2014 Summer Newsletter

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: DOUG WILL, AAS, CFE

What do you do for the PA?

With the title, Chief Deputy of Appraisal Services, my duties are to oversee all departments that produce values for the tax roll. Those departments include residential, commercial, land, agricultural, and TPP. I also guide and direct those departments through the VAB process. I’m blessed to work with an in- credible staff of managers and appraisers who are dedicated, competent, and engaged on a daily basis.

How long have you been employed by the PA?

I have been employed with the Leon County Property Appraiser’s office since 1991, where I started as a field appraiser. My background is the construction industry in which I was a subcontractor for a number of years, and then as a

Doug Will, AAS, CFE

Florida licensed home builder during the 1980’s. Believe me, that decade was a tough time to build homes with interest rates in double digits. But it was the perfect training ground for becoming an ap- praiser. Remember the cost approach from IAAO course 101? I got it (except that depreciation stuff was all new). With several IAAO courses under my belt, I felt this industry was the right fit for me, and I re-enrolled at FSU and finished my degree with a real estate major, at the ripe old age of 44. I find the most satisfaction in this job by what I call ―theory building‖, which consists of building models for mass appraisal while staying true to appraisal theory. We are constantly kicking around ideas for market areas, structure costs, wall rates, and land value models among others. Another reason I enjoy this work is that each day brings something new and challenging, which mitigates repetition and bore- dom for me. What do you like most about your job?

Tell us about your involvement with FCIAAO

I have been a member of the Florida Chapter for 20 years, and I served on the board of directors for 10 years. As a former director, treasurer, and past president of FCIAAO, I consider this organization my family away from home. I believe it is vital to my development in the assessment business to have this chapter bring together folks from around the state, to learn from one another and to share ideas.

Are you a member of IAAO?

I recently celebrated 15 years as a member of the IAAO. I attend the international conferences when possible, and my staff participates in some of the webinars as well. Since 2006 I have been an instruc- tor for IAAO, and I teach two or three times a year. I’m pretty passionate about the material, which should be obvious to those of you who may have been in one of my classes. I love teaching, I really do.

Where were you born?

I was born in the town of Ephrata, in Lancas- ter County, Pennsylvania. Lancaster County has a huge population of Amish families, quaint towns, and beautiful rolling hills dot- ted with Amish farms. It’s quite a picture. My family moved from Ephrata to Jackson- ville, Florida when I was but three years old, so my memory is limited to visiting relatives over the years. However, the past 42 years

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Lancaster, PA

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Summer 2014 Newsletter of the FCIAAO