Wendy Ryerson, Lee County Administrator and former Chief County Assessment Officer, was recently awarded the 2022 Small Jurisdiction Outstanding Achievement in Property Assessment Award in recognition of her long career in property assessment, contributions to the industry, and dedication to the people of her county. Ryerson received the award at the Illinois Property Assessment Institute’s 64th Annual State Conference held at the Marriott Hotel in Normal, Illinois.

Nominees for the annual Outstanding Achievement in Property Assessment Award are submitted from around Illinois. The winner is determined by the Board of Directors of the Illinois Property Assessment Institute. Ryerson was nominated for the award by a several colleagues throughout Illinois.

Before becoming Lee County Administrator in 2021, Ryerson worked for 35 years in property assessment, the majority of those as Lee County’s Chief County Assessment Officer. She holds the CIAO-Intermediate designation from the Illinois Property Assessment Institute (an advanced designation available to someone in the Illinois property assessment industry). She is a past member of the Institute’s Board of Directors and past Education Committee chair. She has been involved in leadership with multiple state-wide organizations.

In her nomination, Kane County Supervisor of Assessments Mark Armstrong noted “President Kennedy, addressing a group of Nobel laureates at the White House, famously said ‘this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.’ Wendy Ryerson is our Thomas Jefferson.” “Wendy was instrumental in creating professional development of all county officials during her leadership of the Illinois County Officials Association. Her work allowed county officials better instilled with knowledge in order to better serve their constituents,” said Greene County Treasurer Kirby Ballard.

Pictured Above: Wendy Ryerson, Lee County Administrator and Outstanding Achievement Award winner; Vicki Sheets, Decatur Township Assessor and Illinois Property Assessment Institute Board of Directors Vice Chairwoman.