Wendy J. Ryerson, CIAO-I, and Chief County Assessment Officer of Lee County has been appointed to the IPAI Board of Directors. In this role, she will represent the County Assessment Officers Association (CAOA). In 2018, after more than two decades of teaching courses, Ryerson retired as an IPAI instructor.

Jennifer Gomric-Minton, CAOA President and CCAO of St. Clair County said “Wendy has served as CCAO in Lee County for 18 years. She has held many offices within our organization, and she has also been an instructor with the IPAI.  I believe she will be a valuable asset to the IPAI Board of Directors.”

Wendy has worked in the assessment office since 1986, serving first as a deputy assessor and followed by her appointment as the Chief County Assessment Officer in 2000. She was awarded the Certified Illinois Assessing Officer designation in 1987, and the Certified Illinois Assessing Officer – Intermediate in 1996. Since 1996 Wendy has served as an instructor for the IL Property Assessment Institute, an organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities to assessment professionals throughout the state. She has served in numerous leadership positions, including President of the IL County Assessment Officers Association (2004-2005), President of the North Central Regional Association of Assessing Officials (2004-2005), and President of the IL Association of County Officials (2011).

In March of 2006, Wendy was presented the Marshall Theroux Memorial Award in recognition of leadership and distinguished achievement in the Illinois assessment profession.  In 2014, the Illinois Association of County Officials (IACO) awarded her the “2014 Illinois County Official of the Year”, for demonstrating a commitment to excellence in county government within her own community and on a regional or statewide level.