MONDAY 5/18/26 – MORNING SESSION (9AM – 12PM)

MONDAY 5/18/26 – MORNING & AFTERNOON SESSION ‍ ‍

Mock Trial (Attendance is not required in the afternoon session) ‍

Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

This educational session is an interactive mock trial designed to give attendees a practical, real-world understanding of the property tax assessment appeal process in New Hampshire. Presented by New Hampshire Assessors, an NRAAO attorney, and Members of the Board of Tax and Land Appeals, the session walks participants through a simulated appeal hearing from start to finish. ‍

Attendees will observe how assessment disputes are presented, defended, and evaluated, gaining insight into proper procedures, evidentiary standards, and effective communication before the Board. The session highlights the roles of assessors, legal counsel, taxpayers, and Board Members, with a focus on best practices for preparation, testimony, and documentation.

This mock trial is intended to help assessors and municipal officials strengthen their confidence in handling appeals, better understand legal expectations, and improve the defensibility of assessments. The session also provides an opportunity to learn directly from experienced professionals and Board Members about common issues, expectations, and decision-making considerations in assessment hearings.

P R E S E N T E R B I O S : ‍

BTLA Board Members

The BTLA consists of three full-time board members, appointed by the supreme court, who are "learned and experienced in questions of taxation or of real estate valuation and appraisal."

• Theresa M. Walker, Member

• Eric J. Wind, Esq., Member

• Anne M. Stelmach, Executive Director ‍

BTLA Presenters

‍Theresa Walker - was hired as a review appraiser by the BTLA in January 2007 and was appointed to serve as a member of the board by the NH Supreme Court in February 2012. At the time of her appointment, Theresa was a licensed NH Certified General Appraiser and a DRA Certified Assessor Supervisor. Prior to her employment with the board, for more than 20 years she was involved in many aspects of real estate valuation including working as a mortgage underwriter, fee appraiser, and in the issuance of commercial mortgage-backed securities. She was named the 2023 Tax Judge of the Year by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Theresa and her family live in Manchester, NH. 

‍Eric Wind - Attorney Eric Wind was appointed to serve as a member of the BTLA by the N.H. Supreme Court in November 2023 and commissioned by Governor Sununu. Prior to serving on the board, Eric served as a senior advisor to the N.H. Public Utilities Commission. Eric is a member of the New Hampshire Bar and is active in the American Inns of Court. Eric received his undergraduate education at the University of New Hampshire and earned his Juris Doctor at New England Law | Boston. Eric and his family live in Franklin, NH.

Anne Stelmach - has been with the board since 2002 and is the Executive Director. Anne is a retired member of the Massachusetts Bar. She lives in Hooksett, NH with her family and is the current chair of the Hooksett ZBA.

‍NHAAO

‍New Hampshire Association of Assessing Officials (NHAAO)

‍ The New Hampshire Association of Assessing Officials (NHAAO) was established in 1911 and codified by an act of the State Legislature in 1921 at RSA 31:8.

‍The purpose of the Association is to encourage equitable taxation and the education of public officials in tax problems and other matters pertaining to the proper and efficient discharge of their assessing duties. To hold workshops, seminars, discussions and conferences relating to taxation and assessing. To publish books, pamphlets, brochures and papers relating to taxation and assessing and all other things necessary and desirable to foster the purposes of the Association.

The mission of the New Hampshire Association of Assessing Officers (NHAAO) is to provide education and information, promote equitable taxation and excellence in property appraisal and assessment administration through professional development with the highest ethical standards.

NHAAO Presenters

‍Loren Martin - Director of Assessing Operations, Avitar Associates of New England, Inc.
Certified New Hampshire Assessor / Certified Assessor Supervisor

‍Loren Martin serves as Director of Assessing Operations at Avitar Associates of New England, Inc., bringing extensive experience in municipal assessing and property valuation. A Certified New Hampshire Assessor and Certified Assessor Supervisor, Loren has built a career grounded in accuracy, professionalism, and a commitment to equitable taxation.

She holds an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of New Hampshire. Loren has been an active contributor to the profession through her service on the NHAAO Board and the Assessing Standards Board since 2015, helping to guide standards and best practices within the field. ‍

Loren is also a recognized leader in the assessing community, having received the Lawton B. Chandler Award from NHAAO in 2020 for outstanding contributions to municipal officials, as well as the Sherry Vermilya Award from NRAAO in 2017 for exceptional service to the assessment profession across the Northeast.‍

Stephan Hamilton - President at Whitney Consulting Group, LLC, ‍Certified New Hampshire Assessor / Certified Assessor Supervisor

I have the pleasure of leading an organization specializing in Tax Assessing and Government Consulting Services. Our team is committed to providing the highest quality services to all levels and sizes of government. These range from typical assessing activities, taxpayer interactions, documentation and reporting, valuation of residential and commercial property, needs analysis, defense of values and more!

I previously served as the Director of the Municipal and Property Division of the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration for more than ten years, responsible for the supervision of the collection of property taxes, organization and reporting of municipal finances within the state, the setting of local tax rates, supervision of local property assessments in the state, the equalization of local assessed values, the administration of timber and gravel taxation, and the administration of a state utility property tax.

I have worked directly for several levels of government for over twenty years, and in the valuation of all property types since 1984. I also served for twelve years as a member on the NH Assessing Standards Board, establishing standards and recommending legislation for improvements to the property tax system. I served for more than ten years on the NH Current Use Board and served as its chairman for four years.

Robert Gagne, CNHA - Assessor Supervisor, Whitney Consulting Group LLC
Bob is a NH Certified Assessor Supervisor. He has nearly 40 years in the real estate appraisal field and has been a New Hampshire Certified General Appraiser since 1990. 22 years experience in the assessing field, including at the state and municipal level. Certified Assessor Supervisor since 2003.

‍Norm Bernaiche, CNHA - Assessor Supervisor, Bernaiche Consultants
Norm Started his career in Assessing in 1983 after receiving a associates degree in “Property Tax Assessment Technology” from central Maine Institute. Through the 80’s he worked in the revaluation business and managed a private appraisal firm of five appraisers. In the 90’s He took on his first job as a chief assessor for Claremont, NH, then onto the City of Lebanon, NH.

After that He established the first cooperative assessing district comprised of 3 lakefront communities. Lastly, He retired from Hanover, NH, home to Dartmouth College. During his career He always performed his own revaluations. He is a Certified NH Assessor, a Certified Appraisal Supervisor from the Office of Professional Licensing and a State Statues Instructor. He is a past President of the NHAAO, NRAAO and a present Board member of the NHAAO. All together Norm has over 45 years of assessment experience.

MONDAY KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The NHAAO is proud to host Manchester-area realtor and industry leader, Bill Weidacher to give the conference keynote presentation over lunch. Bill Weidacher is the only two-time President of the New Hampshire Association of REALTORS, having served in that capacity in 1995 and 2013. He has twice been named the Greater Manchester/Nashua Board’s REALTOR of the Year, and in 2023 was honored with NHAR’s Distinguished Service Award.

Bill served as the National Association of REALTORS Region I Regional Vice President in 2024.

He has served as facilitator and trainer of the NHAR Leadership Academy since 2019, has been chair of the state association’s Finance Committee, in addition to numerous other leadership roles at the local, state and national association.

Bill has called New Hampshire home since he was 5 years old and has worked in residential real estate for more than 40 years. In 2004, he was a founding partner of Keller Williams Metropolitan in Bedford, where he still works as a partner at Fine Homes Group International.

He and his wife Diane Davidson, his partner at Fine Homes Group, live in Manchester, NH.

Black Box To Glass Box: An AI Vision Revealed

Monday 5/18: 1PM –  4PM

Location: Conference Room - TBD

Presenter(s): John Valente; Real Estate Appraisal, AI Technology Development, Litigation Strategist, GIS Analyst, Grant Writer, Software Developer, Author, and Entrepreneur

‍Can we really go from AI Black Box to AI Glass Box? This seminar will explore the black box drawbacks of AI and present state-of-the-art solutions for transforming AI valuation into a transparent, explainable, defensible approach to value. The session will be fully interactive using SLIDO technology.

‍About John Valente

‍John is the Northeast Regional Manager and Senior AI Data Scientist of Tyler Technologies. He has 46 years of Real Estate Appraisal experience including conducting and managing Revaluation Services in over 400 municipalities in New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

John has experience designing, writing, marketing and supporting CAMA and Discounted Cash Flow software packages. In addition to being a member of the IAAO AI task force, he is currently testing and developing AI applications for Tyler in valuation and image detection using geospatial and hedonic data. John published an article in IAAO Fair and Equitable in December 2024 entitled “Enhancing your appraisal intelligence with artificial intelligence.” In the article John presents his approach to AI and summarizes his latest research comparing AI appraisal statistics to traditional appraisal statistics.

You can also follow John and his colleague Michael MacFarlane on the podcast “Exploring Appraisal” produced by Tyler Technologies. The podcast focuses on current issues and challenges facing assessment and appraisal professionals. Although John really enjoys appraisal his primary and first joy in life is teaching.

Commercial Valuation in Practice:
How can Commercial Brokers and Assessors Work Together

Time: 9AM – 12PM

Location: Conference Room - TBD

Presenter(s): Dan Scanlon, Senior Associate – Colliers

This three-hour educational session will provide municipal assessors with a comprehensive overview of today’s commercial real estate market and its implications for valuation and assessment. Presented by Colliers, the session will explore key commercial appraisal principles, current market conditions, and emerging trends across major asset classes, with particular attention to how commercial market behavior compares to residential growth.

Attendees will gain insight into how commercial properties are valued in practice, including the interpretation of income, expense, capitalization rates, sales activity, and market risk. The presentation will also address the broader economic forces influencing commercial real estate, such as interest rates, development patterns, vacancy trends, and investment behavior, and how these factors translate into assessment challenges at the municipal level.

Through real-world examples and market data, this session is designed to enhance assessors’ understanding of commercial valuation methodologies, improve their ability to analyze market information, and strengthen confidence in explaining and supporting assessed values in a changing commercial landscape.

Presenter(s) Bio: Dan Scanlon is a seasoned real estate professional with Colliers, a leading global commercial real estate services and investment management firm. At Colliers, Dan leverages the firm’s extensive platform—spanning brokerage, valuation and advisory, property management, and strategic consulting—to deliver data-driven insights and tailored solutions for clients across a wide range of asset classes. His work is grounded in a deep understanding of market trends, economic conditions, and the factors influencing both commercial and residential real estate.

Dan combines legal training with real estate expertise, holding a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in Boston and a Bachelor of Arts from Marquette University in Milwaukee. His background enables him to approach transactions and advisory work with a strategic, analytical perspective.

He is a Life Member of the CCIM Institute and is actively involved with the New Hampshire Commercial Investment Board of Realtors, the Manchester Investment Real Estate Roundtable, and the Greater Manchester Chamber. These affiliations reflect his ongoing commitment to professional excellence and engagement within the real estate community.

In addition to his professional work, Dan has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service. He has served as a past Board Member and Chairman of the Board for the Manchester Community Music School, a past Board Member of the NH Tech Alliance, a member of the Asset Committee for NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire, and as Past Board Chair of the Manchester City Library Foundation.

Dan’s combination of industry expertise, legal knowledge, and community leadership positions him as a trusted advisor and respected figure within New Hampshire’s real estate landscape.

Professional Skills for Assessors: EI, Customer Service, and Workplace Success

Time: 9AM – 12PM

Location: Conference Room - TBD

Presenter(s): The New Hampshire Bureau of Education and Training (BET)

This interactive three-hour educational session, presented by BET, focuses on practical skills essential for modern assessing professionals. Attendees will explore strategies and tools to improve communication, emotional intelligence, and workplace effectiveness—skills that are critical when working with the public, managing internal office dynamics, and reporting to elected officials.

Key topics may include:

• Emotional Intelligence: Techniques for understanding and managing emotions in yourself and others to foster positive interactions with taxpayers and colleagues.

• Dealing with Difficult Employees: Strategies for handling challenging workplace situations while maintaining professionalism and team cohesion.

• Customer Service Excellence: Best practices for clear, empathetic, and effective communication with the public.

• Technology Tools for Efficiency: Practical guidance on leveraging Copilot for Business and Excel to streamline workflows and enhance productivity.

Through discussion, case studies, and hands-on exercises, participants will gain actionable skills to navigate complex interpersonal and professional scenarios with confidence and clarity. This session is designed to strengthen both external-facing and internal communication, ensuring assessors are equipped to serve the public and their offices with professionalism and effectiveness.

Presenter(s) Bio:

Stephen serves as State of New Hampshire’s Education and Training Officer. Stephen is also the Bureau Chief, of the Bureau of Education and Training, embedded within the State of New Hampshire Division of Personnel. He was sworn into his current office on May 14, 2021, and has served the State of New Hampshire since July 1, 2018.
Mr. Mason brings extensive learning and development, program implementation, team building, leadership development, technology integration, project management, and performance management experience to his role as Education and Training Officer. These skills were honed over decades of increasingly responsible private and public sector roles. He is a certified employee investigator, Lean Black Belt practitioner, Certified Public Manager, and is also Myers Briggs Type Indicator certified.

 Stephen graduated with honors from the University of Massachusetts in 2002 where he earned multiple undergraduate degrees with academic distinction. Stephen earned his Master’s degree in education in August of 2024.  Stephen has over fourteen years of experience in the field of learning and development and has a strong passion for helping others to learn and become the best leaders that they can be. Prior to accepting employment with the State of New Hampshire, Stephen represented Verizon Telecommunications for eleven years. Stephen has also been a small business owner and former securities fraud investigator. Stephen has extensive public speaking experience and has received a number of awards for service excellence in this field.

He lives near Concord, NH with his wife Florencia; they have two young children, Elly and Mary.

From Red Tape to Results! - The Mass Appraisal Task Force

Time: 1PM – 4PM

Location: Conference Room - TBD

Presenter(s):

Moderator (Introductions): Justin Stanley, CAE, RES (Vice Chair of our task force)

Speaker: Kevin Hayes, MAI, CAE, RES, CFE (Chair of our task force)

Speaker: Pete Fontana, Trustee/Chair of State Harmonization Task Force-TAF

Speaker: John Russell, Past Chair ASB

This session focuses on the latest (2nd) Exposure Draft from the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB), with an emphasis on proposed rules and criteria changes affecting appraisal licensure. Using material from the IAAO Annual Conference, the presentation explores how mass appraisal experience can be applied toward state-level professional appraiser licensure—a form of experience historically excluded for not fitting “traditional” appraisal assignments.

Key discussion points include:

• USPAP Standards 5 & 6: Demonstrating that mass appraisal is a rigorous, methodologically sound practice and that mass appraisal reports are professional appraisal products, not administrative outputs.

• State-by-State Analysis: How the 12 states represented at NRAAO currently recognize (or exclude) mass appraisal experience in licensure requirements.

• Success Stories: Highlighting progress in states like Alabama and Michigan, where mass appraisal experience is now formally recognized.

The session aims to be both educational and motivational - a “call to arms” for NRAAO members to engage with state boards, advocate for recognition of mass appraisal experience, and leverage their own professional expertise toward licensure. Participants will gain actionable insights on enhancing staff competency, credibility, and public trust through alignment of mass appraisal practice with licensure standards.

P R E S E N T E R B I O S :

Kevin D. Hayes, MAI, CAE, RES, CFE
Deputy of Appraisals
Pinellas County Property Appraiser’s Office

Mr. Hayes has over thirty-nine (39) years of real estate appraisal, consulting, and review experience primarily throughout the Southeastern United States with additional work completed in other U.S. States and territories. Additional experience includes market studies, feasibility studies, leasehold and leased fee interest valuation, and trial testimony in eminent domain matters, estates, divorces, tax appeals and title insurance disputes. Kevin graduated from Florida Southern College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He is a Florida State-Certified General Real Estate Appraiser with the CAE and RES designations from the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO), MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute and CFE from Florida Department of Revenue. He joined the Pinellas County Property Appraiser’s office in 2012, and currently serves as the Deputy of Appraisals. In his current capacity, he oversees the valuation of over 450,000 parcels, including all real property (commercial, residential, condominium & manufactured homes) and tangible personal property. 

Mr. Hayes is an IAAO Senior Instructor and an AQB Certified USPAP Instructor.  He is a member of IAAO and the Florida Chapter of IAAO. He currently serves on the Education Committee and is the Chair of the Mass Appraisal Experience Task Force. He is the Immediate Past President on the Executive Board of FCIAAO and currently serves on the Professional Designations Committee. He is also a member of the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the Appraisal Institute and is currently the Education Chair & Board Member. ‍

John D. Russell, JD, Principal, ValuSight Consulting

John is a Principal with ValuSight Consulting, leveraging over fifteen years of experience working on issues affecting the valuation profession. His current work supports valuation professionals and organizations in addressing opportunities and challenges, and providing comment on proposed regulations affecting the profession. He also serves as Appraisal Foundation Advisory Council (TAFAC) representative for MBREA.

While working at the American Society of Appraisers, he built ASA’s internal government relations department, served as project manager for the merger between ASA and the National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers, and was ASA’s longstanding representative to TAFAC. Significant outcomes include inclusion of appraisal provisions in Title XIV of the Dodd-Frank Act, successfully overcoming efforts to treat ESOP appraisers as fiduciaries, and better clarity around the penalty review process for tax-related valuation misstatements.

John has served on the Board of Trustees of the Appraisal Foundation, along with assisting on numerous Foundation projects and working groups. He also serves on the Philadelphia Home Appraisal Equity Advisory Committee under Mayor Cherelle Parker.

In his personal life, John serves as co-president of his community pool. John lives in Potomac, Maryland with his wife and two children. He holds a Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law, and a Bachelors in Broadcasting and Mass Communications from the State University of New York at Oswego.

Peter J Fontana, Principal & Owner of Cornerstone Appraisal Service

Peter has over thirty years of experience in the Real Estate Appraisal Profession. He has a diverse background with extensive experience in governmental appraisal, mass appraisal,

personal property appraisal, single property appraisal, tax appeal and litigation. He has also served as a Subject Matter Expert for the Appraisal Qualifications Board for 10 years as an exam item writer, and served on the Appraisal Foundations Board of Trustees, in Washington D.C. ‍

Peter began his career as the elected county assessor in one of Montana’s largest urban counties, then as a statewide appraisal supervisor for the Montana Department of Revenue, specializing in mass appraisal model development, and finally owning and operating a private fee appraisal firm.

Peter also currently serves on a number of other publicly accountable boards;

1.      The Appraisal Foundation Board of Trustees – Reappointed term begins Jan 1, 2024 (5 years) ‍

2.      Director, Association of Appraiser Regulatory Officials (4 years) ‍

3.      Montana Board of Real Estate Appraisers (Vice Chair) (16 years and past chair)

4.      Cascade County Tax Appeal Board (6 years)

‍5.      City of Great Falls Board of Adjustment and Appeals (2 years)

‍Past Board affiliations include, Local Director - Great Falls Association of Realtors, Governor - Montana Regional MLS Board of Governors, Chair - City of Great Falls Planning and Zoning Commission, Chair - Cascade County Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustments, Vice Chair – Montana Board of Optometry.

‍Peter is the principal and owner of Cornerstone Appraisal Service, a residential appraisal firm located in Central Montana. Peter holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business

Administration, majoring in Finance, from the University of Montana.

Valuing Intangible Assets

Time: 1 PM – 4 PM

Location: Conference Room - TBD

Presenter(s): Barry J. Cunningham, PhD, ASA, MAI, AI-GRS

Property tax appeals increasingly hinge on a pivotal question: is the value being attributed to real estate, or to intangible business assets operating within it? This session explores how modern appraisal definitions of fee simple, the legacy of dark store theory, and the rise of going-concern valuations have brought intangible assets—such as workforce, contracts, franchise agreements, and brand value—into the center of litigation. Attendees will learn how these nonphysical components can create value above fee simple real estate, how valuation methods can separate real estate from business value, and how courts are addressing the issue where statutes lack clarity. The session emphasizes practical tools and interdisciplinary insight to ensure assessments reflect taxable property interests rather than embedded business value.

Presenter Bio: Barry J. Cunningham holds a PhD as well as professional credentials in both real estate and business valuation. These include the ASA from the American Society of Appraisers, and the MAI and AI-GRS review designation from the Appraisal Institute. He is a certified appraiser in several states and has testified in more than 40 states. He has created and taught classes for the IAAO, ASA, American Bar Association, the ISBA, and numerous other state assessor and appraisal groups.

Barry is one of only a handful of real estate appraisers in the country that also holds a business appraisal designation, the BCA or Business Certified Appraiser, from the International Society of Business Appraisers (ISBA). He brings additional insights into this subject matter that real estate appraisers would not be aware of given our education paths. 

He is a principal at Property Tax Research, LLC, a national research and consulting firm based in New Hampshire that works with private equity and REITs in due diligence. This work focuses on purchase price allocations and advising on tax incentives in transactions. While previously active in litigation around the country, he is attempting to make space for fishing!

WEDNESDAY 5/20/26 – USPAP 7-HOUR UPDATE COURSE (8:30AM – 4:30PM)

USPAP 7-Hour Update Course

Time: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Location: Conference Room - TBD

Presenters: Leslie Pruitt; Supervisor of Assessments for Somerset County, SDAT AQB Certified USPAP Instructor IAAO Instructor Certified General Appraiser

The 2026 7- Hour National USPAP Update Course addresses the most recent changes to USPAP as well as the rationale for and impact of those changes. It also explores common USPAP issues and discusses a variety of topics affecting appraisal professionals and how USPAP applies to them. The course is USPAP application based, permitting the participants to complete a variety of exercises and case studies, through either individual or group work. This course is divided into two sections. Section 1 contains discussions related to new changes made to the ETHICS RULE and Section 2 covers all other changes made to USPAP, as well as a full 120 minutes dedicated to Case Studies.

Presenter(s) Bio: Leslie Pruitt is a highly experienced appraisal professional with more than 35 years of service in property assessment and valuation. He is the former Supervisor with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, where he played a key role in overseeing assessment operations and ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations.

Leslie is a Maryland Certified General Appraiser and holds both the AQB Certified USPAP Instructor and IAAO Instructor designations. He is a respected educator in the field, known for delivering clear, practical instruction on appraisal standards, ethics, and best practices. His extensive experience allows him to translate complex concepts into real-world applications that resonate with both new and seasoned professionals.

In addition to his supervisory responsibilities, Leslie is actively engaged in professional education and development, contributing to the advancement of appraisal standards nationwide. He is the instructor for the 2026 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course, where he brings deep subject matter expertise and a commitment to high-quality instruction.

Leslie earned his Bachelor of Science in Small Business Administration from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

‍From CAMA to CLARITY: Transforming Spreadsheets into 21st-Century Data Analytics

Time: 9 AM – 12 PM; Location: Conference Room - TBD

Presenters: Doug Irvine, CNHA, Certified Assessor Supervisor, Chief Assessor, Town of Bedford, NH & Principal of Airfin Analytics, LLC

‍This session demonstrates how data drawn directly from CAMA systems can transform static spreadsheets into a dynamic, living data ecosystem—delivering powerful analysis and actionable insights in a fraction of the time required by traditional methods. Attendees will see how assessment data can be elevated into a clear, compelling communication tool for assessing staff, municipal management, governing bodies, taxpayers, and industry professionals. The session showcases report suites with precise, IAAO-compliant calculations suitable for daily analysis, abatements, tax appeals, and taxpayer interactions.

Participants will gain practical exposure to tools that support day-to-day assessing responsibilities while building familiarity with Power BI’s core functionality, visual language, and analytical capabilities. The focus is on how interactive data visualizations can enhance analysis accuracy, significantly accelerate assessment workflows, and provide clear and simplified visual communication of complex statistical modeling.

The session concludes with a 30-minute panel discussion featuring New Hampshire Power BI users Norm Bernaiche, CNHA; David Cornell, CNHA, MAI, CAE; Rosann Maurice-Lentz, CNHA-CMA, and Chris Wilcock, State of Massachusetts DOR Bureau Chief of Local Assessment.

Assessing categories covered in the session include:

·         Assessment Analysis

·         Property Style Analysis

·         Building Permits

·         Repeat Sales

·         Credits and Exemptions

·         Sales Analysis

·         Grade and Size Analysis

·         Sales Pricing and Volume

·         Mapping and location Analysis

·         State-Wide MLS Data Analysis

·         Median Ratios

·         Tax Structure and Policy

·         MLS State-Wide Analysis

·         Visit History and Production

·         Open Space Analysis (discounted land)

·         Year-Over-Year Sales Analysis

·         Pricing Tiers

·         Zoning, Conservation & Historic Districts

PRESENTER BIO: Doug Irvine is a Certified New Hampshire Assessor, Certified Assessor Supervisor and Chief Assessor for the Town of Bedford, NH, specializing in interactive data analytics for mass appraisal and local government. He began his assessing career in 2003 with Vision Appraisal (VGSI) where he worked with municipalities throughout New England. Having served the Town of Bedford, NH for almost 20 years, Doug has implemented new software platforms that provide greater analysis, efficiency and understanding of the mass appraisal process. Doug is the current Past President of the New Hampshire Association of Assessing Officials and a recipient of the Northeast Regional Association of Assessing Officers’ Sherry Vermilya Award.

Like many assessors, Doug’s formal education is not directly associated with the assessing profession. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he graduated with fellowship honors. His creative work has been recognized with artist fellowships from the Illinois Arts Council and the New Hampshire Council on the Arts, focused on music composition, production, and musical instrument making. Doug has lectured and performed for museums in the US and Canada including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, and the Glenbow Art Museum, Calgary, Canada. Doug’s background in music and design informs his creative approach to developing innovative data tools for municipalities and assessors through his consulting company, Airfin Analytics, LLC.

DISCUSSION PANEL BIOS:

Norm Bernaiche, CNHA, Assessor Supervisor, Bernaiche Consultants
Norm Started his career in Assessing in 1983 after receiving a associates degree in “Property Tax Assessment Technology” from central Maine Institute. Through the 80’s he worked in the revaluation business and managed a private appraisal firm of five appraisers. In the 90’s He took on his first job as a chief assessor for Claremont, NH, then onto the City of Lebanon, NH.

After that He established the first cooperative assessing district comprised of 3 lakefront communities. Lastly, He retired from Hanover, NH, home to Dartmouth College. During his career He always performed his own revaluations. He is a Certified NH Assessor, a Certified Appraisal Supervisor from the Office of Professional Licensing and a State Statues Instructor. He is a past President of the NHAAO, NRAAO and a present Board member of the NHAAO. All together Norm has over 45 years of assessment experience.

David Cornell, CNHA, MAI, CAE:
David M. Cornell, CAE, MAI, was a 10-year Microsoft Certified Trainer and is a Certified Excel Expert. He currently serves as the President of Cornell Consultants, LLC and is the New Hampshire/Vermont Chapter past President for the Appraisal Institute.  He previously served as the Assistant Director for the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Municipal and Property Division, and served as the Chairman of the Board of Assessors for the City Manchester, NH. He enjoys teaching and has created numerous Microsoft and real estate classes and is a senior national instructor for the International Association of Assessing Officers.

Rosann Maurice-Lentz, CNHA, CMA
Rosann is a Certified Assessor and Assessor Supervisor for the State of New Hampshire and the State of Maine. She has been in the assessing profession for 30 plus years and has been the Assessing Director for the City of Portsmouth since 2007. Rosann has been creating dashboards with Power BI for several years and utilizes these dashboards to monitor inspections, sales, and exports data from Vision directly to generate real-time reports for presentations, valuation summaries …. She has worked with Cornell Consultants who created Power BI dashboards to monitor revaluations statistics and developed online dashboards on the assessor’s webpage utilized by taxpayers within the city.  

Christopher Wilcock
Christopher Wilcock is the Bureau Chief of Local Assessment at the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services, which he joined in June 2021. A veteran assessor with over two decades of experience, he previously served as an assessor in the City of Salem (where he began his career in 2001), City of  Melrose, Town of Tewksbury, Town of Weston, and Town of Wakefield, and as Director of GIS for the City of Melrose.

He is a Past President of both the Middlesex County Association of Assessors and the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers. An early adopter of Power BI, Wilcock is a passionate advocate for data-driven policy, geospatial peer analysis, and tech forward assessment practices.

Fair Housing

Time: 1PM – 4PM

Location: Conference Room - TBD

Presenters: Brittany Farruggio, Business Development Representative, United Title & Escrow

This educational session on Fair Housing Law is designed specifically for Assessing Officials and is presented in an interactive, team-based format. Participants work collaboratively in small groups to respond to multiple-choice questions using whiteboards, promoting engagement and reinforcing understanding of legal requirements through practical application.

The curriculum emphasizes core components of Fair Housing Law that are directly relevant to the assessment profession, including protected classes, prohibited discriminatory practices, and the obligation to administer assessments in a fair, uniform, and non-discriminatory manner. To further enhance applicability, the session incorporates scenario-based questions that reflect situations Assessing Officials may encounter in the course of their duties and interactions with the public.

In addition, the material has been expanded to include state-specific fair housing considerations for Massachusetts, Maryland, Vermont, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey, ensuring participants gain a broader understanding of both federal and state-level requirements as they relate to property assessment and administration.

Presenter(s) Bio: Brittany is a business development and closing specialist responsible for conducting closings and coordinating with all parties to ensure each real estate transaction closes as smoothly as possible.

Brittany’s career in the title industry began at just 17 years old with a summer job at a title company. Over the past 16 years, she has built extensive knowledge of the real estate and title industries, continually expanding her expertise and developing a deep understanding of the closing process.

Born and raised in New Hampshire, Brittany graduated from Pinkerton Academy in Derry before earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and philosophy the UNH. She later attended the UNH School of Law and hopes to one day complete her law degree.

Brittany is an affiliate member of the Greater Manchester/Nashua Board of Realtors and serves as an accredited instructor for continuing education courses for real estate agents in both New Hampshire and Maine.

Brittany has also written several elective courses focused on her areas of interest, most notably on fair housing laws and understanding title insurance.