Tues 10:30 – 12:00

Maps:  Beyond Who Owns What; Stacey Martin, GIS Coordinator for Fall River County

How to use mapping to answer assessment questions, check data, analyze changes, and plan reassessment areas. This session will provide an overview of the types of analyses that can be done with GIS data. The discussion will focus on how to make the most of your data and where to obtain useful GIS data.

 Tues 10:30 – 12:00

Multi-Residential Income Modeling; Rod Sletten, Commercial Appraiser, Pennington County

Reviewing a real-life example of creating a stand-alone income model for multi-residential properties.

 Tues 10:30 – 12:00

Catching Flies with Honey:  How Improving Customer Service Improves Your Life; Sierra Blake

We’re often made to feel that it’s our duty to be better at customer service, which can leave us all feeling put out and overburdened by our already busy lives. Learn how and why improving your skills will improve your life.

Tues 1:30 – 2:30

The Art of Making a Powerful Presentation; Brad Eldridge, MAI, CAE, Team Consulting

This session covers the process of preparation, the gathering of knowledge, and the development of confidence so that you can master ‘The Art of Making a Powerful Presentation.’ The material includes suggestions on taking inventory, overcoming anxiety, preparing the presentation, making the presentation, being in charge, and what an audience knows. This is an interactive session that allows for audience participation.

 Tues 1:30 – 2:30

Cost vs Value in New Construction Home, Getting the most out of your appraisals; Dean Hedrick, General Manager, Hult Homes

We will be discussing issues and ideas affecting appraisals and assessments of homes in this aggressive and chaotic housing market, and also talk about maximizing “value” in a home.

 Tues 1:30 – 2:30

Assessing Condominium Properties; Dawn Puckett, Senior Appraiser, Pennington County

Insights into the valuation of condominium properties from data collection to defending the final value opinion.

Tues 3:00 – 5:00

(Continued) The Art of Making a Powerful Presentation; Brad Eldridge, MAI, CAE, Team Consulting

This session covers the process of preparation, the gathering of knowledge, and the development of confidence so that you can master ‘The Art of Making a Powerful Presentation.’ The material includes suggestions on taking inventory, overcoming anxiety, preparing the presentation, making the presentation, being in charge, and what an audience knows. This is an interactive session that allows for audience participation.

 Tues 3:00 – 5:00

(Continued) Cost vs Value in New Construction Home, Getting the most out of your appraisals; Dean Hedrick, General Manager, Hult Homes

We will be discussing issues and ideas affecting appraisals and assessments of homes in this aggressive and chaotic housing market, and also talk about maximizing “value” in a home.

Tues 3:00 – 5:00

Strategic Planning:  Improving the Future for Assessment Offices, Organizations, and Personal Lives; Dixie Saunders, MSML, ICA, and Jerry Witt, AAS, RES. ICA

Instructors will provide a thorough description of what a Strategic Plan is and the importance of having one for future success, along with a step-by-step guide illustrating how Strategic Plans can be developed to fit and benefit any entity.  Explanations with examples and testimonials of stumbling blocks and success stories will be shared by the department heads who implemented Strategic Plans for their Assessor’s Offices and from the leaders responsible for the development of a Strategic Plan for their State Assessor’s Association.  The discussion will include an account of the role IAAO can play in this process.  The course will conclude with how applying a Strategic Plan to our personal lives can lead to greater personal and professional success.

Wed 8:00 – 10:00

Setting Values by the Numbers; Scott D. Johnson, RES, ICA

Statistics tell a story and in the case of the mass appraisal, they tell you a story of how good or how bad your assessments may be. You will learn to read and understand your story. I will start with the basics of a sales ratio study and go over each of the primary statistics and what they add to the story. We will look at actual data and will discuss how to move forward in understanding what steps need to be taken to have the best ending to the story.  We all like a good ending and when it comes to setting values we want a great ending.

 Wed 8:00 – 10:00

How to Complete and Defend a Revaluation; Bob Ehler, President of Vanguard Appraisals, Certified General Appraiser, and Senior Member of the American Society of Appraisers

This session will discuss all the steps and analyses necessary to complete a county-wide revaluation. The session will also focus on what documented analysis should be maintained to support the conclusion of the revaluation.

Wed 8:00 – 10:00

The Future of the Fee Appraiser and Assessor Appraiser Professions; Craig Steinley, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, AI-RRS
This session will inform attendees of recent trends in the appraisal industry and anticipated changes in licensing and the appraisal process.

Wed 10:30 – 12:00

(Continued) Setting Values by the Numbers; Scott D. Johnson, RES, ICA

Statistics tell a story and in the case of the mass appraisal, they tell you a story of how good or how bad your assessments may be. You will learn to read and understand your story. I will start with the basics of a sales ratio study and go over each of the primary statistics and what they add to the story. We will look at real data and will discuss how to move forward in understanding what steps need to be taken to have the best ending to the story.  We all like a good ending and when it comes to setting values we want a great ending.

 Wed 10:30 – 12:00

(Continued) How to Complete and Defend a Revaluation; Bob Ehler, President of Vanguard Appraisals, Certified General Appraiser, and Senior Member of the American Society of Appraisers

This session will discuss all the steps and analyses necessary to complete a county-wide revaluation. The session will also focus on what documented analysis should be maintained to support the conclusion of the revaluation.

Wed 10:30 – 12:00

Meeting IAAO Standards with Aerial Imagery and Technology; Ryan Poots, District Manager, Eagleview

There are alternative solutions to performing onsite appraisal and assessment inspections, which are outlined in IAAO Standard 3.3.5, Standard on Mass Appraisal of Real Property. Through the use of imagery, sketch verification, and change detection organizations can increase efficiency, reduce expenses, and even reduce the number of unsafe situations appraisers may end up in. This session details the use of oblique and orthogonal imagery, street-view images, sketch verification, and change detection to meet those assessment and appraisal requirements.

 Wed 1:30 – 3:00

Let’s Talk About Good Communication; Rebecca Malmquist, Minneapolis City Assessor, CAE, SAMA

This session will focus on successful communication strategies reviewing:  building collaborative relationships that emphasize trust and respect; communicating effectively using simple and concise language; enhancing listening to anticipate and avoid misunderstandings; eliminating communication roadblocks and focus on nonverbal cues; and best practices for working remotely to stay productive, build culture, and work seamlessly with your team.

Wed 1:30 – 3:00

Generations in the Workplace, We’re not as Different as You Think; Jon Morrill, Human Resources Director, Pennington County

This session will provide an overview of generations you will encounter on your team and how to leverage differences and similarities to get the best from everyone.

Wed 1:30 – 3:00

Learn How to excel at Excel; Stephanie Owens, General Education and Business Instructor, Western Dakota Tech

Join this session to learn more about Microsoft Excel and how to be more effective in processing your daily tasks. We will be reviewing the different functions and how to process data more efficiently. Some of the things we will cover include formatting options, pivot tables, shortcuts, graphing, and other functions that will help you with future worksheets. If you want to practice Excel during this session, feel free to bring your laptop!

 Wed 3:30 – 4:30

A Treasure Trove of Value Beyond All Imagination; David M. Vardiman, BASc. Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 45-Year Career Gold/Silver Exploration Geologist

In 1876 General George Armstrong Custer received orders from the U.S. Military Headquarters in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, to lead a regiment-strong expedition into the Black Hills of the Sioux Treaty Territory.  Some historians believe General Custer’s expedition was predetermined to discover gold to initiate a major gold rush, as such a discovery would help solve much of the ongoing financial and political crisis.  This presentation will provide a brief overview of the long journey from the early explorations of the Black Hills region thru to the conversion of one abandoned gold mine into a unique ultra-clean modern Deep Underground High Physics Laboratory and some of the major personalities who were responsible for the development of these rare resources.