About Us

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History of the NYS Assessors Association

The New York State Assessors Association (NYSAA) was incorporated February 14, 1940. The founders of the NYSAA established bylaws that require a 12-member Executive Board to oversee the operations of the NYSAA. The treasurer and executive secretary are employed by the NYSAA and are automatic non-voting members of the Board. The remaining 10 seats are elected from the membership. 

In the mid-1950’s, the NYSAA Executive Board recognized the need for more professionalism in the industry. One way to achieve this goal was to formalize the education and training process. Knowing that the tasks of developing curriculum, training instructors, writing text books, etc. were extremely time-consuming, they decided to establish a subsidiary organization to handle all education for the NYSAA. The Executive Board would tend to the operations and this new organization would be solely responsible for education. 

In 1958, this dream became a reality as the NYSAA established a subsidiary organization known as the Institute of Assessing Officers (IAO). The IAO received its permanent charter on March 1, 1963 from the New York State Board of Regents and has been handling all NYSAA education since its inception. Appraisal courses, one-day seminars, the Cornell Seminar on Appraising, and the Annual Fall Conference comprise most of their offerings. 

In 1984, to honor two dedicated past executive secretaries of the New York State Assessors Association, the John H. Way - John M. Costello Memorial Educational Fund (otherwise known as "The Fund") was established. Advancement of assessor education was a primary focus of both men, and the Association recognized the need to begin a fund to help defray the costs associated with education.
 

The Fund has thrived over the years thanks to the leadership and dedication of past trustees who are appointed by the president of the New York State Assessors Association and the chair of the Institute of Assessing Officers. The term of office is five years. 

Our Structure

The New York State Assessors Association is composed of two boards. They are the NYSAA Executive Board and the Institute of Assessing Officers (IAO) Board of Trustees. 

The Executive Board consists of the president, first vice president, second vice president, past president (called line officers), six NYSAA members, and two non-voting NYSAA employees (treasurer and executive director). Each line officer serves a one-year term. The past president position is automatically filled by the outgoing president at the completion of their presidency. The remaining six Board members each serve a two-year term, with three up for re-election each year. 

The Institute of Assessing Officers (IAO) is governed by an eight-member Board of Trustees. Each seat is a four-year term with two seats expiring each year. The Board of Trustees elect, amongst themselves, a trustee who will serve as chair of the Board of Trustees. The chair serves a two-year term.

The Fund is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees. Each seat is a five-year term with one seat expiring each year. The Institute of Assessing Officers and the president of the NYS Assessors Association jointly appoint one person each year to serve as a Trustee of The Fund.

The current Executive Board members are:

President Christine Hayes, SCA, Towns of Bolton, Horicon, Warren County

First  Vice President Maggie Alix, Village of Green Island, Albany County

Second Vice President Robert Bick, Town of Clay, Onondaga County

Past President Jeneen Hill, Towns of Collins, Evans, North Collins, Erie County

Lisa Goree, SCA, term expires October 2023, Town of Southampton, Suffolk County

Josh Herman, IAO, term expires October 2023, Town of New Castle, Westchester County

David Roach, IAO, term expires October 2023, Towns of Granby, Huron, Orwell, Williamstown; Oswego and Wayne Counties

Thomas Donato, IAO, term expires October 2024, Villages of Amityville, Great Neck, Lake Success; Nassau County

Joanne Majewski, IAO, term expires 2024, City of Newburgh, Orange County

Heather Weinhold, SCA, term expires 2024, Town of Guilderland, Albany County

Laverne Tennenberg, Treasurer, Town of Riverhead, Suffolk County

Warren J. Wheeler, IAO, Executive Director, Towns of Amboy, Constantia, Minetto, Richland; Oswego County

The current IAO Trustees are:

Rochelle Harris, IAO, Chair, term expires October 2024, Towns of Hamilton, North Norwich, Sherburne; Chenango and Madison Counties

Katherine Johnson, IAO, term expires October 2026, Town of North East, Dutchess County

Dennis Ketcham, IAO, term expires October 2025, Towns of Montgomery, Mt Hope, Forestburgh; Orange and Sullivan Counties

Edye McCarthy, IAO, term expires October 2026, Town of Greenburgh, Westchester County

Brian Phelps, IAO, term expires October 2023, City of Watertown, Jefferson County

Victoria Sirota, IAO, term expires 2025, Town/Village of Scarsdale, Westchester County

Denise J. Trudell, IAO, term expires October 2023, Towns of Salina, Osceola, Montague; Lewis, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties

Anne Sapienza, FIAO, term expires October 2024, Town of Stafford, Genesee County

Laverne D. Tennenberg, IAO, Treasurer, Town of Riverhead, Suffolk County

Warren J. Wheeler, IAO, Executive Director, Towns of Amboy, Constantia, Minetto, Richland; Oswego County

The current Fund Trustees are:

Robert A. Criddle, IAO, Chair, term expires October 2024, Town of Ogden, Monroe County

Patrick J. Duffy, IAO, term expires October 2023, Town of Manlius, Onondaga County

James J. Molinaro, Jr., IAO, term expires October 2025, Town of Clarkstown, Rockland County

Colleen Adamec, IAO, term expires October 2026, Towns of Stillwater, Greenwich, Kingsbury; Saratoga and Washington Counties

Denise M. Spaulding, IAO, term expires October 2027, Towns of Candor, Nichols, Tioga; Tioga County