Educational Information
Monday
Assessment Intelligence in Practice- Will Jarvis 2 Hrs
The course follows the Valuebase Assessment Intelligence cycle: Validate, Enrich, Model, Visualize, Verify, and Defend, reinforced with Michigan-focused exercises. Allegan County is used as a real-world case study to address issues like incomplete property data, coding gaps, and inconsistent ratio results. It emphasizes practical, data-driven solutions and defensible assessment practices over theory.
M-21 Assessor Essentials-Shila Kiander 2 Hrs
This two-hour course uses the M-21 corridor as a metaphor for an assessor’s professional journey, using roadway themes to illustrate key concepts. It covers essential practices like planning, data management, sales studies, legal standards, and handling challenges such as appeals and communication. The focus is on professional growth, adaptability, and practical strategies to improve daily
operations and long-term effectiveness.
Keynote Speaker Michael Hingson 2 Hrs (No Con ed Credit)
#1 New York Times Best-selling Author & Inspirational speaker tells his story about escaping the World Trade Center disaster on 9/11, being guided by his dog down 78 flights of stairs.
Tuesday
Michigan Apartment Markets and Valuation Issues- David Rice 8 Hrs
This eight-hour seminar offers continuing education for Michigan appraisers and assessors, focusing on apartment valuation and requiring knowledge of the income approach. It reviews property types, rent levels, market trends, and key valuation issues like vacancy, expenses, obsolescence, and capitalization rates. Two case studies cover affordable housing development and challenges in valuing a non-stabilized apartment property.
IAAO Forum 917- How to Critique an Appraisal- Lisa Hobart 8 Hrs
Discover a methodical approach to the review and critique of appraisals submitted in support of assessment reduction. You will distinguish if an appraiser acts as an advocate for the client or truly approaches the assignment as a disinterested, unbiased third party. All aspects of an appraisal will be inspected to ascertain the credibility and reliability of the work submitted.
Apex Sketch, From Desktop to Mobile – Brian V Marino 8 Hrs
This hands-on course is designed for both new and experienced users looking to build a solid foundation in Apex Sketch, including our desktop version (Av7) and web/mobile version (AvX). Attendees will learn the basics of drawing, editing, and annotating property sketches, with a focus on field-to-finish workflows that eliminate the need to redraw property sketches back at the office. We’ll also introduce Apex Portal as part of the mobile workflow.
Poverty Exemptions Explained-Stacey Bassi 4 Hrs
Students will study the statute governing poverty exemptions and how local policies differ across communities based on economic factors. The course emphasizes accurate, complete, and compliant application processing. It also covers verification methods using public data and proper entry of exemptions into BS&A.
How Ethics Affect You in the Workplace- Anthony Meyaard & William Gast 4 Hrs
The class defines ethics and culture and explains how they influence each other in shaping workplace environments. It explores three types of ethics and how they impact daily decision-making, using real-world examples from assessors. Participants also learn strategies to positively shift and improve workplace culture through ethical practices.
Wednesday
State Tax Commission Updates by: STC Staff (required annual con. ed)
The 2026 State Tax Commission Updates will provide instruction on important topics impacting assessment administration and property taxation. ALL certified assessors (MCAO, MAAO, MMAO) and ALL certified assessing technicians (MCAT) must take the 2026 STC Updates class as part of their continuing education renewal requirements
The Assessor’s AI Field Kit by Will Jarvis 4 hrs
This course teaches assessors how to use ChatGPT and similar AI tools as practical productivity assistants while reinforcing that these tools support—never replace— professional judgment. Organized around real assessor workflows, participants will engage in hands-on exercises such as drafting taxpayer communications, cleaning and refining data, supporting ratio studies, and preparing for appeals, with a strong focus on prompt writing, output evaluation, and verification. Designed as an interactive workshop rather than a lecture, the course regularly involves rewriting prompts, testing outputs, and building reusable tools participants can immediately apply in their daily work.