2025 Connecticut Chapter of the Appraisal Institute update: New year – New opportunities!

On December 16, 2024 the Connecticut Chapter held its annual holiday party/installation of officers and directors. The 2025 slate of officers and directors were installed by National 2024 vice president Michael Mignogna, MAI, SRA at Verdi Restaurant, Waterbury, CT. Special guests in attendance included Craig Steinly, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, AI-RRS; Alison Smeltzer, SRA, AI-RRS; and Byran Miller, SRA, AI-RRS along with Region IV chair Albert Franke, MAI, SRA and past region chairs Peter Vimini, MAI and Eric Haims, MAI, AI-GRS. During this event we had the unique opportunity to see one generation install the next generation into presidency of the chapter. Past chapter president Frank O’Neill, Jr., SRA had the honor of installing his daughter Jennifer O’Neill, SRA as the 2025 chapter president. 

2025 CT Chapter Officers and Directors: 

• President Jennifer O’Neill, SRA; 

• Vice President Michelle B. Gamache, MAI; 

• Treasurer John Nitz, MAI; 

• Secretary Josephine Aberle, MAI. 

Board of Directors: Immediate Past President Eli Pascon, SRA; Dennis Chanski, SRA; Anastasia Friedman, MAI; Brian Royce, MAI; Richard Seman, Jr., SRA; David Simonetti, SRA; and Peter Vimini, MAI. 

Current opportunities to serve on chapter committees…. Education, Candidate Guidance, Government Relations, Public Relations. Members are eligible to receive CE points towards their designation CE requirements for service. Please contact the Chapter office if interested. 

Save the Date: University of Connecticut Event – February 25, 2025 at the Storrs Campus. 

“Understanding the Current Economic and Capital Market”

Panelist: Professor David Wharmby, CFA director center for real estate urban economic studies, University of CT; 

Dags Chen, CFA, U.S. head of real estate research and strategy, Barings; and

Professor Jeffrey Cohen, PhD, University of CT. 

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm CE offering;

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm cocktail hour networking with RE Center students;

7:00 Hockey Game – UCONN vs. Boston University. 

Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions: Practical Applications “Yellow Book.” The chapter will be offering this two day program in May in conjunction with the Land Trust Alliance. 

Additional details and registration will be posted on the chapter website shortly.

Connecticut Chapter Scholarships Available
• Michael J. Aldieri, MAI Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship is available to any candidate for designation of the Connecticut Chapter of the Appraisal Institute (CCAI) who is actively pursuing the MAI or SRA membership designation. The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage knowledge, excellence and professionalism in the appraisal industry. The scholarship will award full tuition reimbursement for any required AI course offering in the designation path.

• Rachel Gioia, MAI Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship is available to any minority and/or woman candidate for designation of the Connecticut Chapter of the Appraisal Institute (CCAI) who is active in appraising and needs financial assistance to take Appraisal Institute courses leading to the MAI or SRA membership designation. The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage minorities and women Candidates to pursue knowledge, excellence and professionalism in the appraisal industry. The scholarship will award full tuition reimbursement for any required AI course offering in the designation path.

• William Kinnard, Ph.D Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship is available to any Appraisal Institute designated member of the Connecticut Chapter of the Appraisal Institute (CCAI) who wishes to expand his or her current knowledge base into an area of professional academic specialty or service through an AI “certificate of completion” for any Appraisal Institute Professional Development Program. The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage knowledge, excellence and professionalism in the appraisal industry. The scholarship will award full tuition reimbursement for any required AI course offering in any one of the AI Professional Development Programs.

For details/application form, please visit the chapter website www.ai-ct.org

Java with Jen
“Java with Jen is an AI networking opportunity to get together with peers, discuss current topics, and create the AI you need to support your career. Java in Wisconsin is working with government relations to create an outreach program to connect appraisers and lending clients. I would like to do the same here. Hawaii Coffee Talks discussed Public Trust. Who are the people you want to meet? What do you need to run a more efficient appraisal practice? Let’s brainstorm together and level up our profession as a team of experts in each of our fields. Meetings the third Wednesday of each month in person or on zoom” said Jennifer O’Neill, SRA, Chapter President.

2025 CT Real Estate Appraiser License Renewals 
As a reminder, 2025 is a renew year only. No continuing education hours are required. 28 hours of continuing will be required for your 2026 renewal by January 31, 2026. Stay tuned for CE opportunities.

Thank you for your continued support of the Chapter and Appraisal Institute. 

Here’s to a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

Jacqueline Beauchaine is the executive director of the Connecticut Chapter of the Appraisal Institute.