2026 NCRAAO Education

Ryan Janzen, Removing Barriers to Entry: From Mass Appraisal to Fee Appraisal Accreditation

The IAAO Mass Appraisal Experience Task Force, along with The Appraisal Foundation’s State Harmonization Task Force, has been working to have mass appraisal experience count toward a fee appraisal licensure. This session will cover the history of the role mass appraisers played in helping form TAF and USPAP, and offer a refresher on TAF and its responsibilities.  Attendees will receive information about the group’s objectives and goals, and be provided an update on their progress and mission.

Matt Sorensen, A Modern Approach to Assessment Appeals

Assessment appeals remain one of the most resource-intensive and publicly visible processes for assessor offices. As taxpayer expectations evolve toward digital, on-demand services, many jurisdictions are rethinking how appeals are filed, managed, and defended.

This session will explore how local governments are modernizing the appeals process through GIS-integrated, online solutions that improve transparency, efficiency, and defensibility. Attendees will learn how counties are shifting from paper-based workflows to fully digital, map-driven systems that allow taxpayers to file appeals 24/7, access comparable sales data, and submit supporting evidence, all within a guided, user-friendly experience.

Through real-world case studies from Johnson County, IA, and Richmond County, GA, we will examine the impact of modernization, including streamlined internal workflows, reduced administrative burden, and improved decision-making through centralized data and analytics. Notably, increased digital access did not necessarily lead to higher appeal volumes, but did result in faster processing and more informed submissions.

Kevin Ternes, Assessing a Duplex

The session will cover the Income, Cost, and Sales Comparison Approaches to value estimation, specifically for assessment purposes. The appraiser will discuss additional strategies for supporting smaller city/town properties where a lack of comparable sales exists.

For your reference, I am a CAE and NDCG 2003 certified general appraiser, and the retired City Assessor for Minot, ND. I currently provide fee appraisal services.

Dustin Bakken, UAS and Assessments: Data from a different perspective

Drones and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have long been known for capturing the perfect cinematic clip in the movies or that perfect vacation picture.  What happens when you combine hundreds, if not thousands, of images into something beneficial?  Explore the use cases of how and why technology, such as drones, can help assessment offices leverage real-time, survey-accurate data to monitor, measure, and compare property information. We start in the classroom and then watch firsthand one of the world’s most capable drones in action as we perform a data collection test flight of the conference property!

Reed Kinne, Commercial Real Estate Modernization

A brief presentation of how technology and amenities within commercial real estate are changing over time. There will be a brief discussion of the potential impact of these advances on real estate values.

Kristi Gutierrez & Lea Dunn, Data Centers: Williams County Case Studies & Valuation Challenges

As data center development expands across North Dakota and the Midwest, assessors are increasingly faced with unique valuation and classification challenges involving cryptocurrency mining operations, hyperscale facilities, and non-traditional construction types. This session examines real-world case studies from Williams County, including the Atlas Power cryptocurrency mining facility and a shipping-container-based data center development, to explore the distinction between investment headlines and taxable real property value.

Topics include real versus personal property classification, valuation methodology considerations, production-based assessment models, utility-related components, and the evolving challenges assessors face when applying traditional appraisal principles to emerging technology infrastructure. Attendees will gain practical insight into identifying assessable components, defending valuation approaches, and addressing public expectations surrounding large-scale industrial and technology projects.

Don La Fleur, Excel #1 – Basic Fundamentals

Introduction to the Excel interface, worksheets, tables, records, and fields. This session will also cover basic formulas such as =SUM(), along with fundamental sorting and filtering techniques used to organize and analyze data efficiently.

Don La Fleur, Excel #2 – Tables and Data Management

Creating and formatting Excel tables, using slicers for interactive filtering, and referencing table data within formulas. This session focuses on improving data organization and making spreadsheets more dynamic, searchable, and user-friendly.

Don La Fleur, Excel #3 – Lookup Functions & Data Retrieval

In-depth training on the VLOOKUP formula, including retrieving matching data across worksheets and tables, troubleshooting common errors, and using VLOOKUP to compare information between two datasets to identify missing, incomplete, or unmatched records.

Don LaFleur, Excel #4 – Logical Formulas & Conditional Formatting

Understanding and using the Excel =IF() formula to create conditional statements and automate calculations based on specific criteria. This session will also cover conditional formatting techniques to visually highlight important data, trends, and exceptions.

Don La Fleur, Excel #5 – Pivot Tables & Pivot Charts

Advanced data analysis using Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts. This session will cover summarizing large datasets, grouping and filtering information, creating interactive reports, and building visual charts to present and analyze data effectively.

12:00-1:00 Bus to Medora w/Box Lunch

Kara Endicott, Up the Creek – Managing Daily Personnel & Public Disasters (TR Library)

Get ready for a fast‑paced, hands‑on workshop that drops you right into the assessor’s seat. Throughout this presentation, you’ll navigate some of the trickiest—but most rewarding—aspects of leadership: coaching employees, tackling public‑facing challenges, and communicating with confidence and clarity.

We’ll explore practical, real‑world scenarios inspired by the day‑to‑day rhythm of an assessment office (and honestly, almost any workplace). From communication misfires to tough personalities to unpredictable public interactions, we’ll dig into the moments that make leaders and employees alike pause and think, “Okay… now what?”

This workshop is highly interactive, encouraging open conversations, shared experiences, and collaborative problem‑solving. Participants are invited to bring their own stories—because if there’s one universal truth, it’s that no two days on the job are ever the same.

Difficult employees? Unexpected public encounters? Those are all parts of the adventure. And while you can’t predict every twist, you can build the skills to tackle them with confidence. By the end, you’ll be better equipped to steer through even the choppiest waters—no paddles required.