NAIFA Changes Management Structure

For Immediate Release
January 20, 2005

For More Information Contact:
Tracy Nickless, 312.673.5921
tnickless@smithbucklin.com

ST. LOUIS – The National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers (NAIFA) today announced changes to its operational management and plans to re-locate its headquarters to Chicago from St. Louis, effective February 1, 2005. As part of this change, NAIFA has retained Chicago-based SmithBucklin Corporation, the world’s largest association management company, to manage the association’s day-to-day operations.

“The depth of resources, economies of scale and professional staff at SmithBucklin will provide us with immediate improvement at reduced cost to the association,” said Randall Kopfer, IFA, NAIFA’s 2005 national president. “The overall goal here is to ensure that NAIFA remains poised to continue to evolve with our profession and expand the reach of our association.”

NAIFA’s Board of Directors decided to explore options for managing the association after Executive Vice President Margaret L. Sullivan, IFA, announced her plans to retire. “For the past four years Margaret dutifully served the NAIFA membership,” Kopfer said. “During her tenure NAIFA saw an increase in designated members and educational offerings. We wish her well in her retirement.”

As of February 1, 2005, Laura Rudzinski assumes the responsibilities of NAIFA executive vice president. “Laura is an experienced association executive and we are happy to have her experience and input on the team as we navigate through NAIFA’s strategic opportunities and chart our course,” Kopfer said.

The decision to change also comes after the NAIFA Board of Directors completed a strategic business planning process and developed a number of initiatives to improve the organization’s financial management, professional development and educational abilities, standards and ethics, membership services; and overall membership value proposition. Following a comprehensive search that looked at multiple options, the NAIFA Board made the decision to partner with SmithBucklin. “Our goal is to build on the association’s solid foundation and support its strategic goals,” Kopfer said.

SmithBucklin is the world’s leading association management and professional services company, providing flexible, tailored full-service management and function/project-specific services to more than 150 trade associations, professional societies, technology user groups and government institutes/agencies. SmithBucklin’s mission is to drive growth and build sustained competitiveness for client organizations. Founded in 1949, the company employs 550 professionals specializing in all phases of association activity including executive management, member and chapter administration, convention and trade show management, marketing and branding, Web services, education and programs, government relations and financial management. SmithBucklin manages more than $170 million in annual client budgets from offices in Chicago, Washington, DC, and St. Louis.

The National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers was founded in 1961 as a non profit professional association of real estate appraisers. Today, our Association has chapters through¬out the United States, Mexico, Canada, and we continue to grow both in number and stature.

The Association's objectives are to raise the standards of the appraisal profession, gain recognition for its members as qualified professionals, and to promote fellowship among appraisers.