7:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Sheraton Ballroom

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Troy Birtles, AAA President

Sheraton Ballroom

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Presented by Cheryl Stock

Sheraton Ballroom

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Clear, consistent communication is essential in work communications, particularly in high stakes conversations where clarity and credibility matter. This interactive session introduces the Everything DiSC Communication framework and provides practical tools to recognize different workstyles and adapt communication in real time. 

Participants will gain insight into their own communication tendencies, learn how to adjust language and approach to reduce defensiveness, and apply strategies that support consistency, integrity, and professional confidence. Designed for immediate application, this session supports the development of communication skills that strengthen trust and impact across work environments. 

Bio:

Cheryl Stock, BHRLR, CHPR Accredited Everything DiSC Workstyles Practitioner, Coach and Facilitator 

Cheryl Stock helps professionals strengthen communication in moments where clarity, consistency, and credibility matter most. With a background in Human Resources and extensive experience supporting leaders across diverse sectors, Cheryl brings practical, behaviour based tools that translate directly into day to day interactions. 

As an Accredited Everything DiSC Workstyles Practitioner, Cheryl specializes in helping people understand how different workstyles influence communication, decision making, and responses under pressure. Her approach is grounded, engaging, and focused on immediate application - especially in environments where professionals must balance integrity, accuracy, and impact in every conversation. 

Cheryl is known for creating learning experiences that increase confidence, reduce friction, and support consistent communication across teams and stakeholder interactions. 

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Stay informed on the latest from Alberta Municipal Affairs.

Sheraton Ballroom

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Presented by: Tory Bachmann, Executive Director with Municipal Affairs and Christine Bigoray, Director, Assessment and Property Tax Policy

Municipal Affairs will provide an update on designated industrial assessment including current projects underway, policy updates, and an overview of recent changes and next steps in the Assessment Model Review.

Sheraton Ballroom

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Presented by Michael Swanberg, Carol Zukiwski, Cam Ashmore

Sheraton Ballroom

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel: Cate Watt, Mark Trimble, Stephen Bannerman Moderator: Scott Powell

Sheraton Ballroom

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

This panel explores how Calgary, Edmonton, and St. Albert are responding to shifts in their property tax bases through downtown revitalization initiatives and industrial growth strategies. Panelists will also discuss the broader implications for municipal funding and the important role assessors play in supporting long-term tax base planning. 

Presented by Michael Minard, AMAA and Joanne McKinnon

Canadian Room

3:20 PM - 4:30 PM

Determining what is Linear assessment property.  This session will provide an overview of Linear Assessment, clarifying the distinctions between DIP-Linear assessment,  DIP-Industrial assessment,  and Municipal assessment. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of what is linear Property and what is not. 

Bios:

Michael Minard is the designated Provincial Assessor for Alberta, making him responsible for all designated industrial (DI) property assessments. Mike directs multiple teams that work together to produce the provincial roll containing all DI property assessments, which currently totals over $211 billion dollars of taxable assessment. Mike is a graduate of the Lakeland College Appraisal & Assessment program and went on to achieve a Bachelor of Commerce degree, as well as a post-graduate certificate in real property valuation. Mike is holder of the AMAA designation through the Alberta Assessors Association, and also the AACI designation through the Appraisal Institute of Canada.  

Joanne McKinnon is the Manager of Linear Assessment in Alberta. Joanne has over 20 years of assessment experience working with municipalities and the Provincial Government. Joanne is a graduate of the Lakeland College Appraisal & Assessment program and Environmental Conservation and Reclamation program. She also holds her AMAA designation through the Alberta Assessors Association. 

Presented by Tory Bachmann and Arla Pirtle

Alberta South Room

3:20 PM - 4:30 PM

The Assessment Services Branch has developed a new process to identify, develop and implement best practices for assessment issues related to designated industrial property. This session will provide an overview of best practices and standard operating procedures, how they are developed, and what benefit they can have to assessment organizations. Then participants will review a new best practice as a way to test an approach to engaging the broader assessment community in the review of best practices. 

Bios:

Arla Pirtle is a property tax assessor with over 28 years of experience in municipal and provincial assessment. She spent 26 years with Sturgeon County, ultimately serving as Manager of Assessment Services, before joining Municipal Affairs’ Assessment Services Branch in 2020. She currently serves as Manager of the Major Plants Inventory. 

Arla holds the AMAA designation and is a member of both the Alberta Assessors’ Association and the International Association of Assessing Officers. She also helped lead the first Albertan team to receive the Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration. 

Tory Bachmann is the Executive Director of the Assessment Services Branch with Municipal Affairs, where she leads a diverse team delivering designated industrial property assessment across Alberta. 

With over 14 years of public service experience, Tory has held leadership roles across government, including leading the mid- and downstream sector policy team at Energy, as well as key roles in policy coordination, agency governance, and intergovernmental relations. She is passionate about leadership and service delivery that supports municipalities and Albertans. 

Tory holds a BA from the University of Alberta and a Master’s degree from the University of Toronto. Outside of work, she enjoys reading and spending time outdoors with her family. 

Presented by Gio Giordano from Tyler Technologies Inc.

Alberta North Room

3:20 PM - 4:30 PM

Tyler’s Enterprise Assessment is the industry’s most robust CAMA solution, enabling clients to manage the entire property assessment process through a fully web-based, GIS-enabled toolset with a comprehensive suite of valuation features. This session will provide a brief overview of Tyler’s Assessment system, highlighting new AI-enabled capabilities, including an LLM-powered public chatbot assistant and Tyler “AIMS,” an AI modeling and statistics module.

Bio:

Gio holds a bachelor's degree from State University of New York at Geneseo. He joined Tyler Technologies in 2012 and serves as a regional sales lead in the Property & Recording division. In this capacity, he focuses on meeting the needs of appraisal and tax clients in the western region of the U.S., New England states, a handful of southern states, and several Canadian provinces. His depth of knowledge in property tax and assessment services allows him to proactively identify viable solutions for clients to help them meet the needs of today's busy and challenged office.

Presented by Dan Lidgren, AMAA

Room TBD

3:20 PM - 4:30 PM

AI‑generated taxpayer complaints are becoming more common and more time‑consuming. This session explores common patterns and pitfalls in AI‑assisted submissions, practical indicators that content may be AI‑generated, and tips for efficiently reviewing and responding without getting lost in volume or complexity. The focus is on real‑world impacts and practical approaches for assessment professionals.

Bio: 

Daniel Lidgren is a municipal assessment and taxation professional with nearly two decades of experience in property assessment, municipal taxation, and public‑sector leadership. He has worked in the field since 2007 and is currently the Manager of Account Management with Assessment & Tax at The City of Calgary, where he oversees property tax billing and collection, exemptions, tax relief programs, and customer service for assessment and tax inquiries.

Daniel has led assessment teams valuing residential, multi‑residential, commercial, and industrial properties and brings deep experience in mass appraisal, urban assessments, and Alberta’s legislative and regulatory framework. He has participated in and coordinated thousands of assessment complaints before review boards and tribunals, providing strong practical insight into defensible valuation and tribunal preparation.

McKnight Room

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Crafted & Connected: Sip Forward

Sheraton Ballroom

7:00 PM - 11:00 PM