275($350) for non-members; $225($275)/p for 4 or more from same firm.
• Substitution of registrants is allowed thru April 30, 2020.
• EVC 2020 will offer 8 hours of CPE and/or CE credits.
• No prerequisites or advanced preparation required.
• Non-refundable after March 31, 2020 and the last day to register is Sunday, May 10, 2020.
• Included: Buffet breakfast, mid-day snacks, lunch & a Texas-style appetizer & cocktail networking afterward.

Come on Down and Enjoy the Energy!

Click here to download our event flyer.

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Johnnie White, CEO: January 2020 Travels

This past January I had the opportunity to travel to Philadelphia, Orlando and Las Vegas to interact with local chapter members, leadership, students and prospective members at board meetings, symposiums and educational classes.

This month started off with a visit to the ASA Philadelphia Chapter as speaker for their local event, followed by the opportunity to attend their board meeting. I was excited to meet with chapter members, learn about their initiatives and upcoming events, and was extremely impressed at all the great things they are doing in Philly.

I then joined ASA’s International Vice President, Lorrie Beaumont, ASA, for The ASAE CEO Symposium in Orlando, FL. This 2-day executive training event hosted by the American Society of Association Executives provided advanced insight into defining annual priorities and determining how to work better together. It also explored challenges facing contemporary association leaders and highlighted the value of informed policy and strategy as primary tools of the leadership team. This important event will help ensure our continued strategic movement forward as we transition to adopt a new policy governance model.

Last, I closed out the month by attending ASA’s Principles of Valuation (POV) courses, BV201, BV203 and ME203, in Las Vegas, where I had to opportunity to spend time with over 40 students and instructors, William Quackenbush, ASA; Bruce Johnson, ASA; and Paul R. Cogley Jr., ASA. Students gained valuable insight into business and machinery & technical specialties valuation, and also received a personal spotlight into the many benefits and competitive advantages of becoming a credentialed member of the American Society of Appraisers.

To read more about my travels and other important news visit my Message from the CEO column on ASA’s Blog, or follow me on Twitter @johnniewhiteCEO and LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/johnnniewhiteceo for more ASA updates.

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Special spotlight on two upcoming local chapter events hosted by ASA’s Houston and Greater Miami chapters.

The Houston Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers will host a one day workshop for litigation support professionals on Thursday, April 16, 2020, prior to the two day Forensic Expert Witness Association (FEWA) National Conference on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18, 2020. Both events will be hosted on the campus of South Texas College of Law in Houston, TX, conveniently located within walking distance to hotels and restaurants.

Expert Witness Workshop & Mock Trial
Thursday, April 16, 2020
The Expert Witness Workshop & Mock Trial has been tailored for professionals who do litigation support or have an interest in future expert witness work, will feature topics presented by attorneys, judges and leading experts during the morning program, followed by a mock trial in the afternoon. Early registration is $250 and $350 after March 31, 2020. Fee includes lunch and happy hour. Registration and complete event details, including sponsorship opportunities, are available online.

FEWA National Conference
Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18, 2020
The 2020 FEWA National Conference has been tailored for seasoned experts and beginners, will feature topics presented by a faculty of 18 outstanding speakers, including Chief Justice Nathan Hecht and keynote speaker Benny Agosto Jr., a personal injury trial lawyer in Houston and author of over 30 published works on law topics. Early registration is $1,025 and $1,075 after March 1, 2020. Registration and complete event details are available online.

The Greater Miami Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers will host a one day course for professionals on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at the MBAF offices in Miami, FL.

The Business Appraiser as Expert Witness
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
The Business Appraiser as Expert Witness course is for professionals interested in real world examples of court testimony victories, failures, and most importantly, tips on the do’s & don’ts of expert testimony by the business appraiser. Course will be presented by Richard Wise, FASA, an expert who has testified in over 200 trials as a business appraiser and/or damages expert. Early registration is $20 for members and $25 for non-members and $25 for members and $30 for non-members after February 20, 2020. Registration and complete event details is available online.

Make plans to attend these leading events and benefit by expanding your knowledge base; growing your network of attorneys, judges, academics/thought leaders and fellow practitioners; and positioning your career or practice for advancement.

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The American Society of Appraisers local Denver chapter hosted a member tour of the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art on January 15, 2020. Deputy Curator Christopher Herron led the tour of the museum’s collections, which include the work of Vance Kirkland, regional fine and decorative art and a collection of international decorative art. The museum opened in 2018 in a state-of-the-art building designed by Seattle architect Jim Olson.

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Here’s a brief list of the top success-building tips to help advance your appraisal career or practice.

• Perform evaluations with confidence. Register for The Appraisal Foundation’s FREE USPAP-Compliant Sample Evaluations and Update on Standards January 16 webinar. Presentation will cover two sample evaluations, updates on Standards, and include Q&A.

• Know the latest USPAP changes. Register for ASA’s What’s New in USPAP 2020 January 29 webinar. A special emphasis will be upon what is important for MTS and PP appraisers.

• Build and manage your career for success. Post your resume, get alerts, apply for jobs and access customized learning content on ASA’s Job Bank.

• Make the most of your ASA membership. Take advantage of exclusive savings offered by our Benefit Partners.

• Manage your online brand and network of referral sources. Add/update your Find an Appraiser Portfolio and connect/follow with fellow ASA’s on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and more.

• Expand your marketability. Add a specialty or certification. Available programs include, Appraisal Review & Management, Intangible Asset, CEIV, Master Gemologist Appraiser, Aircraft, Going Concern and others.

• Stay on top of the profession’s latest developments. Visit ASA’s Marketplace for important webinar recordings, ASA’s ARM, BV and MTS Journals for articles, and ASA’s Newsroom for announcements, newsletters, videos and blog posts.

• Promote your success. Add the prestigious and globally recognized ASA credential and logo to your reports, website and marketing outreach. Visit ASA’s Branding Resources for logo files and Branding Guide.

• Continue your professional development. Register for upcoming ASA national, local chapter or e-learning classes, and attend an upcoming conference, like the 2020 ASA International Conference, October 11-13 at the Marriott Magnificent Mile in Chicago, IL.

• Make a difference. Become a mentor, support your local chapter’s Member-Get-A-Member Challenge, and make a donation to the ASA Educational Foundation or the NAIFA Education & Research Trust.

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Johnnie White, CEO: December 2019 Travels

This past December I had the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas to join business valuers, Ron Seigneur, ASA, and Ryan Cram to present at the 2019 MJBizCon in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

ASA joined 26 other participating professional organizations in the event’s special “Association Day”, with programming designed to bring together various groups for educational spotlights and networking. Talks focused on advocacy, best practices and workforce development.

More than 35,000 attended the 3-day event December 11-13, 2019.

To read more about my travels and other important news visit my Message from the CEO column on ASA’s Blog, or follow me on Twitter @johnniewhiteCEO and LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/johnnniewhiteceo for more ASA updates.

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On December 6, two Accredited Senior ASA appraisers – Garrett Schwartz and Jack Young – served as panelists at the California Board of Equalization meeting on “Assessment of Personal Property & Fixtures: Ensuring Accurate & Consistent Valuations & Application Methods.” Messrs. Schwartz and Young addressed the determination of life schedules for personal property fixtures and equipment and how the concept of one-size-fits all life schedules is not an adequate approach to equipment valuation for personal property taxation.

Any conclusion of value derived by using the assessor’s schedules must be reconciled to the market in order to reflect actual value. However, the tables used by tax assessors do not fully account for physical depreciation and don’t account for functional and economic obsolescence. Mr. Young recommends that the Board of Equalization include instructions in the Assessors’ Handbook directing county assessors in reconciling derived values to the market via listings, brokers, dealers, appraisers, industry experts, and market participants. Because all approaches to value – sales, cost, and income – are market approaches, it’s critical that assessors – as well as appraisers – always compare the value concluded using any valuation methodology to what is actually going on in the market and reconcile any disconnections.

Mr. Schwartz addressed specific problems with the current assessor methods in using life tables.  Such life tables are intended to be starting points for valuation but are not intended to be substituted for an appraiser’s professional judgment; they ignore functional and economic obsolescence and do not account for the value differences between manufacturers and models nor for differences in an assets condition. Mr. Schwartz reviewed information from ASA’s Estimated Normal Useful Life Study and recommended that the Board of Equalization assist appraisers in communicating with assessors about the differences between their mass appraisal techniques and the more precise results available from properly formulated and developed appraisals.

ASA values the contributions and expertise that our members provide to the appraisal profession. To view agenda or watch the video of the Board of Equalization meeting, please click here.

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This year’s edition of Art Basel Miami Beach (ABMB) captured global attention for one work in particular: Maurizio Cattelan’s “Comedian”, a banana duct taped to a wall. But as Debrah Dunner, an Accredited Member in Personal Property specializing in fine art and contemporary American craft tells us, there’s much more to the event and its satellite shows for appraisers.

“It’s good to make connections,” Ms. Dunner said, “it’s a lot of networking…it’s much easier to appraise an artwork and obtain necessary information [from galleries] when you have personal connections within the field”. With so much vital information being shared on an interpersonal basis, both making new connections and maintaining existing relationships is a big reason why she attends ABMB. But more than just the relationships, attending ABMB keeps Debrah up to date with the contemporary art world.

Ms. Dunner notes that going to ABMB “keeps me on the pulse of what’s happening in the contemporary art world”, even if it’s not the kinds of works she typically appraises. “It’s always good to see what’s happening with the new artists,” especially for when Ms. Dunner’s clients ask for her advice on what artists or works they may want to buy both to enjoy in their home and as a work that may be likely to appreciate in value. As she puts it, “knowing what’s happening in the contemporary art scene is always helpful.”

As for Cattelan’s talked about work, Ms. Dunner takes a more historical view: “In 1917, Marcel Duchamp put a urinal into a gallery and called it art (called “Fountain”), [and] right now there is a huge show of his work at the Hirshhorn Museum…if you look at it in art historical context, I don’t think it’s so outrageous.” Considering that Cattelan also created “America”, an 18-karat gold toilet, It would seem the Duchamp comparison is apt. “It’s kind of funny…I think it was ultimately a commentary on sensationalism and the art world.”

While ABMB might mark the end of the year, Ms. Dunner’s 2020 will be active. Not only does she own Aesthetica Art Services, a DC-based art services firm that provides appraisals and consulting, but she will also be working as the DC representative for Freeman’s Auction House in Philadelphia. Connect with Debrah online at aestheticaart.com, LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.

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Countdown to the highly popular and successful, ASA-NAIFA Eastern Region Appraisal Conference 2020 has begun. Scheduled for April 22-23, 2020 at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, NJ, the 2-day event has grown to become a must-attend for real property appraisers servicing the greater U.S. eastern region.

Here’s a sneak peek at the event’s schedule of events:

Day 1 Highlights

• Registration/Breakfast
• Sponsor tables open
• Opening comments, featuring Robert Solotist, ASA, IFA – Conference Chair
• USPAP session, featuring Dave Doering, ASA, IFA and Ernie Demba, FASA, IFAS
• Lunch (included)
• USPAP session (cont.)
• Social event at Olón Restaurant

Day 2 Highlights

• Registration/Breakfast
• Sponsor tables opens
• Opening comments featuring Robert Solotist, ASA, IFA – Conference Chair
• Option A session – Being Anti-Social is Anti-Business, featuring Ken Jones, ASA
• Option B session – Simplify Your Life and Grow Your Appraisal Business, featuring Keith Ellis, COO Anow; Tom Munizzo, ASA, IFA, DAR; and T.J. McCarthy, ASA, IFA, SRA
• Lunch (included)
• Option A session – ABC’s of Housing Development, featuring Steven Mlenak Esq., and Robert Goldsmith Esq., Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith and Davis; and Surveying – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, featuring Lauren Plump, V.P Morgan Engineering
• Option B session – Business Valuation, an Opportunity for Real Estate Appraisers, featuring William Quackenbush, ASA and others
• Option A session – NJ Law (NJ appraisers only), featuring Joseph Palumbo, SRA, President of the NJ Real Estate Appraisal Board
• Option B session – PA Law (PA appraisers only), featuring Robert Luciani, ASA, IFA
• Option C session – Appraising Unique Properties (all other states), featuring Michael Ehrenberg, ASA and Joel Meyers, Esq, ASA, SCGREA

Full conference, 2-day, 1-day or networking reception only registration options available starting in January.

Discounted hotel accommodations are available, but must be reserved prior to April 10, 2020.

For the latest event details visit the Conference’s website, or for sponsorship opportunities contact Conference Chair, Bob Solotist, ASA, IFA, at bobs1@optonline.net.

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The American Society of Appraisers congratulates Dr. Vitaly Guzhva, ASA, faculty member at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, on being awarded a 2019-2020 Fulbright Scholar Award.

The award is the most highly competitive program for international educational exchange in the United States.

As reported in Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University News, November 6, 2019, Dr. Vitaly Guzhva is a former military and corporate pilot, as well as a Daytona Beach Campus alumnus, he has taught Aviation Finance at Embry-Riddle since 2004. For his Fulbright Scholar period, he will spend five months in the world capital of aircraft leasing and financing: Dublin, Ireland. With about 50 percent of aircraft worldwide operating on a lease, more than half are managed from Dublin. Guzhva will spend his Fulbright period researching and guest lecturing at the University College Dublin — the only other university in the world, along with Embry-Riddle, that offers a graduate degree in Aviation Finance.

Fulbright Scholarships are awarded by the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has given more than 380,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and scientists the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Learn more about ASA’s Aircraft Valuation Program and partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.