Suffolk Assessor’s Office wins IAAO awards; four staff earn professional designations

Billy, Suffolk’s assessor, told the City Council at a work session that the assessor’s office and several staff members received recognition this year from the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO).

The presentation said four staffers earned professional designations: Vernice Parham and Julie Lee received the Accredited Assessment Specialist (AAS) designation, Jessica Fly received the Residential Evaluation Specialist (RES) designation, and Kevin Prine received the Certified Assessment Evaluator (CAE) designation. The assessor said the office also received an IAAO Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration and the Distinguished Assessment Jurisdiction Award.

“These my staff work really hard and they get all the credit for this,” the assessor said, describing the awards as the culmination of a multi-year effort and crediting roughly 23 office staff who participated in the program.

The assessor also noted Virginia won the Virginia Cup, a competition among states and provinces for the most new designations during the award period, and said Suffolk contributed the most new designees of any city in the commonwealth during the relevant period.

Council members congratulated the assessor and his staff. The mayor and other council speakers said the recognition reflected sustained work since the assessor took office roughly five years ago and praised the office for accuracy and timely service to residents.

No formal action or vote was taken on this presentation; it was given as informational during the work session.