2023 Summer Seminars

May 24 – 25, 2023

Holiday Inn & Suites
75 37th Avenue, St. Cloud, MN

 
Raffle & Social Event

Agenda

Education Seminars

1 CEH per education hour for attendance at seminar sessions has been approved by the State Board of Assessors. Carefully choose seminars that equal 4 hours each day for a total of 8 hours in two days. 

**PACE credits are approved for the following seminars:

• Skills for Crisis De-Escalation
• Intro & Advanced Excel for Assessors
• Land Divisions Round Table
• Introduction to Green Acres and Rural Preserves
• Understanding Unconscious Bias
• SFIA Understanding the Pieces of the Puzzle
• Tax Court Mock Trial

Classroom limits subject to change based on demand. Register early!

Apartment Market Update - 2hrs.
SS1 - Wednesday, 1:00 – 3:00
SS2 - Wednesday, 3:00 – 5:00
Instructor: Tim Klein, Diversified Real Estate Services
This course will cover current market trends and the overall apartment market. The course will take an in depth look at the valuing apartments via the Income Capitalization Approach to value and offer multiple examples.      

New Appraiser Roundtable - 4hrs.
SS3 - Wednesday, 1:00 – 5:00
Instructors: John Thompson, AMA, Brown County
Mary Wells, SAMA, Independent Contract Assessor
Jean Popp, SAMA, Morrison County Assessor
Erik Skogquist, SAMA, Independent Contract Assessor
Topics covered in this seminar include: 1. Approaching the house and at the door (exterior) - Approaching the house and what to say at the door.  This topic will cover important details that can be observed as you walk to the door and how to present yourself at the door, what to say and not to say as you speak with property owners.  2. Inside the House (Interior) - What to do and not to do inside the house. Reviewing previous interior/exterior data, changes and conditions. Verifying measurements and taking new exterior photos. 3. Basic Residential Construction - Learn what different types of material and components go into a house from the excavation and footings to the shingles. This course will also cover some examples of what makes a home of higher quality compared to a minimum code-built home. 4. Quintile Planning and Preparation - Tips and helpful information on efficiently planning and executing your quintile review.   **Note: If a learner took New Appraiser Roundtable since the start of the 4-year cycle July 1, 2020, they would not receive CEHs for taking this seminar in 2023.

MN Residential Form Report, 4 hrs.
SS4 - Wednesday, 1:00 – 5:00
Instructor: Patrick Chapman, SAMA, Ramsey County Assessor
This seminar will assist individuals in writing a residential demonstration form report. The students will be provided with the most complete and up to date checklist to refer to as the candidate writes their report. The student reference manual will also provide step-by-step instructions for writing the report and will include many examples to help them successfully complete their report.   **Note: If a learner took MN Residential Form Report since the start of the 4-year cycle July 1, 2020, they would not receive CEHs for taking this seminar in 2023.

Introduction to Green Acres and Rural Preserves - 2hrs.
SS5 - Wednesday, 1:00 – 3:00
SS6 - Wednesday, 3:00 – 5:00
Instructors: Katelyn Nytes, SAMA, Scott County, Ginger Buitenwerf, SAMA, DOR
This course will outline the history, enrollment requirements, and provide real life examples of Green Acres and Rural Preserve situations. The course is intended to be an introduction to Green Acres and Rural Preserve for assessors who are not familiar with the programs. The seminar is an overview of what properties qualify for the agricultural classification to be considered ag homestead, including ag intensive and exclusive. 

Understanding Unconscious Bias - 2hrs.  (Instructor will be teaching virtually)
SS7 - Wednesday, 1:00 – 3:00
SS8 - Wednesday, 3:00 – 5:00
Instructor: Yer Winder, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager, DOR
Everyone has unconscious biases. Our brains process information every day, consciously and unconsciously, and we begin to categorize this information into areas such as gender, ethnicity, disability, height, weight, introvert, extrovert, education, accents, and more. Then, we often make positive or negative views based on our experiences or relationships with others. The purpose of this class is to provide you with a greater awareness of your own biases, the types of biases, and how you can mitigate biases that can potentially cause harm or impact in the workplace.  

SFIA: Understanding the Pieces of the Puzzle - 4hrs.
SS9 - Wednesday, 1:00 – 5:00
Instructor:  Emily Anderson, DOR
The Sustainable Forest Incentive Act program is primarily administered by the department of Revenue and the Department of Natural Resources, however some of the requirements of the program also rely heavily on the work of an assessor. This course will include a variety of information as it relates to the SFIA program including classification of land, administering Green Acres and 2c, how to collaborate with the DOR and DNR to identify and possibly prevent violations by landowners, the process for verifying SFIA enrolled land, and more. There will also be an opportunity for a round table discussion that will include the students, DOR staff, DNR staff, and foresters.  **Note: If a learner took SFIA since the start of the 4-year cycle July 1, 2020, they would not receive CEHs for taking this seminar in 2023.

Tax Court Mock Trial - 4hrs.
SS10 - Wednesday, 1:00 – 5:00
Instructors: Sara Bruggeman, Assistant Attorney
Brett Hall, MAI, SRA, SAMA, Hennepin County
Brian Kieser, MAI, SAMA, CAE, City of Minneapolis
Want to get your feet wet without sitting in the Tax Court hot seat?  Join us for the Tax Court Mock Trial seminar.  The class begins with Hennepin Assistant County Attorney Sara Bruggeman who will discuss tax court processes and procedures and will provide "Dos and Don'ts" when it comes to testifying. City of Minneapolis Chief Appraiser Brian Kieser, MAI, SAMA, CAE and Hennepin Principal Commercial Appraiser Brett Hall, MAI, SRA, SAMA will then discuss proper valuation methodology and technique used for the Minnesota Tax Court. For the last half of the class, selected participants will experience what it's like to "sit on the hot seat" in a friendly and supportive mock trial environment.  **Note: If a learner took Tax Court Mock Trial since the start of the 4-year cycle July 1, 2020, they would not receive CEHs for taking this seminar in 2023.   

Assessor Safety Training - 2hrs.
SS11 - Wednesday, 1:00 – 3:00
SS12 - Wednesday, 3:00 – 5:00
Instructor: Lieutenant Brian Johnson, Wright County Sheriff Department
This presentation covers many situations and issues that an employee working at any job could face daily; although geared towards law enforcement, it has been presented for many large groups and businesses. This presentation covers some of the most critical areas that employees and supervisors struggle with, how to deal with mental health issues, how to deal with hostile customers, clients, or coworkers, how to de-escalate heated situations, and options to train employees for a critical incident properly. We will discuss working with the tools that you have and how to start or advance your training program. The presenter uses his extensive knowledge and experience to deliver his message and personal stories to help validate his recommendations.  **Note: If a learner took Assessor Safety Training since the start of the 4-year cycle July 1, 2020, they would not receive CEHs for taking this seminar in 2023.

Using Excel to Set Ag Values - 2hrs.
SS13 - Thursday, 8:00 – 10:00
SS14 - Thursday, 10:00 – 12:00
Instructor: Sue Schulz, SAMA, McLeod County Assessor
To provide examples of ways to use Excel to set agricultural values and how they can help in determining what are the necessary adjustments needed to meet state ratio requirements.   

How to Complete and Defend a Revaluation - 4hrs.
SS15 - Thursday, 8:00 – 12:00
Instructor: Bob Ehler, President, Vanguard Appraisals, Inc.
This course will cover the process of completing a county wide revaluation, beginning with data collection through final sales analysis. The instructor is Robert Ehler. President of Vanguard Appraisals, Inc. He has 43 years of experience in completing revaluation. Robert is also a certified appraiser. 

Skills for Crisis De-escalation - 2hrs.
SS16 - Thursday, 8:00 – 10:00
SS17 - Thursday, 10:00 – 12:00
Instructor: Tim Denney, NW Regional Coordinator, Crisis Text Line
We all meet people who are in or on their way into an emotional crisis. It goes with our jobs.  How can we help people de-escalate their combinations of anger and fear, slow down, relax a bit, and work with us, not against us? Learn how the brain works in crisis, and how you can work with a person to get the brain back to a more helpful state. Avoid escalating people and increase success in communications using skills given to law enforcement and first responders. 

Intro & Advanced Excel for Assessors - 4hrs.
SS18 - Thursday, 8:00 – 12:00
Instructor: Alex Guggenberger, SAMA, Anoka County Assessor
This course is geared towards assessment professionals who'd like to better leverage excel in their daily work. Unlike generic excel training courses, this course will utilize existing CAMA Reports from various vendors as well as MN DOR Sales lists to introduce basic and more advanced functionality all assessment personnel can leverage. BRING YOUR OWN LAPTOP.

MN Residential Form Report Hands-On Workshop - 4hrs.
SS19 - Thursday, 8:00 – 12:00
Instructor: Patrick Chapman, SAMA, Ramsey County Assessor
This “Hands On” seminar will assist individuals in writing a residential demonstration form report. Form Report Graders will be in the room to provide assistance and answer questions as you write your report. Bring your Form Reports and laptops.  **Note: If a learner took MN Residential Form Report Hands-On Workshop since the start of the 4-year cycle July 1, 2020, they would not receive CEHs for taking this seminar in 2023.

GIS: Intro to ArcGIS Pro and Important ArcGIS Online Updates - 2 hrs.
SS20 - Thursday, 8:00 – 10:00
SS21 - Thursday, 10:00 – 12:00
Instructors: Mike Nordquist, Solutions Engineer, ProWest and Associates
Alex Lange, GIS Solutions Engineer, ProWest and Associates
Get ahead of ArcMap deprecation and make sure your knowledge of GIS technology is up-to date! Join this session to get to grips with ArcGIS Pro and discover important recent updates to ArcGIS Online. 

2023 Legislative Session Update and Administrating New Property Tax Laws - 2hrs.
SS22 - Thursday, 8:00 – 10:00
SS23 - Thursday, 10:00 – 12:00
Instructor: Bob Thompson, SAMA, Cook County Assessor
This seminar will seek to help assessors understand how the legislative process impacts their work, how to consider the administrative and tax shift implications of proposed law changes, how to identify concerns with administering proposed law changes, and how to review policy proposals– considering the many types of properties and priorities across a diverse state. At the end of the seminar, attendees will be able to better understand how property tax laws are developed and administered. The course will close with a brief update of the ongoing 2023 legislative session. 

Land Divisions Roundtable - 4hrs.
SS24 - Thursday, 8:00 – 12:00
Instructors: Gina Sievert, SAMA, Assistant County Assessor, Sibley County
Lavon Augustine, SAMA, Goodhue County Assessor
Mark Koehn, SAMA, Retired Senior Ag Appraiser, Stearns County
Gina Sievert presents what triggers a land division, working with owners and their representatives, considerations for approving the split, how to construct the new legal description and overview of the appraiser's role in the process. Lavon Augustine presents Tax Estimates on different types of property as part of a Land Division / Split request.  Mark Koehn presents how to administer Green Acres and collecting a Green Acres payback if there is a Land Division / Split request.

 
COVID Considerations

MAAO is following the current guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health. Each educational offering is subject to cancellation if mandated by the Governor or due to a change in COVID conditions. A 100% refund will be processed for any registrant due to a COVID-related cancellation. Attendance at any course is at the risk of the employer and attendee. MAAO will not be held liable.

 
ADA Policy

If you have a disability and may require some accommodations at any event, please notify us via email to [email protected] at least two weeks prior to the course, and we will attempt to make reasonable arrangements.

 
Cancellation Policy

 A refund less a $30.00 administration fee will be issued for cancellations received five business days prior to the start of a course or conference.  Registrants who fail to attend or cancel prior to the cancellation deadline are responsible for the entire fee. If a registrant is unable to attend the event, a substitute from the jurisdiction that paid for the registration can attend at no additional charge.  Please send written notification of this change five business days prior to the start of the event.  MAAO reserves the right to cancel any event if necessary and provide a full refund.  Refunds will be issued within 30 days of the course or conference.  Membership dues are non-refundable. 

 
Questions?

• Paul Knutson, MAAO Conference Coordinator | 507-339-3889 | [email protected]
• Dawn Klein, MAAO Assistant Conference Coordinator | 651-438-4230 | [email protected] 
• Amanda Dutcher, MAAO Education Coordinator | 218-731-4840 | [email protected]

Click here to register