2014 Fall Newsletter

80th ANNIVERSARY IAAO CONFERENCE AWARDS

The IAAO Annual International Conference was held in Sacramento, California August 24 – 27 th providing educational sessions, networking opportunities, events, and exhibits for attending members. Attendees also experienced tremors from the Napa Valley earthquake! This year’s conference marked the 80 th Anniversary of this organization which began in 1934 and now has an association of over 7,500 property assessment professionals.

Alice Weinberg

Kicking off the conference was keynote speaker, “Coach” Jack Lengyel who rebuilt the Marshall University “Thundering Herd” football team following the 1970 tragic plane crash that killed all on board. The 2006 movie “We Are Marshall” details the role “Coach Lengyel” played. His keynote topic: “Strategic Planning for Personal and Professional Success” provided great motivational insight for the attendees. The Monday Awards Luncheon recognized outstanding accomplishments of IAAO members and assessment professionals. The Florida Chapter has been the recipient of the Chapter of the Year Award on 14 occasions and has won the coveted Virginia Cup 6 times. The Outstanding Chapter/Affiliate Award is presented to “an IAAO Chapter or Affiliate organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the IAAO mission” and this year the 2014 award was presented to your Florida Chapter!

The Virginia Cup is presented to the state or province with the most new designees during the award period. Florida was the recipient of this year’s award with 19 completing their designations! In addition, Florida Chapter members receiving individual awards were: Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson was presented the International Award. This award recognizes a member whose efforts have helped to advance the global development of assessment professionals.

St. Lucie County was presented the Distinguished Assessment Jurisdiction Award. This award is presented to a national, state/provincial, regional, or local

assessment agency that has instituted a technical, procedural, or administrative program that is an improvement over prior programs, and is recognized as a component of a model assessment system and a contributing factor to equity in property taxation. The Florida Chapter was the talk of the conference with all of our well deserved accolades!

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Fall 2014 Newsletter of the FCIAAO