2026 Annual Spring Conference

Residential * Commercial * Agricultural

The very first Valley Seminar began in 1970.  Our “modern” version of the Valley Seminar became known as the Spring Conference in 2000 and has taken place each spring at the Modesto Center Plaza since 2006 . . . until 2021 when we debuted our first virtual Spring Conference.   Post pandemic, once again, we are “LIVE” in 202!

This signature conference continues to evolve each year.  Breakout sessions provide a greater depth of topics and the opportunity to hear from and connect with a variety of industry professionals. It is the combination of quality and content which draws an increasing number of attendees not only from the Central Valley but from the greater Bay Area and beyond!

Earn 7-hours of CEC.  The conference will be submitted for 35-points of Appraisal Institute CEC, 7-hours of CA BREA CEC and 7-hours of SBE Training Credit.

All registrants will start the day with our always informative, always lively “State of the Profession” keynote before embarking on 9 timely breakout sessions.  Before heading to our onsite post-conference networking reception, we will wrap-up with our thought provoking closing general session “Development and Redevelopment Trends in California".

Keynotes: State of the Profession
- Mike Belote, Lobbyist, California Advocates, Inc.
- Michael J. Acquaro-Mignogna, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, 2026 Appraisal Institute National President

Special Guest
Sue Zwahlen, Mayor of Modesto

Closing General Session: Development and Redevelopment Trends in California
– Anyé Spivey, Development Planning, California Forever
– Eric Segal, MAI, Senior Managing Director, Integra Realty Resources

Breakouts include

Easing into Expert Witness Assignments
– Alison Teeman, LLB, Yovino Young, Inc.
– Kyle Paquin, MNAA, Valuable Appraisal

Understanding URAR: A Practical Demonstration
– Lourdes Rusert, President, Corporate & North Bay Real Estate Appraisers Association

Expand Your Appraisal Practice: Partial Fee and Easement Acquisition
– Steve Salmon, MAI, Garland & Salmon

Market Pulse: Real-Time Intelligence Across Commercial Sectors
– Tim Mustin, Senior Vice President, Jones Lang LaSalle
– Danny Price, PMZ Commercial
– Tom Solomon, Partner, CoSol Real Estate

What Agricultural Land Uses Make the Most Sense? Highest and Best Use Considerations for Ag Properties
– Ben Slaughter, ARA, CEO, Arable Advisory Group

Conservation Easements / Land Bank
– Todd O. Murphy, MAI, ARA, Central California Appraisals

Cleaning up your Appraisal Report
– Joseph Cormier-Knopp, MAI, AI-GRS
– Justin Wayne, Senior Appraiser, MacLane & Company, Inc.

Agricultural Market Update
– Matt Woolf, Ph.D., Specialty Crop Analyst, Terrain Research & Market Analysis