The International Society of Appraisers and Chubb Announce an Educational Partnership

Holloway and Charleston-Rosenberg

By Libby Holloway, ISA CAPP, and Cindy Charleston-Rosenberg, ISA CAPP

The collaborative educational partnership between ISA and Chubb has officially launched! The first of an 11-part webinar series on specialty collecting categories has been presented to Chubb's appointed independent agents and brokers. The series, reflecting the depth and diversity of ISA member's expertise, will be presented monthly through the beginning of 2017. Each presentation will conclude with a slide directing to the ISA “Find an Appraiser” search engine, to assist Chubb brokers in finding ISA appraisers in their clients’ geographical region or areas of specialization.

Laura Doyle, North American Collections Management Specialist with Chubb, stated in a press statement released on April 25: “Chubb is thrilled to kick off a collaborative partnership with ISA through the launch of the Chubb Connoisseurship webinar series. The series will highlight the deep expertise of ISA appraisers, providing a network of resources nationally for our agents, brokers, and clients.”

This program is a continuation of the educational collaboration exchange between the two organizations which began in 2015 with Chubb's presentation, "Changing Demographics in Collecting: Covering Passion and Investment Collections." The two organizations look forward to deepening this collaboration to the benefit of their clients. A special Thank You goes out to ISA members on the vetting committee—Libby Holloway, ISA CAPP; Sally Ambrose, ISA CAPP; and Helen (Len) D. de Rohan, ISA AM—for carefully reviewing submissions. Many thanks to ISA members who have volunteered their time and proficiency to produce and present webinars:

• How to Understand the Collectible Wine Markets - Leila Dunbar, ISA AM
• Coin Collecting: The Hobby of Kings - Steve Roach, ISA CAPP
• The Mystery of Luxury Watches - Darlene Wong, ISA AM
• Understanding the Chinese Art Market: Five Things You Must Know - Susan Lahey, MA, ISA AM
• Blanket or Rug? A Primer on Navajo Textiles - Vanessa Elmore, ISA
• Collector Versus Investor: Understanding Today's Jewelry Market - Amy Lawch, GG, ISA AM
• The American Portrait Masters: What's Hiding in Your Client's Attic? - Cindy Charleston-Rosenberg, ISA CAPP
• What's Valuable in Your Silver Cabinet? - Kirsten Rabe Smolensky, JD, ISA CAPP
• Rare Books, An Introduction - Robert Hittel, ISA CAPP
• Identifying, Examining, and Comparing English and American Period Furniture - Todd Sigety, ISA CAPP
• How to Determine Winners and Losers: Guidelines for Valuing Sports Memorabilia - Leila Dunbar, ISA AM

View full webinar descriptions

ISA is extraordinarily proud to have been chosen by Chubb as the professional personal property appraisal organization to provide connoisseurship training to their network. The webinars are being archived by Chubb and will be available to ISA members following completion of the series in 2017.

A Message from Your 2016 President

By Christine Guernsey, ISA CAPP

At the end of every year, it is wise to reflect on where one has been, what one has accomplished and what one plans for the upcoming year. This sage advice was given to me years ago and works well for one’s personal, professional and organizational lives. When I remember the state of ISA when I joined years ago and contemplate the accomplishments our organization has made since, I am reminded as to why I am so extremely proud to be a member of this organization. I understand why ISA has become the premier professional personal property appraisal organization of choice.

The International Society of Appraisers continues to be the largest professional appraisal organization that consists solely of qualified and credentialed personal property appraisers. Our membership continues to grow with new talent coming from auction houses, galleries, museums and other appraisal-related industries. Our unparalleled methodology, pathway courses, Learning Management System—which allows students to learn online from anywhere in the world—our requalification program, and our culture of camaraderie all continue to gain ISA high industry respect. Our increasing ISA brand recognition with top insurance, estate, law and banking industry professionals, along with our now mobile-enhanced ISA website (including the Find An ISA Member feature) continually help to drive new appraisal assignments to our members.

In this past year, ISA leadership, led by our immediate past President Cindy Charleston-Rosenberg, ISA CAPP, our staff at Sentergroup and many of our dedicated ISA volunteers have listened to their fellow members and have been responsive to their requests and needs. As a result, hundreds of volunteer hours have been spent this last year developing new programs that will directly benefit our members in 2016.
Here are some highlights of those efforts:

• 2015 brought a focus on advancing the ISA brand through strategic partnerships with allied industries to bring recognition and value to our members. The reciprocal webinar series developed with Chubb Personal Insurance, Changing Demographics in Collecting: Covering Passion and Investment Collections, presented by Laura M. Doyle and Melissa Lalka, provided our members with one of our most successful and highly attended webinars. In return, ISA is currently in the process of developing an 11-part series focusing on the connoisseurship of ISA appraisers and collectible assets, to be presented to Chubb’s worldwide network of brokers, agents and collectors. This exchangeable concept, which will build ISA’s relationships with the “gatekeepers of appraisal-related services and referrers of assignments” will continue in 2016 with many more allied industry leaders.

• In an effort to better address the needs of our students and instructors, provide a forum for instructors to exchange ideas, and encourage the development of new courses in our educational offerings, we formed the ISA Instructor Committee. Already, exciting advancements have resulted from exchanges between this committee and the Board. We established a new requirement that ISA CAPP candidates submit a Broad Evidence appraisal report, in addition to passing our rigorous five-hour comprehensive examination in advanced appraisal methodology, practice and ethics. New courses have been added to our curriculum including Asian paintings, screens and ceramic courses; modernism courses featuring design, furniture, decorative arts, prints, multiples and photographs; along with an antiques and residential contents course to be taught in Toronto. There are also more options for taking the USPAP and requalification courses.

• The formation of the Circle of Trust (COT), an alliance between the main appraisal societies (ISA, AAA and ASA) deepened throughout 2015. The mission of the COT is to raise public and industry awareness of personal property appraisal credentialing and to create a demand for qualified personal property appraisers. COT attempts to protect the public from individuals who may be operating with bias, without proper training and who compete unfairly with our qualified appraisers. Press releases went out in November announcing this collaboration and have been picked up by the press as well as promoted throughout social media. Long term, the strength of our message will drive more and more business towards our credentialed qualified appraisers.
  
  The advancement of our educational qualifications criteria, including strict enforcement of our unique requalification standard, has not only assured the public that ISA appraisers remain relevant throughout their careers and are practicing the most current standards, but has also raised ISA’s standing among our peers and The Appraisal Foundation. It is important to stay steady in this course going forward for the benefit of all of our members and colleagues.

• Last but not least, Assets 2015 was a record-breaking annual conference with our highest attendance in history, selling out attendance space and sponsorship tables.
  
  Looking ahead to Assets 2016, coming up April 15-18 in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, we are excited to see that registrations are trending ahead of last year. We are welcoming back long-time sponsors of our organization and bringing in new sponsors eager to partner with us.
  
  Our conference theme, Expanding Horizons, focuses on our ever-changing appraisal industry and finding new opportunities for our member’s appraisal practices. Attendees will gain insight into the new directions industry-related gatekeepers are taking with their clients and learn how ISA appraisers can collaborate with these industry trends for increased business. This year’s conference continues ISA’s tradition of bringing leading industry experts to our attendees. Be sure to check our ISA website for program and tour details. Don’t wait too long to register as this year’s conference is already predicting to be another sell-out.

There has never been a better time to be an ISA member! If we are all vigilant to keep a spirit of collaboration between all of our members (from all nine countries), make efforts to become involved, informed, and volunteer for committees to improve our organization, ISA will continue to thrive and gain respect. I look forward to working with all of you this upcoming year on projects that will make ISA better than ever in 2017.

Wishing you all a prosperous 2016,

Christine Guernsey, ISA CAPP
President

It’s Not Too Late to Be a Presenter

Libby Holloway, ISA CAPP

By Libby Holloway, ISA CAPP

It has been fun reviewing presenter applications for the Chubb Webinar project. Our organization has some interesting people with unique skills, but we certainly have room for more participants. Do you have a passion for luxury watches? How about vintage motorcycles or bikes? I know there are members out there who could wax poetic about art glass. One of the greatest benefits I’ve found in being an ISA member is the diversity of the knowledge that my colleagues possess. 

Don’t be shy about applying. Current ISA Board member Steve Roach, JD, ISA CAPP, was among the first who applied. "Applying was easy and took 15 minutes," he said. "It's exciting to have an opportunity to introduce people to a subject they might not know much about - in my case, rare coins - and breaking down a complex topic in a presentation within this webinar model." When asked what advice he would give to someone who is considering applying, Steve said, "It's a good opportunity to do some outreach, both for my appraisal practice and for ISA." 

The webinars will be viewed by Chubb brokers, so this is our chance to tell them a little about the things we appraise and their clients collect. Suggestions for your presentation would be value identification tips, an overview of what a collector should understand about the subject, exciting market trends...you get the picture. 

If you fear having to create the webinar, don't worry any longer. Experts in our home office are happy to help. Catherine Toupin, Account Coordinator for Meetings & Education, will be on hand to help you get your talk polished and ready to roll. We even have a branded template for your slides, one that will help you create the professional look you want. I am also happy to talk with you if you need someone to run your ideas by.

I am so excited to be a part of the process of creating this outreach to potential clients and fellow professionals that helping you shine is my priority. And remember, the sample you send along with your application doesn’t have to be perfect, or even about your presentation topic. Your goal is to communicate your ability to share your expertise with enthusiasm and authority. The webinars will be presented live throughout the fall and early winter, so if time is an issue, rest assured: Your final webinar may not have to be ready right away.  

Show me your creative side and apply today! Call me, Libby Holloway, at 843-379-0130 or email at libby@LibbyHollowayAppraisals.com if you have any questions or want to run ideas by me. 

Register Today: First Chubb Webinar on May 6

During the annual business meeting at this year’s Assets conference, our President Cindy Charleston-Rosenberg, ISA CAPP, announced that ISA would be participating in a series of webinars that would allow us to exchange advice and expertise with our Gold Sponsor and Affinity Business Party, Chubb Personal Insurance. We could not be more elated that Chubb has chosen ISA as the appraisal organization they trust to educate their community of agents, brokers, and collectors.

The first of these webinar presentations, “Changing Demographics in Collecting: Covering Passion and Investment Collections,” will be held on May 6 at 2:30 ET by Laura M. Doyle and Melissa Lalka, Chubb’s National Art Specialist and Worldwide Fine Art Manager, respectively. One of many installments in this continuing collaborative webinar series, this presentation (which is free to ISA members) will focus on evolving collector profiles – passion collectors vs. investment collectors – and risk management.

The webinar is now open for registration. Sign up and take part in what is only the start of a very fruitful continuing education partnership opportunity.