2024 has been a busy year in assessment offices across our state. From reassessments to equalization to board of review hearings, the year has flown by. The good news is that the coming new year gives us an opportunity to reset, refocus, and reenergize our passion for the important work we do. There is no better way to do that than by attending the 2025 State Conference during the week of March 16–21.

To ensure the State Conference continues to be a relevant and impactful training event, we are changing a few things. Our Sunday Plenary Session is taking a year off and will be replaced with a meet-and-greet for first-time State Conference attendees and those newer to our industry. This will be followed by our traditional Welcome Happy Hour featuring an Irish band.

Monday’s opening general session will feature Steve Gutzler, president of Leadership Quest. Steve’s message will speak to building high-performance teams, emotional intelligence, and your role in that process as a leader. Whether you work in a large office or are a rural township assessor working alone, Steve’s message will resonate with you.

As Monday of the State Conference falls on St. Patrick’s Day, we have a myriad of events and special happenings planned around that theme. The wearing of green will be encouraged throughout the day, especially at Monday night’s annual Celebration Banquet. When the banquet concludes, attendees will be treated to an After Party featuring the high-energy sounds of RetroFit, an 80s (and beyond) tribute band.

On Tuesday morning, we are holding a second general session featuring Dr. Cedric Williams, Founder and CEO of Legacy Consulting Psychologists & Research Group. Among the many hats he wears, Dr. Williams serves as an assistant professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point. His message is one you will not want to miss.

Monday and Tuesday at the State Conference will feature over 40 breakout sessions on various assessment valuation and administration topics as well as GIS, personal development, and much more. Watch the IPAI website in January for a list of sessions.

The State Conference is the largest annual gathering of Illinois assessment professionals. If you are planning to take one training in 2025, this should be it! It is an awesome educational experience you will not soon forget.