IAO Awards

Message from the IAO Awards Committee Chair

The Institute of Assessing Officers is proud to present the following list of award recipients. The Board of Trustees makes, and accepts, nominations to recognize and honor deserving persons who have gone above and beyond what is expected of an assessor and/or a member of the Institute of Assessing Officers. The sections below describe each award, the years awarded, and the recipients of the award.

The IAO Awards Committee asks that you consider nominating a colleague who you feel deserves one of the awards listed below. Nominations must be submitted on or before June 15. Awards will be presented at the Annual Fall Conference.

It is an honor and a privilege to receive acknowledgment from our colleagues in recognition of our accomplishments, so please consider nominating a deserving colleague. Please click here for the online submission form.

Victoria Sirota, IAO
Chair, Awards Committee

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION

Who can nominate: Anyone
Who can receive: IAO member or non-member
Given to Active or Retired IAO Member: Either

1998 Susan C. Otis
1998 John McCarthy
1998 Saratoga County Assessor's Association
2015 Maureen Wetter
2016 Warren J. Wheeler
2016 Denise Trudell
2021 Owen Phelps
2024 Donna Komor

CHAIR’S AWARD

This award is presented to an IAO member or non-member who, in the opinion of the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of Assessing Officers, has provided distinguished and valuable service to the Institute and the Chair of the Board.
Who can nominate: IAO Chair
Who can receive: IAO member or non-member
Given to Active or Retired IAO Member: Either

1996 James E. Culver
1997 Michael R. Spiegel (2023)
2000 Nathaniel A. Jackson (2016)
2002 Anne M. Sapienza
2004 Bryan J. Monaghan
2005 John Gamage (2015)
2005 Patrick J. Duffy
2006 Roger E. Tibbetts
2014 Roger E. Tibbetts
2015 Lawrence Quinn
2016 Denise J. Trudell
2017 Denise Spaulding
2019 Edye McCarthy
2019 Anne Sapienza
2020 Thomas Frey
2021 Denise Trudell
2022 Teri Ross
2022 Victoria Sirota
2023 Edye McCarthy
2024 Maggie Alix

DAVID BRIGGS EXCEPTIONAL NEW IAO MEMBER AWARD

This award will be presented in recognition of the Institute of Assessing Officers member, of less than three years, who has shown character, integrity, and skills that favorably reflect on the IAO, the professional status of the assessor, and the assessment profession through the support of education.

David Briggs was an instructor and author of numerous courses. He is a past NYSAA president, IAO Trustee, Dean of the Cornell Seminar, Fellow of the Institute (FIAO) and Executive Director. He was a mentor to new members and consistently encouraged them to pursue education and further the assessment profession. His quiet dedication left a permanent imprint on the Association.

Qualities displayed: David was a mentor to others, supported education, and was an active committee volunteer.
To be awarded for the first time in 2024.
Years of service: Less than 3
Who can nominate: Anyone
Who can receive: IAO Member
Given to Active or Retired IAO Member: Active

2024 Molly MacElroy

ELLIOT GLASER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

This award shall be presented to the IAO member who has exhibited extraordinary commitment and achievement while a member of the Institute. This is clearly demonstrated by years of service to the Institute in proactively achieving a higher level of education in our profession. This commitment to education was evident not only in their own achievements, but by how they helped others.

Elliot Glaser was the assessor for the City of White Plains. He served as an IAO Trustee, Fellow of the Institute (FIAO), was presented with the Distinguished Service Award, and served as Dean of the Cornell Seminar. He was John H. Way - John M. Costello Memorial Educational Fund's financial advisor in its early years, getting it off to a great start.

Qualities displayed: Elliot was a mentor who listened without questioning others’ knowledge or experiences and always available to help and used storytelling as a means to connect with colleagues.
Years of service: At least 10 years
Who can nominate: Anyone
Who can receive: IAO Member
Given to Active or Retired IAO Member: Either

2003 Michael R. Spiegel (2023)
2008 David W. Briggs
2011 Susan C. Otis
2013 Roger E. Tibbetts
2017 Andrea Nilon
2018 Thomas Frey
2018 Anne Sapienza
2022 Laverne Tennenberg
2023 Edye McCarthy
2024 Scott Shedler

GEORGE J. HILL EDUCATOR EMERITUS AWARD

This award is presented to an IAO member who has served the IAO with many years of distinguished and dedicated service as an instructor.

George J. Hill was the assessor for the Town of Greenburgh. He was an instructor and collaborated with John Walsh to author an "In Training Correspondence Course." He was an IAO Trustee, Fellow of the Institute (FIAO), Cornell Seminar Dean, and a moving force behind the John H. Way - John M. Costello Memorial Educational Fund.

Qualities displayed: Despite his busy schedule, George found time to write educational manuals and effectively promoted professionalism through his instruction style. He was a forward-thinking, likeable instructor and was willing to share his knowledge and experience with his students.
Years of service: Taught 7 times in the last 10 years
Who can nominate: Anyone
Who can receive: IAO member instructor
Given to Active or Retired IAO Member: Either

1988 Alfred Schimmel (2006)
1988 Julian Utevsky (2006)
1993 Thomas A. McManus (2024)
1993 Robert Osias (1998)
1996 Joseph J. Taggart (2020)
2003 David W. Briggs
2008 Thomas Frey
2013 John Zukowski
2015 Steve Ruelke
2016 Nathan Gabbert
2016 Anne Sapienza
2019 Cathy Conklin
2022 Teri Ross
2023 Donna Komor
2024 Warren J. Wheeler

IAO DISTINGUISHED ASSISTANCE AWARD

This award is presented to an Institute member who has provided the IAO with many years of distinguished assistance and whose proficiency, skill, and dedicated efforts have promoted the goals of the Institute.
Who can nominate: Anyone
Who can receive: IAO Member
Given to Active or Retired IAO Member: Active

1996 Nathaniel A. Jackson (2016)
1997 Thomas W. Masten
2023 James J. Molinaro, Jr.

JOHN C. GAMAGE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD

This award is presented to an active or retired member who, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, has demonstrated great personal and professional character and integrity, and who has been instrumental in the development, coordination, promotion, and delivery of the Institute’s education programs. Such persons shall have been a member of the Institute of Assessing Officers for at least ten years. (first offered 2015)

John C. Gamage was the commissioner of assessment for the City of Syracuse for 25 years. He opposed tax breaks for businesses and oversaw the city's first revaluation in six decades. John was the consummate professional who preferred to perform diligently in the background rather than be center stage.

Qualities displayed: John was kind, humorous, helpful and, most of all, encouraging. John spurred colleagues to reach outside their comfort zone as he often did himself and challenged the status quo.
Years of service: At least 10 years
Who can nominate: Anyone
Who can receive: IAO member
Given to Active or Retired IAO Member: Either

2015 Shirley Bement (2016)
2016 Larry Quinn
2017 Patricia McVee
2018 Deborah A. Eurich
2019 Lawrence G. Quinn
2020 David Clifford
2021 Brian Phelps
2022 J. Todd Wiley
2024 Anne Sapienza

JOHN E. WALSH PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE AWARD

This award is presented to a retired member or non-member who, in the opinion of the Board, has provided continued service to the Institute in the promotion of the goals of the IAO.

John E. Walsh was the assessor for the City of Peekskill. Along with George J. Hill, he organized, implemented, and maintained a correspondence course for assessors.

Qualities displayed: John was instrumental in helping to further the goals of assessors and understood the difference between large and small jurisdictions and upstate/downstate issues.
Years of service: At least 5 years

Who can nominate: Anyone

Who can receive: IAO member or non-member

Given to Active or Retired IAO Member: Retired

1988 Edwin R. Parkot (2005)
1988 John A. Stanwix
1993 Prof. Nelson Bills
1998 John Zukowski
2003 Stephen J. Harrison
2014 Fred Pask

JOHN F. ST. GEORGE AWARD

This award is presented to the author of the best original article written by a member of the NYSAA that was published in the IAO Journal in the past year.

John F. St. George sat on the first IAO Board of Trustees, was awarded the Institute's second-ever Fellowship (FIAO), and was the first IAO Journal editor.

Qualities displayed:

Years of service: N/A

Who can nominate: IAO members

Who can receive: Author of article published in IAO Journal in past year

Given to Active or Retired IAO Member: Either

1978 Nathaniel A. Jackson (2016)
1980 David A. Arlen
1982 Edwin R. Parkot (2005)
1986 Gregory D. Blaisdell (1992)
1990 Richard H. Hubner
1997 David W. Briggs
2009 Roger E. Tibbetts
2011 Nathan Gabbert
2023 Patrick Duffy
2024 Cristine DelFuoco

LAWRENCE D. BENTON MEMORIAL AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

This award is presented to an Institute member who has served with the IAO with many years of distinguished service and whose character, integrity, and skill have promoted the goals of the Institute.

Lawrence D. Benton was the assessor for the Town of Newburgh and the first President of the Orange County Assessors Association. He was NYSAA President, Chairman of the IAO Trustees, Fellow of the Institute (FIAO), and Editor of the IAO Journal. He created and promoted the One-Day seminars. He strongly believed in professional development and worked with both the IAO and the SREA (Society of Real Estate Appraisers) to bring appraisal courses to New York State and the Hudson Valley. Larry promoted attaining professional designations and was a true motivator to Orange County assessors to obtain their IAO designation.

Qualities displayed: Larry was creative, forward-thinking, and a strong advocate for education. He was passionate about every aspect of the assessment profession and worked with others to achieve common goals.

Years of service: At least 5 years

Who can nominate: Anyone

Who can receive: IAO Member

Given to Active or Retired IAO Member: Either

1988 C. Warren Porth (1995)
1990 Donald P. Franklin (2005)
1991 Shirley D. Royak
1993 Margaret I. Ciamarra (2006)
1998 Michael J. Fogarty
1998 Elliot Glaser (2002)
1998 James H. Howarth
1998 Thomas A. McManus (2024)
1998 Robert Osias (1998)
1998 Joseph J. Taggart (2020)
2000 J. Craig Surprise
2006 Thomas O'Donnell (2020)
2009 Thomas Masten
2011 Anne Sapienza
2013 Mathew Joseph
2014 Deborah Eurich
2014 John Gamage (2015)
2016 Darren W. Colton
2017 Mario Arevalo
2019 J. Todd Wiley
2023 Timothy Sheares
2024 Colleen Adamec

SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES

FELLOW MEMBER

Fellowship shall be bestowed upon members in recognition of outstanding services to the profession or to the Institute. Fellowships shall be awarded only to members proposed by the Board of Trustees and approved by the membership.

1961 Joseph J. Lennox (1978)
1962 John F. St. George (1975)
1967 Arthur L. Bergren (1980)
1967 Alfred Schimmel (2006)
1971 Luke W. Pauly (1997)
1972 Douglas G. Cronk (2003)
1974 Julian Utevsky (2006)
1975 John H. Way (1983)
1980 George J. Hill (1986)
1981 Lawrence D. Benton (1989)
1982 C. Warren Porth (1995)
1985 Thomas G. Payne (2007)
1988 Joseph J. Taggart (2020)
1991 James H. Howarth
1992 Elliot Glaser (2002)
1996 Robert Osias (1998)
1998 Nathaniel A. Jackson (2016)
2000 Thomas A. McManus (2024)
2003 Michael J. Fogarty
2005 Richard H. Hubner
2007 Michael Spiegel (2023)
2008 Andrea Nilon
2012 Thomas Frey
2013 David W. Briggs
2014 Cathy L. Conklin
2015 Susan Otis
2018 Nathan Gabbert
2019 Roger Tibbetts
2022 Anne Sapienza
2024 Edye McCarthy

HONORARY MEMBER

This membership may be awarded to non-member persons of renown and distinction who, in the opinion of the Board, have made a major contribution to the advancement of the assessing profession, or have performed an unusual and valuable service to the Institute.

1961 Albert W. Noonan (1987)
1963 Joseph A. Coyle (2001)
1967 John H. Way (1983)
1967 John O. Johnsen
1967 Sanders A. Kahn (1987)
1976 Edward A. Lutz (1987)
1982 Stanley W. Warren (1994)
1998 Prof. Nelson Bills
2005 David Layne
2005 John Zukowski

LIFE MEMBER

Life membership may be awarded to members who retire from service and who, in the judgment of the Board, merit special recognition for valuable services. Such persons shall have been members for at least ten years, Charter Members, or chair of the Board of Trustees. It shall not be given to Fellow Members as Fellowships include life membership.

2000 Natale T. Amato (2012)
2000 Michael J. Fogarty
2000 William J. McIntyre, Jr. (2022)
2000 Margaret I. Iacomini (2006)
2003 Richard H. Hubner
2014 Shirley A. Bement (2016)