Professional associations exist across most industries and areas. These associations offer various benefits to individual[s]. If you want to grow your business and stay on top of the latest industry developments, then a professional association is one of the best ways to achieve this.
In this guide, we’ll answer the question “what is a professional association?”, and explain why they are important for [YOU].
What is a Professional Association?
A professional association is a group that consists of members who are all part of the same industry or career field. These associations provide valuable industry insights, news, learning, and networking opportunities for their members.
For example, a teacher may join an education-based association to stay up to date with the latest teaching trends and network with other teachers.
Popular professional organizations are often recognized nationally, and they can be useful for both professional members as well as employers and organizations that operate the association.
Different professional associations have different requirements. Some professional associations require members to pay a monthly or annual fee. Certain organizations also require a particular certification or degree for members to join.
Professional associations also differ in what they have to offer, and what kind of benefits their members will receive. This includes networking events, interesting content that the association shares, and any other industry-related opportunities and insights.
Most types of professions have a professional association or body, where members can learn more about their particular field. Some professional associations also have student membership options, where students in that field can gain useful industry insights and contacts.
Why is Belonging to a Professional Association Important?
Individuals join professional associations in their industry for various reasons. Here are some of the main benefits that members can gain from joining these associations.
Increased Job Opportunities
A professional association is often a great place to share and discover news about new job openings. Many associations regularly share information about companies in their field that are hiring for new positions.
[TIP: ASA offers a FREE online Job Bank and Career Center specially designed for appraisal job seekers and employers.]
Better Networking Possibilities
Professional associations are groups that consist of a large number of professionals, all within the same field of focus. These professionals are also generally based in a specific area. Gathering these groups together provides excellent networking opportunities for the association’s members.
Many professional associations host regular networking events for members to connect with people in the industry. This is a valuable way for members to make strategic connections and enhance their career opportunities.
Networking is an essential part of any professional association. It’s something that members look for when joining an association, and it’s something that organizations need to consider when creating associations.
Gathering together a large group of professionals in the same industry provides an excellent space to keep up to date with all industry news and trends. Professional associations bring together many industry experts to share news and updates in their field.
Whether you want to understand the latest technology developments, get to grips with new processes and practices, or hear about news straight from the source, professional associations provide the perfect space for this.
And these associations don’t just provide news updates. They also provide opportunities to discuss these news updates with relevant people and gain a deeper understanding of the happenings in the industry.
Another major reason why individuals join professional associations is to help them stand out to potential employers.
Being part of an association in their industry shows that a person has a real dedication and interest in what they do. It shows that they’re always willing to learn and grow in their field, which is a good sign for employers.
Ultimately, being part of a professional association provides a far greater opportunity to develop and grow in your field.
How Does a Professional Association Benefit [YOU]?
First of all, a professional association provides an excellent place to build up trust and a good reputation in your industry. It provides a space where you can share quality content and events with a relevant audience.
By adding value to your professional association, you’ll be able to build up a dedicated, engaged audience of professionals that trust your brand.
A professional association helps [YOU] stand out to professionals within your field. If you are able to use the association to position [yourself] as an industry leader, you’ll be in a much better position to attract top talent and get people talking about [YOU]. This can help to spread brand awareness and gain a stronger reputation for your [practice].
Of course, there are also valuable networking opportunities that [YOU] can make use of. Networking remains one of the best ways for [YOU] to find new business opportunities and connect with new strategic partners and clients. Professional associations are one of the best ways to achieve this.
Professional associations can also assist in [your] growth and development. Use these associations to continually learn from other professionals, access valuable peer support, learn about the latest trends and developments, and discover new growth opportunities.
[TIP: ASA offers a variety of in-person and virtual learning and networking opportunities. Learn about about upcoming classes & webinars or events here.]
Types of Professional Associations
To fully understand the question “what is a professional association?”, you need to understand the different types of associations that exist.
Here is a breakdown of the four different types of professional associations.
Member-Benefit Professional Associations – These associations focus on sharing physical resources, conferences, and providing peer support to benefit individual members.
Designation-Granting Associations – Members that join these associations display a greater dedication to their field, and so members can gain certification for belonging to these associations. Members of these associations need to earn and renew their certificates through processes like passing an exam, displaying their professional expertise, or completing certain professional learning hours.
Certifying Bodies – Members that join certifying bodies need to meet certain requirements, and then they are issued with credentials. The main purpose of these associations is to issue and track certifications. Often, applicants can only join if they have a certain level of professional or educational experience.
Professional Regulatory Bodies – These associations are designed to establish and uphold the professional expectations of a certain industry. They often set up guidelines and best practices for professionals in their field to ensure they best serve the public. These associations can also establish certain licensing and certification requirements.
Conclusion
If you were wondering “what is a professional association?”, there are a few possible answers. There are different types of associations that exist, each offering different benefits and serving different purposes.
Joining a professional association is a valuable move for any professional. It maximizes networking opportunities, helps develop a stronger reputation, and provides a space for learning and growing within your industry.
The right professional association can make a positive impact on your overall success.
Editor’s Note: The 2023 ASA-IFA Eastern Region Appraisal Conference, to be held live and via Zoom at The Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ April 17-18, 2023, has a new Chairperson–Michael J Lange, Jr ASA, IFA. A long-standing perennial favorite event, we spoke with Lange to learn what’s new and exciting for this year’s 57th Conference and why real estate appraisers must attend.
ASA: Tell us about your path to becoming the new conference Chairperson?
MIKE: The historic conference event is a well-known and established tradition for many real estate appraisers, thanks to the dedicated volunteer efforts of past organizer Robert Soloist, ASA, IFA. Bob has passed the torch and entrusted me with the honor of continuing this important education tradition. A member of NAIFA and now ASA, as well as a certified residential appraiser for the past 38 years. I am well-versed in the past, current and regional issues that myself and fellow professionals face. I want to ensure our continued success.
ASA: What are your goals for this year’s conference?
MIKE: My primary goal is to provide attendees with the opportunity to learn the latest, up-to-date real estate appraisal methods, topics and strategies from experienced, qualified experts. The event has always been the venue for fostering methods of instruction, sharing of new innovative ideas and this year’s conference will be no exception.
ASA: What new innovations can registrants expect?
MIKE: Investment in up-to-date technology and registration readiness are important to me. We are in the process of designing a new web page, email account and how to streamline the registration process. By investing in a new website, we have been working with multiple professional sites with teams of experts to launch the new site which will go live shortly. Visitors and registrants can expect an updated, informative and a secure experience.
MIKE: The event is like no other. It’s uniqueness and return on investment value are a core reason for its 57 years of success. No other educational offering provides the opportunity for professional development and networking like the ASA-IFA Eastern Region Appraisal Conference. The wealth of knowledge, experiences exchanged, and the strategic relationship building are priceless when it comes to furthering your career or practice. Our networking social time, especially at the hospitality suite, is like no other. Historically our motto is; “No one person is left behind”. The valuable tips and strategies learned also keeps you ahead of the curve by reducing your risk of errors due to outdated information and practices.
Atlantic City provides the perfect location for conference attendees. It’s convenient with easy access for travel, as well as a variety of restaurants and entertainment options. The Tropicana is also one of the best and affordable hotels on the city’s famous boardwalk with comfortable accommodations, incredible dining and an energetic nightlife scene.
ASA: For more information about the event, whom should professionals contact?
MIKE: Those with questions about the event may contact me direct at njasaifa@gmail.com.
Make plans to attend the 2023 ASA-IFA Eastern Region Appraisal Conference today!
ASA’s 2023 Personal Property Appraisal Symposium is set to take place April 30-May 2, 2023 at the Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara, CA. The event is tailored to personal property appraisers and allied professionals who’ll gain insights into key markets, benefit from scholarly sessions, connect with fellow experts—all while exploring the art, culture and beauty of the Central Coast. An optional day offering local tours of museums and historic sites will also occur after the event on May 3.
Below is a spotlight of the event’s post-event tours.
The day will begin at Mission Santa Barbara, often called “Queen of the Missions”, which has been in continuous operation since its founding in 1786. Attendees will have private tours of the mission, focusing on its fine arts and antiques.
The group will then be dropped downtown for lunch on their before meeting at the steps of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, considered to be the most significant small museum on the West Coast. Attendees will have several tour options at the Museum.
After touring the museum, participants can walk to several nearly adjacent galleries or carry out a self-guided tour of the Santa Barbara Courthouse, whose 1928 murals and Spanish style architecture led to its naming as a National Historic Site.
The day will end at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, with a private tour of their collections, followed by a wine reception in the historic courtyard.
An additional fee of $95 is required to participate in the post-event tours. To register, please select the Wednesday Add-On listed under Event Sessions on the second page of registration.
Register online at bit.ly/PPAS23 or by calling (800) 272-8258.
ASA’s 2023 Personal Property Appraisal Symposium is set to take place April 30-May 2, 2023 at the Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara, CA. The event is tailored to personal property appraisers and allied professionals who’ll gain insights into key markets, benefit from scholarly sessions, connect with fellow experts—all while exploring the art, culture and beauty of the Central Coast.
Below is a spotlight of the event’s presenters.
PRESENTER HIGHLIGHTS
Dr. Pamela Jill Huckins, Associate Professor, Liberal Arts, University of Arizona Global Campus
A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Yale University Divinity School, Dr. Huckins received M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University where she specialized in Spanish Baroque and Colonial Art and Architecture. Her doctoral dissertation is entitled “The Art of the Alta California Missions, 1769–ca. 1834,” from which she has expanded her expertise to include the art and architecture of later-19th and 20th century California. Dr. Huckins’ has published studies on iconographic, theological, and cultural aspects of the history of art in California and was a contributor to the international art exhibition “Art of the Missions of Northern New Spain.” She lectures regularly in Mexico and the United States on issues of indigenism, colonialism, cultural and political history, and cultural transference. Dr. Huckins is the past chair of the City of Ventura Historic Preservation Committee. Additionally, Dr. Huckins actively coaches Neuroboxing, Rhythm Boxing, and Spin Cycling. She is Associate Professor of Liberal Arts at University of Arizona Global Campus. Her professional work includes fine art consultation services and collections management.
Michael Dawson, Appraiser, Fine Art Photography and Rare Book Dealer, Dawson’s Book Shop/Michael Dawson Gallery
Michael Dawson is a private dealer and appraiser specializing in rare books and fine art photography including historical photographs of California and the Southwest. Michael has written widely on photography and has owned and operated his own gallery as well as the celebrated Dawson’s Book Shop in Los Angeles – a business established by his grandfather in 1905. He is a candidate member of the American Society of Appraisers, a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA), the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, (ILAB) and the Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD). Michael is known as an expert in the history of Southern California photography. His writing on the subject is included in LA’s Early Moderns: Art/Architecture/Photography published by Balcony Press in 2003 and Land of Sunshine: An Environmental History of Los Angeles published by the University of Pittsburgh Press in 2005. Michael contributed an essay for the publication from the Book Club of California titled William Reagh. A Long Walk Downtown: Photographs of Los Angeles & Southern California, 1936-1991 published in 2012. Michael is member of the Board of Directors with the Photographic Arts Council Los Angeles (PAC LA)
Morgana Blackwelder, Senior Vice President, John Moran Auctioneers & Appraisers
Morgana has over 15 years of experience in the auction industry. She has served as director of the fine art department, head of appraisal services, and now as Senior Vice President and Director of Trusts & Estates for John Moran Auctioneers & Appraisers. Morgana is a member of the International Society of Appraisers and the Appraisers Association of America. She is a frequent advisor to professionals serving high net worth clients. She regularly meets with families throughout the United States to review their collections to provide valuation services or discuss disposition at auction
Olivian Cha, Collections Curator, Corita Art Center
Olivian Cha is the Curator of Collections at the Corita Art Center. Cha holds an MA in Art History and a Master’s in Library and Information Sciences, both from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has previously held positions at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Central Public Library (Los Angeles), and co-founded the independent art space POTTS LA (2016-2020) and the Works Sited series at LAPL (2009-2014). During her tenure at CAC, she has made strong efforts to advance scholarly engagement with the organization’s art and archival collections through exhibitions, publications, and digitization initiatives. She is currently working on “Corita Kent: Complete Serigraphs” – a forthcoming publication to be released in Fall 2024 with Atelier Editions.
Debra Burchett-Lere is an author, curator, and executive director and since the mid-1970s has held key curatorial, editorial, and director positions at the fine-art limited editions print studio Gemini G.E.L. (Graphics Editions Limited, Los Angeles) and the Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art (LAICA). Debra has collaborated on museum shows such as the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles; the Milwaukee Art Museum; Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Charlotte, NC; the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento; the Jeu de Paume, Paris; Kunsthalle- der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn; and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in April 2023. Since 2004 Debra has been the executive director of the artist-endowed Sam Francis Foundation working with the legacy of the American abstract expressionist painter (1923–1994). She has collaborated with modern and contemporary international artists including Alice Aycock, David Hockney, Ellsworth Kelly, Roy Lichtenstein, Mario Merz, Mary Miss, Dennis Oppenheim, Mimmo Paladino, Giuseppe Penone, Jody Pinto, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Robert Rauschenberg, Richard Serra, Robert Therrien, Andy Warhol, and many others. Books and catalogues authored include publications with the Getty Museum, Conservation Institute, Los Angeles (2019); the University of California, Berkeley (UC Press 2011); and Sotheby’s New York. Debra is a long-time fine art appraiser with the Appraisers Association of America, NYC, focusing on modern and contemporary art with an emphasis on limited edition prints, sculpture and on-site installations. Her recent volunteer board services include positions for ArtTable, NYC and the Brand Associates of the Brand Library and Arts Center, Glendale, CA.
A member of ASA since 1980, Fran has earned an M.A. in Art History and holds multiple personal property accreditations in Fine Art, Antiques/Decorative Arts, and Oriental Rugs. She has been Chairperson of the International Personal Property Committee, Chancellor of the College of Fellows, Personal Property Vice-Chair for the ASA Board of Examiners, is an instructor of Principles of Valuation courses and specializes in complex assignments. Fran has published articles and presented on various appraisal topics. With offices in San Francisco and New York, Fran is an active member of the ASA NorCal Chapter and serves as its current Personal Property Chair and Chapter President.
Stephanie Boris, Principal, Art Collection + Estate Services
Stephanie Boris is a cataloguer/archivist and member of the Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists. Her Art Collection + Estate Services provides support for personal property appraisers in the areas of inventory, inspection and research; she also works independently with artists, artists’ estates and private collections. She studied art and film history at Antioch College in Ohio, as well as academic indexing and connoisseurship of fine and decorative arts at the University of California Extensions in Berkeley and Irvine. Her background includes positions as project coordinator for the Mills College Art Museum’s Collections Digitizing Project, lead document indexer for the Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive Library, and assistant cataloguer at the Anne Bremer Memorial Library, San Francisco Art Institute.
A professionally trained appraiser and an Accredited Senior Appraiser with the ASA and an Accredited Member with the ISA, Ms. McClellan has over 20 years of experience as a professional appraiser specializing in complex assignments. Project management of large assignments is a specialty, as Analee works with specialist appraisers and experts in other areas in order to provide customized appraisal services for assignments with multiple, specialized property types. In addition to keeping up with required connoisseurship, valuation theory, methodology, laws and regulations, Ms. McClellan has completed ASA coursework in preparation for an Appraisal Review and Management – Personal Property (ARM) designation. Ms. McClellan is a consultant and expert in the standard of care and typical practice for appraisers, including compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and IRS requirements. Her broad client and appraisal experience includes assignments for insurance coverage and claims of loss (including being designated as an expert witness and testifying in court), estate and trust valuation matters, charitable contributions, dissolution of marriage, and other wealth management assignments.
Andrea Roth specializes in European and American paintings, sculpture and photography. She has been in the art field for close to 30 years as an academic, gallery administrator and art appraiser. She is an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA), with the American Society of Appraisers. Andrea has a Ph.D. in Art History and taught Art History at UC Davis, UC Riverside and Santa Clara University. She worked at the J. Paul Getty Trust Art History Information Program and was Assistance Editor of the ArtArt Bulletin. Andrea was a Fulbright Scholas in Italy as a graduate student, conducting her dissertation research in Northern Italian Renaissance Art. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of St. Mary’s College Museum of Art and lectures on art collecting and valuation for insurance professionals, estate planners, attorneys and collectors. She is also serving her third year on the ASA NorCal Chapter Board.
Patty Roth has well over 20 years’ experience in marketing and has been in the online space since 1998 where she developed an e-commerce program for a gourmet gift company into a million-dollar business. She has spent 19 years helping the wine industry gain traction online and has since branched out to help other industries grow their brands including financial, legal, health and beauty, motorsports, landscape design, cbd/cannabis, restaurants, transportation and logistics, political activism, non-profits and more. Golden State Marketing and her other business, California Wine Marketing, were founded in 2006. Patty enjoys speaking on various marketing topics to help business owners understand the importance of marketing their brand online and offline.
Patrick H. Ela, ASA, Principal, Comprehensive Art Services, LLC
Patrick H. Ela is an Accredited Senior Appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers, tested and accredited in Fine Arts. He provides appraisal services for individual, corporate and institutional clients including Fair Market Value, Market Value, and Replacement Value appraisals for estate taxes, non-cash charitable contributions, and insurance coverage purposes among other intended uses. Ela is admitted to the Superior Court of Los Angeles as an expert witness. Selected clients include Ricardo Favela and The Royal Chicano Air Force, The Latino Museum of Los Angeles, The Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation, the Los Angeles Unified School District, AltaMed Health Services, Self Help Graphics & Art, the Estates of Richard Pryor, Ray Bradbury, Lee Chesney, and many private individuals. Within the American Society of Appraisers, Ela served as Chair, Past Chair, Vice Chair, and Treasurer of the Personal Property Committee (PPC). The PPC governs approximately more than 500 appraisers in Fine Arts, Decorative Arts and Antiques, Residential Contents, Automotive, and a variety of other specialties. . In other ASA activities, he served as moderator of a panel on Chicano Art at the International Conference of the American Society of Appraisers held in Los Angeles and has written articles on Chicano Art for the PP Magazine. He was appointed to serve as PPC representative on ASA’s legislative committee and was actively involved in securing ASA’s endorsement of the Artist Museum Partnership Act still pending before the US Congress. He has presented programs for Personal Property-specific as well as international conferences. From 2018-19 Ela served on ASA’s International Elections Committee; from 2019-2021 he served as Chairman of ASA’s International Marketing Committee; in the spring of 2022, he was elected by the personal property members of ASA to serve a four-year term as a Personal Property member of the ASA’s Board of Governors.
Dr. Susana Smith Bautista, Associate Vice President and Chief Curator, AltaMed Art Collection, AltaMed
Dr. Susana Smith Bautista is an experienced arts administrator, independent consultant, art historian, and expert on museums, digital technology, and strategic planning. She completed her Ph.D. as a Provost Fellow at the Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California, where she also received her Masters degree in Art History/Museum Studies with honors (Phi Kappa Phi). She has a curatorial background in Latinx, Chicanx, and Latin American art. She recently served as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Alliance of Museums, where she sat on the newly-created Diversity Committee and conducted numerous peer-review museum site visits for the Museum Assessment Program.
Susana has over 25 years of experience in the art world in Los Angeles, New York, and Greece working with museums, commercial galleries and non-profit arts organizations, curating exhibitions, lecturing, and writing art criticism and articles. She was executive director of the Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, interim deputy director and director of public engagement at the USC Pacific Asia Museum, editorial director of www.LatinArt.com, associate with the Daniel Saxon Gallery, chief curator-at-large for LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, and executive director of the Pasadena Museum of California Art. Born in Pasadena, California, Susana served the city as Arts and Culture Commissioner for 6 years. She is currently the director and chief curator of the AltaMed Art Collection at AltaMed Health Services Corporation, and just published her second book, How to Close a Museum: A Practical Guide. Her first book was Museums in the Digital Age: Changing Meanings of Place, Community, and Culture (2013).
Angel Diaz, Curator, CEMA – California Ethnic Multi-Cultural Archives, University of California
Angel Diaz has always had a strong interest in California history and its peoples. Diaz brings a wealth of experience both in librarianship as well as education. She previously served as the University Archivist at Penn State and as a UCLA Library Special Collections processing archivist. She earned her Master’s in Library and Information Science from UCLA and a Master’s in Education from the University of San Francisco. Diaz is also a founding member of the Los Angeles Archivists Collective, a grassroots organization founded in 2014 to encourage professional development and skill-sharing at the local level. Diaz is also a 2020-21 fellow in the Association of Research Libraries Leadership and Career Development Program. Prior to her experience in libraries, Diaz was a public school teacher in the Bay Area for five years.
Maria Esther Fernandez, Artistic Director of the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Arts and Culture, Riverside Art Museum
María Esther Fernández serves as Artistic Director of the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Arts and Culture at Riverside Art Museum. Fernández comes to the Cheech from the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, Calif., where she worked for 16 years and most recently served as chief curator and deputy director. She received a 2018 California Arts Council grant to research how curatorial practices impact representation and access for the Chicanx community in contemporary art museums. She’s co-curating a retrospective of work by Amalia Mesa-Bains that will premiere at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive in spring 2023.
Rafael Barrientos Martinez is a Ph.D. Candidate in Art History at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is also Curator at the AltaMed Art Collection. Prior he was an Andrew Mellon Summer Practicum Fellow at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), as well as an administrative assistant for paintings conservation for Kimball Art Museum and an Executive Assistant to the Director at the Nasher Sculpture Center.
Dr. Denise Sandoval, Professor, Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies, California State University, Northridge
Denise M. Sandoval, Ph.D is a Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies at California State University, Northridge (2002 to the present). She received her doctorate in Cultural Studies from Claremont Graduate University in 2003, her Masters of Arts in Chicana/o Studies from California State University Northridge in 1995, and her Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley in 1993. She was the guest curator/community researcher for two exhibitions on lowrider culture at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. She was also a guest curator/writer for a virtual exhibition entitled Lowrider: An American Cultural Tradition for the Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives. Her work on lowrider culture was featured in two different documentaries on lowriders She co-edited a book with award winning author Luis J. Rodriguez titled Rushing Waters, Rising Dreams: How the Arts Are Transforming a Community for Tia Chucha Press which documents art activism in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. The book was awarded a bronze medal from the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) in June 2013 and also was awarded the PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award in December 2013. Her most recent book project is titled White Washing American Education: The New Culture Wars in Ethnic Studies (October 2016), which is a co-edited two volume set published by Praeger, with contributed essays on issues in Ethnic Studies in both K-12 and higher education. The books were recognized as being one of the “Best Reference Titles of 2016” in the category of Social Science by the Library Journal. Currently, she is the guest curator for the exhibition The High Art of Riding Low: Ranflas, Corazón e Inspiración (July 2017 to May 2018) at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. The exhibition examines “the diverse and complex viewpoints of more than 50 artists who visualize, celebrate and interrogate the lowrider car through a selection of artwork that includes vehicles, paintings, sculptures, and art installations”.
She has been a professor in Chicana/o Studies/Ethnic Studies for over 18 years and teaches courses such as Introduction to Chicano Culture, History of the Americas, History of the Chicana/o and Third World Woman and La Chicana. Her research interests include popular culture and the arts, cultural histories of Los Angeles, oral history and community histories.
Rick L. Schwartz, an attorney and CPA since 1977-1978, started his firm 1982. Prior to that time, Rick worked at various law and accounting firms, including the international accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand. Rick has lived in the San Fernando Valley since 1959. Rick graduated from the California Western School of Law in 1977 after attending the University of California, Los Angeles Law School as a non-matriculating law student. Early in his career, Rick taught individual, partnership, corporation, and estate/gift tax courses at California State University at Los Angeles and for the Miller Comprehensive CPA Review as well as speaking before numerous groups, including the chambers of commerce, nonprofit associations, real estate brokers, and other professional groups. A large portion of Rick’s practice is serving as a professional trustee as well as an attorney/CPA for wealthy multi-generational families.
A former long-distance runner, contract bridge life master, and semi-pro poker player, Rick now practices at his firm with his business-partner son as well as spending time with his grandkids.
John D. Russell, JD, Strategic Partnership Officer, oversees ASAʼs government relations and business development activities. He serves as staff liaison to ASAʼs Real Property-NAIFA Committee, is ASAʼs representative to the Appraisal Foundation Advisory Committee, and is a past member of the Board of Trustees of the Appraisal Foundation. He has a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Syracuse University College of Law and a Bachelors degree in Broadcasting and Mass Communications from State University of New York at Oswego.
Leslie Wright is the Chairman of Bonhams, North America. She leads Bonhams’ strategic growth initiatives and manages business operations across North America. Under Leslie’s leadership, Bonhams’ US business, with locations in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, has grown immensely. With her careful management and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bonhams not only survived the economic challenges of the past two years but has expanded by acquiring local auction houses and broadening the company’s digital footprint.
In over 25 years at Bonhams, Leslie has been instrumental in bringing many important estates to the auction market and has orchestrated complex estate appraisals for leading figures in the entertainment, business, and philanthropic world.
Leslie regularly liaises with attorneys, trust officers, wealth managers and other members of the trusts and estates community. She is a valued advisor and sought-after lecturer in the realm of trusts and estates. Leslie has addressed many estate planning councils and leading organizations such as the Hawaiian Tax Institute, the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, the American Bar Association, and the California State Bar. She has been published in the Estate Analyst, a scholarly journal of the estate planning community.
Welcome everyone to the new year! It’s time to set our sights forward and get ready to take on the opportunities that come our way. The ASA staff and I are ready to make 2023 another successful year by continuing our presence internationally, enhancing the new technology we’ve adopted this past year, and expanding our partnerships, to start.
Earlier this month, ASA, AI, ASFMRA, IAAO, MBREA and NSREA presented our next State of the Profession webinar through our developed partnership. It is inspiring when several organizations can come together to provide education for the entire profession, and I had the pleasure of moderating this State of the Profession: A Discussion with the Appraisal Foundation and Appraisal Subcommittee webinar. Thank you to our panelists David Bunton, President of the Appraisal Foundation and James Park, Executive Director of the Appraisal Subcommittee who did a fantastic job presenting, as well as to the 2,000 professionals who attended, great turnout! To see the webinar recording, click here.
ASA has also added two benefit partners this month for members. VREF offers appraisers comprehensive data on over 7,700 aircraft models ranging from experimental to wide-body commercial. The partnership will offer ASA members the VREF valuation software for aircraft appraisals at a 10% discount off the Pro Tier.
ASA also partnered with Thompson Benefits Group to offer members an exclusive health benefit program; a long-term care insurance, LTCRplus. To learn more, click here.
As we move into 2023, it is important that as a Society, we continue to grow our presence; awareness for the appraisal industry, the ASA credential, and for our member professionals as a whole.
First and foremost, please consider this a friendly reminder to ensure your ASA member profile is up to date. For the first time, ASA has a membership database tool that can collect important data from all members to help us in better serving you and the international community. By updating your member profile, it will help guarantee that those seeking your services will be able to find you with correct and up-to-date information if you opt-in to the Find an Appraiser (FAA) tool and ASA’s NEW Member Directory. If you have any questions about FAA or the Membership Directory, please call ASA HQ at (800) 272-8258 or email asainfo@appraisers.org.
If you haven’t already checked out ASA’s Marketing Toolkit, I strongly encourage all of our members to do so – another great tool to use to help promote your career or business and position yourself as the accredited expert in your field. We’ve partnered with Canva to provide you with digital marketing tools that can be customized with your business contact information and photos – it’s just a drag and drop! When sharing your customized materials on social media be sure to include #ASAappraisers in your post.
Together, let us make this coming year one of growth, renewal, and opportunities.
ASA’s 2023 Personal Property Appraisal Symposium is set to take place April 30-May 2, 2023 at the Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara, CA. The event is tailored to personal property appraisers and allied professionals who’ll gain insights into key markets, benefit from scholarly sessions, connect with fellow experts—all while exploring the art, culture and beauty of the Central Coast.
Below is a spotlight of the event’s sessions.
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Art In California and the Missions
Dr. Pamela Jill Huckins | Associate Professor, Liberal Arts, University of Arizona Global Campus
This session will offer a quick view of the long historical breadth of art production and appreciation in the land that is presently known as the State of California, USA. Under consideration will be pre-Hispanic indigenous arts, their materials, techniques, and uses, as well as their importance today for cultural knowledge and as collectible works of art. Also considered will be paintings, sculptures, and vestments imported to the Spanish missions during the colonial era. The fate of these valuable objects and their demand in contemporary art markets will also be addressed.
Understanding the Market for 20th Century California Fine Art Photography: A Case Study of Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, Dorothea Lange and Edward Weston
Michael Dawson | Appraiser, Fine Art Photography and Rare Book Dealer, Dawson’s Book Shop/Michael Dawson Gallery
Art photography dealer and expert, Michael Dawson will discuss four California photographers of the 20th century who have a global audience. Dawson will provide an overview of key photographs by Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, Dorothea Lange and Edward Weston discussing how photographs of the same image from different eras significantly affect the value of the object. Dawson will discuss variations in signatures, stamps, photographic papers, and aesthetic approaches by each photographer and how these influence value. Within the context of each photographer’s work, Dawson will discuss the issue of post humous printing and how it has positively or negatively affected their market.
The Golden Coast of California: Art & Design of the West
Post gold rush, art was made as a marketing tool for settling in the west. As the fifth largest economy, California has a history of self-promotion from Thomas Hill to the Automobile Club.
Come Alive: A History of Corita Kent
Olivian Cha | Collections Curator, Corita Art Center
Corita Art Center Collections Curator, Olivian Cha, presents a brief biographical history of the artist, educator, social justice advocate, and former sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary order, Corita Kent. Cha will also elaborate on the unique qualities of Kent’s silkscreen prints, from the varied signatures and her inconsistent approach to edition numbers. Additional information will include the commercial representation of Corita’s work and the Corita Art Center’s approach to licensing and merchandise collaborations.
The Limitless World of Limited Editions: California Fine Art Publishers
Debra Burchett-Lere | Executive Director/President of the Sam Francis Foundation
California has been a haven for printmaking since the early 1900s, with an increased focus and international attention to printmaking facilities in the region during the 1960s to present day. As a former director of Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles during the 1980s, and curator of the Litho Shop, Santa Monica in the early 1990s, Debra Burchett-Lere will highlight some of the exciting print studios over the decades. This presentation will address some of these publishers that continue to expand the limitless creative processes and explore why artists continue to be engaged in this medium.
How Big is Big? Managing Large and Complex Assignments
The services we provide can be as complex for a single property as they can be for thousands of objects. While every assignment is unique, there are common elements. Panel members will share their approaches to complex and large assignments. Presentation topics will include identifying the scope of work for the assignment, managing client expectations beginning with clear communications and the agreement, competence and determining experts and team members involved, inspections, handling changing scope of work elements, to delivering the final report.
Mexican American, Chicano/a, Latinx and What Comes Next
Patrick H. Ela, ASA | Principal, Comprehensive Art Services, LLC
Dr. Denise Sandoval | Professor, Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies, California State University, Northridge
The panel discussion will present an overview of the rapid development of political, social, and artistic recognition of Hispanic artists in California. It will focus on the past 50 years, particularly on those of Mexican Heritage. Of the 39% of Californians who are Hispanic or nearly 15 Million people, the majority are of Mexican descent. 26 major colleges and universities in California from Stanford and UC Berkeley to Scrips, UC Riverside, and San Diego State University, have Chicano Studies Programs or similar Ethnic studies programs. On top of that, 20 Community colleges in California have similar programs. This rich and diverse society is informed, vibrant, and growing. Their graduates have been a growing presence in the workforce for decades. The panel will discuss the impact that Mexican-American based-movements have had on art, cultural and lifestyle changes in California, and how they have influenced or are influencing markets both now and in the future from Fine art and automobiles to literature and more.
Billing and Fee Policies for the Professional Appraiser
This presentation will assist you in becoming a more competent biller as a professional appraiser. The speaker’s session will include: (a) reviewing the components from your fee agreement that should be included in your bill; (b) discussing the contents of a well-prepared invoice; (c) itemizing best billing practices; and (d) reviewing the psychological aspects of billing from the both client’s and appraiser’s perspectives. Keep in mind that the most financially successive professional appraisers are not necessarily the smartest appraisers, but, instead are the appraisers who provide their clients with the best and complete invoices for their professional services.
Three Branches, Two Years: Understanding Legislative, Regulatory, ad Legal Developments
Now that we’ve settled into the 118th Congress, this session will dive into how the current composition of the House and Senate will affect both legislative and regulatory priorities, along with how the judiciary could inform developments in the personal property world. This session will cover recent cases, proposed legislation, and regulations to be on the lookout for in the coming weeks and months.
This session will cover recent consolidation of auction houses, growth, and the outlook for the market and collecting.
Optional Post-Event Tour Day
Private tours of Mission Santa Barbara, considered the “Queen of the California Missions”, the collections of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, downtown Santa Barbara gallery visits, the Santa Barbara Courthouse with its historic murals, and closing with a private reception in the courtyard of the Santa Barbara Historical Society.
Having more than 700 million members spread across the globe, LinkedIn has evolved into a powerful marketing tool. With all the social media platforms taking up space on your smartphones, there’s not a single one that compares with LinkedIn! From maintaining your personal brand to generating qualified leads, using LinkedIn is an important part of being a full-fledged professional in any industry these days.
If you are looking for some reasons why LinkedIn is important to grow your business, here are 10 ways it can help to reach and engage your audience.
Create awareness and improve brand reputation
LinkedIn’s company page is a great way to tell your brand’s story and increase awareness. It is the sole social media platform meant for professionals, making it the ideal place to improve brand reputation. With an average of two professionals signing up on the platform every second, businesses have the opportunity to connect with an ever-increasing number of prospects.
LinkedIn offers a plethora of features that you can use to improve visibility and credibility, both as an individual and as a brand. By scheduling LinkedIn posts consistently on the platform, you have the potential to reach a wide audience, even the ones who are not following you.
Generate genuine and qualified leads
Out of all the social media platforms, LinkedIn is one of the best to generate qualified leads. Along with putting out informative content and driving traffic to your website, LinkedIn can be utilized to personally identify potential leads, engage with them, and convert them into customers or clients.
This can be done by working on a perfect balance of listening, analyzing, participating, sharing, networking, and responding. LinkedIn provides the opportunity to easily increase your sales by enabling you to network with potential clients and market to them directly.
Promote your business’ products and services
Using a company page on LinkedIn, any business can reach its target audience. It can be ideally used to showcase your business’s core values, talk about your brand’s offerings, nurture leads, and improve the visibility of any job opportunities currently available.
You should ideally maintain an 80:20 ratio in your content: 80% of your posts should be informative or educational while 20% of them should contain promotion of your products. To maintain a regular stream of content on your profile, you can create a content calendar and use a social media scheduling tool for LinkedIn to schedule posts beforehand.
LinkedIn also lets you run targeted advertisements and promote your business directly to the desired audience. Using its precise targeting options, you can craft campaigns around clearly defined goals including but not limited to lead generation, brand awareness, engagement, or reach.
Establish thought leadership
LinkedIn is a platform that allows you to establish yourself as an industry expert by showcasing the knowledge that you possess. You can position yourself as a leader in your domain by sharing high-quality content like industry-specific articles and webinars, improving your personal profile, participating in LinkedIn communities, and answering questions of people.
This networking platform is a fertile ground for thought leaders who aim to become trusted advisors. You can also network with other leaders in your industry and engage with them. This leadership and reputation also slowly lead to building influence on the platform.
Rank your brand name on Google
Today, Google is the first way that comes into the minds of people when they have to search for a business. And if you have a LinkedIn page, its link will appear right after your website in search results.
Google is quite into LinkedIn because of its huge networking capabilities which makes it easier to get your LinkedIn page to rank on Google as compared to your website or online portfolio. Thus, it is also a good practice to link your website and your blog to your LinkedIn company page.
Tap into the power of LinkedIn Pulse
LinkedIn Pulse is a micro-blogging platform where users can publish articles. It is a great way to improve your credibility, reach a wide audience, and build a good reputation in your niche. The Pulse feed is tailored according to the interests of each user, showing them content that they would actually want to see.
Thus, the articles that you publish will be shown to a highly relevant audience including professionals at every level of many different kinds of businesses. Also, LinkedIn notifies your connections every time you publish a post. That way, you can ensure that your posts won’t get lost among the crowd.
Leverage LinkedIn groups
LinkedIn groups can be effectively utilized to connect with other relevant industry leaders, influencers, and customers. You can create your own LinkedIn group along with joining other existing groups in your niche. Groups allow you to interact with leaders from your industry as well as from other niches.
In these groups, generally, discussions take place between users and industry leaders where you can get an opportunity to showcase your expertise and interact with like-minded people. Within the group, you can also send messages to the members using LinkedIn Announcements, which go directly to their email inboxes.
Research competitors and their employees
Apart from publishing posts and building professional connections with your clients, LinkedIn has other uses too. It can be effectively utilized to research your competitors and their methods of operation.
Given the huge network on the platform, it is safe to say that your competitors might have their own LinkedIn page where they update company information, share company news and insight, and showcase current employees. You can analyze how a particular company is operating, what kind of content it is putting out, and how it is handling its employees as well as customers.
Source and engage top talent
Top talent across the world holds a LinkedIn profile and stays active on the platform. LinkedIn makes it incredibly simple for employers to connect with potential candidates and vice versa. You can grow your professional network by sending connection requests to ideal prospects.
Using LinkedIn InMail, it is possible to customize the connection requests with a note, which is super helpful while hiring for your organization. LinkedIn also offers premium features that let you find prospects faster. It enables you to enjoy unlimited browsing capabilities to find new business prospects or partners without restriction.
Create the most legitimate professional network
The most important reason for using LinkedIn to grow your business lies in the fact that it is filled entirely with forward-thinking professionals similar to you who are also looking to grow their professional presence.
Thus, the connections that you make on LinkedIn are far more effective than the followers on any other social media platform. It helps in creating a unique culture of individuals who make business easier for one another.
In a nutshell,
LinkedIn is voted as the most trusted social media platform by Business Insider. More and more people are turning to the platform to find and share quality content that is perceived as honest and valuable. Above are just a few reasons why you should create your own LinkedIn page today and start building your professional network. Happy networking!
Spotlighting the importance of hiring accredited appraisers.
As part of The ASA Difference Campaign, the Society has launched a series of new videos featuring members explaining the importance of hiring accredited appraisers.
The videos were divided into two groups, the first being a single, 3-minute length composite video and the second being six, 30-second length individual video shorts.
Both groups of videos were comprised of members from each discipline of appraisal specialty that ASA represents, including Appraisal Review & Management, Business Valuation, Gems & Jewelry, Machinery & Technical Specialties, Personal Property and Real Property.
The videos were posted to ASA’s YouTube channel and new TikTok channel.
Example of ASA’s YouTube channel:
Example of ASA’s TikTok channel:
The campaign is a global effort by ASA to educate consumers and users of appraisal services on the three pillars of The ASA Difference…Respected. Educated. Accredited; and to promote members as the foremost experts in the profession.
ASA offers a FREE online search tool to locate an ASA accredited expert around the globe and can be accessed at www.FindanAppraiser.org.
As part of The ASA Difference Campaign, the Society has launched a new member Marketing Toolkit with FREE turnkey digital marketing tools that can be customized with member’s business contact information and photos. The materials position member’s as accredited experts, a critical differentiator that leads to business growth.
Interest by members in this valuable resource has been high, as demonstrated by attendance in the MD131 The ASA Difference – Tools You Can Use webinar, open/click rates for broadcast e-mails and e-newsletter editorial, as well as download analytics of available resources.
Members across all disciplines are actively reviewing the Toolkit, accessing materials, personalizing and sharing with their social networks.
Members are encouraged to participate in The ASA Difference campaign to not only help support global efforts, but also to promote their career or business.
Let us know how you are participating? Members are encouraged to use #ASAappraisers in their posts, or to share links or examples with editor@appraisers.org.
Hello everyone and happy New Year! I hope you had a restful holiday season, spending time with family and friends.
ASA’s Fair Value Virtual Conference – Winter took place on December 15. It was a pleasure presenting ASA updates to participants and learning what’s new in the fair value industry. We had 192 people register for this event and 5 experts presented 4 riveting industry topics. Thank you to Ray Rath, FASA, who was the Conference Chair, and to everyone who attended.
I enjoyed participating in this Opinions of Value webinar and providing my insight on the current state of the real estate appraisal profession along with my esteemed panelists KC Conway and Rodman Schley, and Lucas Rotter who did a fantastic job moderating the webinar. We covered timely topics such as the important legislation being worked on that could impact the appraisal industry, how the looming recession is already impacting the appraisal industry; how to gear up for valuing properties during a downturn, and what inroads are being made across the industry to combat racial bias. Check out the full episode here.
I also would like to take a moment to review all that has been accomplished in 2023.
This year, we succeeded in doing something that most businesses find difficult and shy away from: being willing to break new ground in terms of innovation and technological advancement. We updated all of our technological infrastructure to increase productivity and deliver better services to our members and the industry. We now have a new website, a new association management system (AMS), a new learning management system (LMS), and a new financial management platform. Nine months ago, we jointly launched all the platforms, and we haven’t looked back since. Without the support of our members and the excellent team we have at ASA, none of this would have been possible.
As we look ahead to 2023, let’s stay focused on our goals and dreams as we build on all we have achieved together over the past year. Together, I’m confident that there is more success in store for us this upcoming year!
