Annual Convention will impact the profession for years

Read a post-convention message from CEO Dave Biggers.

Our first annual convention was a resounding success. More than 700 of our customers from across the country gathered at the Las Vegas Hilton for hands-on training, seminars on technology, tools and strategies for becoming more productive and efficient and providing outstanding client service, and panel discussions on the profession's most important issues.

We introduced you to the concept of protecting your ownership rights in your appraisal reports under U.S. copyright law. WinTOTAL Aurora will have tools that make it a snap to register your copyright at the U.S. Copyright Office, entitling you to sue and recover statutory damages if proven your report was used or resold by data miners without your permission. Learn more here.

AVMs: A bad business decision
With so many other appraisal software providers sleeping with the enemy, we explained that there are many other ways to diversify and make money than partnering with an AVM provider. So we won't do it, and we explained why you shouldn't, either. Just because they're there doesn't mean we, or you, should fund them. We wouldn't pay to support a product that was trying to put software developers out of business, either. Our panel discussion "AVMs: Friend or Foe?" gave us a forum for explaining this approach — and featured two AVM experts, Jim Kirchmeyer and Vicky Cassens, making ours probably the most balanced AVM panel put on anywhere lately. The debate was lively and robust — and professional. Attendees learned a lot.

Training you'll use
It turns out you'll pack a convention and seminars if they focus on things you can use every day. (Wonder if the associations were paying attention?) Our Hands On Training classrooms were overflowing throughout Tuesday and Wednesday. Our Comps Management, Formfilling Essentials and Automated Marketing classes, each held multiple times, were at least 50 strong each time. Classes on Photos and Net.X, Report Management, Workfile and Archiving, Cool Appraisal Gadgets and other classes were all popular as well. Those of you used to struggling not to nod off in divisible interests seminars for three CE credits were floored by how much you learned that you'll actually put to use. See testimonials for what attendees had to say.

Going to bat for the profession

Something else emerged from our first annual convention. People couldn't help noticing that there is an organization out there which brings together a majority of U.S. appraisers and which is a vigorous advocate for the profession. Many of you told us it's been a while since you felt that way. Our CEO, Dave Biggers, made it clear that if the associations were filling this role effectively, he would be applauding and supporting them. But we haven't seen it. Seeing so many of you in Vegas, hearing how you felt about your business and profession, and experiencing firsthand how great it can be to make a difference, it would be hard for us to stay on the sidelines. Stay tuned.