Presenter Spotlight: 2022 ASA International Conference – Appraisal Review & Management

ASA International Conference is the leading event for the global valuation profession. Celebrating its 85th year, the Conference attracts thought leaders, practitioners, allied professionals, vendor partners, government agency personnel, and more from all parts of the world. This paramount event provides an experience unlike other appraisal conferences, offering timely content for all appraisal professionals spanning Business Valuation, Personal Property, Machinery & Equipment, Real Property, Gems & Jewelry as well as Appraisal Review & Management.

The ASAIC22 is available in a hybrid format featuring the convenience of both live and virtual programming, allowing attendees to learn and connect in their preferred environment. Both formats allow you to explore the latest ideas, trends, and best practices with leading presenters and interact and engage with fellow professionals. Join us on-site in Tampa or from the comfort of your home or office—the choice is yours! Don’t miss this exciting celebration of exceptional education and networking with leaders in the appraisal profession.

Don’t miss these industry experts presenting our Appraisal Review & Management/Multi-Discipline sessions*:

LaVaughn M. Henry, PhD, CBE is former Senior Economist for the Council of Economic Advisers in the Executive Office of the President (the White House), and the Senior Regional Officer and Vice President for the Federal Reserve Branch in Cincinnati. Dr. Henry has over 20 years of diverse experience in the fields of business economics, consulting/advisory services, interest rate and market risk modeling, and government affairs. He has delivered more than 375 speeches and presentations on the status and outlook of the nation’s economy, monetary policy, and the residential real estate market; and has received multiple merit awards and recognition for outstanding service.

Tara Singh, CPA, CBV, CFE is a Managing Director at FTI Consulting and leader of the Canadian Valuation & Damages practice. For over 15 years, Ms. Singh has specialized in the assessment of economic damages and the valuation of businesses and other assets, particularly in the context of complex commercial litigation including breach of contract matters, intellectual property and securities fraud litigation, class actions, and other financial disputes; as well as prepared numerous expert and valuation reports for submission to Canadian, U.S. and international courts. She has taught courses in the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators (CICBV) program and has served on the Publications Committee of the CICBV. Ms. Singh was a winner of the CICBV’s Ian R. Campbell Research Initiative and received global recognition for the resultant research paper on blockchain and cryptoassets.

Anastis Anastasiou, MBA is a Director in the Forensic & Litigation Consulting segment at FTI Consulting, with an expertise in forensic finance, valuation, dispute advisory and financial investigations. Mr. Anastasiou specializes in digital assets and decentralized finance (“DeFi”). His experience in the field extends into various areas including, digital asset valuation, financial due diligence, investigations and securities litigation. Mr. Anastasiou is actively engaged in the digital asset and DeFi industries as a researcher, developing novel methodologies for valuing digital assets and DeFi platforms with a focus on tokenomic design and value capture.

Robert Kelley, Jr. is a Shareholder at Hill Ward Henderson. Mr. Kelley has over 20 years’ experience serving clients in connection with operating utility systems, resort properties, manufacturing/ processing plants, and retail developments. He has presented for many organizations, most notably including: ASA, the Appraisal Institute, and The Florida Bar. Mr. Kelley has also served as a member of several legislative task forces on property tax issues. He has received several awards, most notably including: AV Preeminent® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review; Florida Super Lawyers (2007-2021; Best Lawyers in America© (2007-2022); and 2020 Tampa Litigation and Controversy – Tax Lawyer of the Year.

Barry J. Shea, ASA, IFA, ARM is Partner at Barry Shea and Associates. He has over 35 years of experience in real property appraisal, specializing in residential appraisal and appraisal review. Mr. Shea has been a designated member of ASA since the NAIFA merger and a designated member of NAIFA since 1998. He has performed experience qualification reviews for the State of New Hampshire Real Estate Appraiser Board and the North Dakota Real Estate Appraiser Qualifications and Ethics Board. Mr. Shea has previously served in many leadership positions, currently serving as The Appraisal Foundation’s trustee for the International Ethics Standards Coalition (IESC) and is currently vice-chair of the Coalition. He has also been an AQB Certified USPAP Instructor since 2002 and is recognized as a Certified Distance Education Instructor (CDEI) by the International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC).

Edward Kainen is Senior and Managing Partner of Kainen Law Group with 35 years of law experience. He is an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers, and has achieved the highest rating available by the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. Mr. Kainen has taught Continuing Legal Education programs throughout the US and abroad on various aspects of family law, motion practice, evidence, and law practice management, as well as diverse topics in criminal law, jury trials, and voir dire. He has been named in the peer review journal, Best Lawyers in America, as the Best Family Law Attorney in Las Vegas for 2013 and 2017. Since 2007, Mr. Kainen has annually been named a “Nevada Super Lawyer” and he was named one of the “Top 25″ lawyers in the State of Nevada by Las Vegas Life Magazine and repeatedly designated as one of the Top 75 lawyers in the Mountain State Region.

Melanie Modica, ASA, ARM, CFLC is the owner of Modica Fine Art LLC, in Houston, TX. She has over 14 years’ experience specializing in art appraisals, personal property appraisal reviews, and 8 years of offering services as an expert witness and providing litigation support. Ms. Modica first joined ASA in 2010 and currently holds the Accredited Senior Appraiser designation. She is an instructor for ASA’s AR204 Application and Report Writing class and assisted in the creation of the new Four ARM program by developing the new AR203 Managing Multifaceted Assignments POV class. Ms. Modica is an active volunteer with numerous leadership positions including most notably serving as past President of the Houston Chapter, serves as the Houston chapter ARM Discipline Chair, and as the ASA ARM Committee Educational Development Chair.

Charles E. Blau, Esq. ASA, CRE, is a partner at Blau & Blau. He has over 40 years of experience in real estate appraising and law specializing in valuation issues in litigation.  Mr. Blau is a designated member of ASA and has served on the Real Property Committee.  Mr. Blau is also a past national President of the National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers and has appeared on CNN, the Wall Street Journal and the New Jersey Law Journal.  He has qualified as an expert witness on valuation issues before United States Bankruptcy Courts, US District Court, New Jersey Tax Court and the Superior Court of New Jersey as well as trying valuation matters as an attorney.

Matt Kaufman, ASA, is Principal of Spearhead Valuation Group. He has over 16 years’ experience supervising appraisal projects around the globe, including mines, sawmills, pulp/paper, utilities, data centers, manufacturing and equipment dealerships; and specializes in valuations for financial and tax reporting, insurance claims and litigation support. Mr. Kaufman first joined ASA in 2011 and is an active volunteer who has served in numerous leadership positions; most notably including current Chair of both the ASA Equipment Valuation Conference and Appraisal Review & Management Discipline Committee.

Mike Pratt, ASA, IFA is Director of Education Services at Palm Beach County Property Appraiser. Mr. Pratt has over 36 years’ of industry experience managing employee development programming which includes professional designations, appraisal certifications and training for property appraisers. He is also responsible for taxpayer and community outreach. Mr. Pratt first became a member of ASA in 1998, currently holding its Accredited Senior Appraiser designation. He also earned his IFA designation with the National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers (NAIFA) and is an Accredited Member (AM) of the International Association of Assessing Officers. Mr. Pratt has served in many leadership positions, most notably as a member of the ASA Board of Governors and current Vice Chair of the ASA NAIFA Real Property Committee. Mr. Pratt has also served as President of the ASA Virtual Chapter and is a current member of the ASA Strategic Planning Committee.

Gary R. Trugman, CPA/ABV, FASA, MVS is President at Trugman Valuation Associates, Inc. Mr. Trugman has over 30 years of business valuation experience, and has served as an expert witness in Federal and state courts throughout the United States, testifying on business valuation, matrimonial matters, business and economic damages and other types of litigation matters. He earned his Accredited Senior Appraiser designation in 1991 and in 2021, Mr. Trugman earned the highest designation ASA bestows, Fellow Accredited Senior Appraiser (FASA). Mr. Trugman has served as many leadership positions most notably serving on the ASA International Board of Examiners and as Chair of both the Ethics Committee and Business Valuation Education Subcommittee. He is the author of a textbook entitled Understanding Business Valuation: A Practical Guide to Valuing Small to Medium-Sized Businesses, now in its 5th edition, and an e-book entitled Essentials of Valuing a Closely-Held Business, both published by the American Institute of CPAs.

Kieran Wheeler is a Shareholder at Rapp & Krock, PC with 16 years of experience in law, specializing in commercial law. Mr. Wheeler concentrates his practice in business and real estate law including general corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, contract negotiations and disputes, employment and contractor law, securities and private placements, and intellectual property. He has experience representing businesses in all stages of the corporate lifecycle, from startups seeking seed capital to multi-million dollar international companies. Mr. Wheeler has earned several awards during in career, most notably including, Super Lawyers’ 2020 Rising Star award and was named H Texas Magazine Top Lawyers 2016-2020.

Bruce A. Johnson, ASA is a Managing Partner at Munroe, Park & Johnson, Inc. He has over 28 years’ experience and has been involved in several landmark Tax Court cases and IRS Audits. Mr. Johnston first joined ASA in 1994 and is an elected member of the ASA’s Board of Governors, ex-officio member of the ASA Business Valuation Committee, course developer for the ASA’s BV203 course on discounts and premiums, member of the ASA Marketing Subcommittee and chairman of the 2017 ASA Advanced BV Conference. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Texas A&M Department of Finance Advisory Council and has been published on a wide range of valuation topics in several journals.  He is also a contributing author for PPC’s Guide to Business Valuation, and Pratt’s Valuing a Business and Partnership Profiles’ Comprehensive Guide for the Valuation of Family Limited Partnerships.