Experienced Hand Steers IAAO: Healey Takes Helm as 2026 President

KANSAS CITY, MO – January 05, 2026 – The International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) has officially welcomed its new leadership for 2026, with veteran assessor William Healey, RES, assuming the office of President on January 1. As the head of the 8,000-member global organization, Healey will chair the Board of Directors and guide the association's mission to advance fair and equitable property appraisal and tax policy worldwide.

Healey, the Chief Assessor for the City of Lewiston, Maine, steps into the role after serving as President-Elect/Treasurer in 2025. He is joined on the Executive Committee by a team of highly accomplished professionals, including Terry Taylor, CAE, RES, AAS, FIAAO, of Orange County, Florida, who was elected President-Elect/Treasurer, and Kara Endicott, CAE, RES, AAS, of Johnson County, Kansas, as the new Vice President. The transition marks a continuation of experienced leadership for an organization at the forefront of a rapidly evolving profession.

A Legacy of Service and Stability

William Healey brings more than 25 years of dedicated membership and deep institutional knowledge to the IAAO presidency. His extensive service record within the organization provides a foundation of stability as it navigates the complexities of modern property assessment. Before ascending to the presidency, Healey served on the IAAO Board of Directors from 2020 to 2022, chaired the Ethics Committee, and was a key member of the Membership Services, Nominating, and Governance Committees.

This long history of involvement, culminating in his roles as Vice President in 2024 and President-Elect in 2025, has given him a comprehensive understanding of the association's operations and its members' needs. Outside of his international role, Healey’s career has been firmly rooted in public service in his home state of Maine, where he has also served as Assessor for the Towns of Cumberland, Yarmouth, and Scarborough. This hands-on experience at the municipal level grounds his leadership in the practical, day-to-day challenges faced by assessment professionals.

Healey has previously highlighted the IAAO as a "valuable resource," noting its power to connect assessors and provide critical assistance on complex issues. This perspective is particularly relevant as his own city of Lewiston undertakes a comprehensive revaluation, a process where the network and resources of the IAAO prove indispensable. His presidency is expected to focus on strengthening these member services and ensuring the association remains the preeminent source for practical support, professional development, and collaborative problem-solving.

Shaping the Future of Property Valuation

The new leadership team takes charge at a pivotal moment for the property assessment industry. Technological innovation, particularly the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), is reshaping traditional valuation methods. Healey, Taylor, and Endicott will be responsible for guiding the IAAO and its members in adopting these tools ethically and effectively.

AI-powered Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) and predictive analytics are transforming the field by analyzing vast datasets to produce highly accurate and timely property assessments. These technologies promise to increase efficiency, reduce human bias, and provide deeper insights into market trends. However, their implementation also presents significant challenges, including ensuring data quality, maintaining data security, and navigating regulatory compliance.

A crucial part of the IAAO's mission under this new leadership will be to provide the standards and education necessary for a smooth transition. The organization has already begun this work, publishing white papers on the potential of AI in property assessment and laying the groundwork for official standards. The goal is not to replace the appraiser but to augment their expertise, automating repetitive tasks so professionals can focus on complex analyses that require human judgment. Remote inspection technologies, such as drones and advanced imaging, are also becoming more prevalent, further underscoring the need for updated best practices and training, which will be a key focus for the association.

A Leadership Team with Diverse Expertise

The 2026 IAAO Executive Committee represents a formidable concentration of experience and specialized knowledge from across the United States. The collective expertise of this team positions the association to address a wide array of industry challenges and effectively represent its diverse membership.

Terry Taylor, the new President-Elect/Treasurer, is the Director of Real Estate Residential Valuation for Orange County, Florida. With over 35 years in the profession, Taylor is an authority in the appraisal industry, specializing in agricultural and commercial properties. His deep involvement with IAAO includes serving as a Region 3 Director, chairing multiple committees, and acting as a Senior Instructor. His goals for the association include enhancing educational opportunities and fostering international partnerships, all while ensuring fiscal responsibility.

Kara Endicott, elected as Vice President, serves as the Assistant County Appraiser for Johnson County, Kansas. With a career spanning more than two decades in the mass appraisal sector, she has been a driving force for industry improvement. Endicott is also a Senior National Instructor for IAAO and has held numerous leadership positions, including chairing the Education Committee. She has pledged to be a strong voice for the membership, focusing on advancing educational offerings and promoting the association’s value globally.

The leadership is further strengthened by the election of three new board members for three-year terms: Damian Lara, Assessor for Bernalillo County, New Mexico (Region 1); Timothy Hall Sr., AAS, a Property Evaluation Analyst/Supervisor in Mobile County, Alabama (Region 2); and Kirk Boone, PPS, AAS, FIAAO, a Teaching Associate Professor at the UNC School of Government in North Carolina (Region 3). This regional diversity ensures that perspectives from across the country will inform the board's decisions.

Upholding the Gold Standard of Professionalism

Central to the IAAO’s identity is its rigorous program of professional designations, which signify the highest levels of competence and ethical commitment in the assessment field. The credentials held by the new leadership team—including RES, CAE, AAS, and FIAAO—are not merely titles but symbols of proven expertise.

The Residential Evaluation Specialist (RES) designation, held by President Healey, signifies mastery in the valuation of residential property. The Certified Assessment Evaluator (CAE) is the association's flagship designation, representing the pinnacle of achievement in both residential and commercial appraisal, as well as assessment administration. It is held by both Taylor and Endicott.

The Assessment Administration Specialist (AAS) designation, also held by Taylor and Endicott, recognizes expertise in managing the complex functions of a modern assessment office. Other key designations include the Personal Property Specialist (PPS), for experts in valuing business equipment and other non-real estate assets, and the prestigious Fellow of the IAAO (FIAAO), an honorary title bestowed upon members like Terry Taylor for outstanding, long-term contributions to the profession.

Earning these designations requires years of experience, extensive coursework, and passing comprehensive examinations and demonstration projects. Furthermore, designees must complete 70 hours of continuing education every five years to maintain their credentials, ensuring they remain current with evolving standards and technologies. This unwavering commitment to professional development is the bedrock upon which the IAAO builds trust and ensures fairness and equity in property taxation worldwide.