Sharon Mewes, Washington County Supervisor of Assessments, was recently awarded the 2026 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. Mewes received the award at the Illinois Property Assessment Institute’s 68th Annual State Conference held 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. Mewes was nominated for the award by several colleagues from throughout southern and central Illinois.

Mewes has served as Washington County Supervisor of Assessments since 2014. She holds the Certified Illinois Assessing Officer designation from the Illinois Property Assessment Institute. Mewes also serves on the County Assessment Officers Association Executive Committee.

In Mewes’ nomination, Washington County Clerk & Recorder Sheri Hempen noted “Sharon knows her job as Assessor she takes it very seriously and is very knowledgeable in her field. We can count on her to do whatever needs to be done, to ensure assessments accurately reflect the market in Washington County. She keeps taxpayers informed and is always there to answer their questions.” Reflecting on Mewes’ commitment to innovation and technology, St. Clair County Assessor Jennifer Gomric Minton said “Under Sharon’s leadership, Washington County was one of the first to enlist aerial imagery. This aerial tool was extremely useful in improving the accuracy of sketches resulting in more precise assessments for the taxpayers.”

“Sharon is a remarkable professional who cares deeply for her county and community,” said Josh Barnett, Executive Director of Illinois Property Assessment Institute. “We received nominations for this award from across the state and Sharon’s contributions and passion for public service stood head and shoulders above the others.”