Author Archives: Admin

March Meeting: Patent Opinions and Prosecution

The March Chapter Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 pm; all ASA members are welcome. The general meeting starts at 6:30. The guest speaker will be Patrick M. Brady III, a Registered Patent Attorney at SnyderLAW LLC in Wayne PA (and former Lead Mechanical Engineer at Lockheed Martin). Mr. Brady will talk about “Patent Opinions and Prosecution” (and maybe “Rocket Science”).

Mr. Brady earned a JD at Temple’s Beasley School of Law (2001) and before that an MSME in Structural Mechanics and Dynamics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1990). As a patent attorney, he counsels clients about intellectual property protection, including patentability opinions, due diligence, trademark prosecution, trade secrets and guidance relative to copyright filings. But he is equally comfortable talking about mechanical devices, mechanisms, composite materials, structures and electronic packaging, and he has a general understanding of software, electrical, materials and processes. And he is knowledgeable about service and employment contracts as well as corporate and partnership formation.

Mr. Brady’s presentation is sure to be of interest to ASA members in all disciplines. As seating for this talk is limited, please register early for this educational and productive evening which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation.

Dinner is $35 per person for members and guests. To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by Friday, March 10, to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

ASA ME204-OOO (MTS204): Advanced Topics and Report Writing

The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers will sponsor ME204-OOO (formerly MTS204) Advanced Topics and Report Writing on March 6, 7 & 8, 2017 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at The Desmond Great Valley, located at One Liberty Boulevard, Malvern PA 19355. The instructor for the 3-day ASA course will be Richard A. Berkemeier, ASA.

ME204: Advanced Topics and Report Writing

The course provides a comprehensive review of the concepts studied in ME201, ME202 and ME203. It reviews the application of appraisal techniques to valuation of an integrated facility, such as a steel mill, and it considers various professional standards including USPAP, IVS and Ethics and their relationship to report writing. It also discusses how to develop and write a professional appraisal report.

This recently updated course examines in-depth the skills needed to address obsolescence — physical, functional and economic. And it will provide the tools needed to analyze inutility, complex leasing structures, residual forecasting, and fair rental calculations (for leasing), as well as facility valuation using all three approaches to value. Throughout, there will be an emphasis on applying the concepts studied to day-to-day practice.

Mr. Berkemeier is an independent senior asset management professional offering more than 20 years of appraisal experience within the capital markets, including risk management, inventory assessment, appraisal review, liquidation expertise, debtor-in-possession financing, and collateral management.

Please register ASAP for this class to avoid disappointment. Seating is limited.

Tuition for the class is $1200 per person, which includes all course materials, morning and afternoon beverages, and lunch buffet. You may pay by check or online. To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35 and mail, including your name, phone number and email address, to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello, 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462. RSVP by email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

January Breakfast Meeting: Labor and Employment Issues in a Trump World

The January Breakfast Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 8:00 am at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The guest speaker will be Samuel M. First , Esq. , Labor and Employment Chair of the Jacobs Law Group PC in Philadelphia. Mr. First will talk about “Labor and Employment Issues in a Trump World.”

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University School of Law, Samuel First has over 20 years experience representing private and public sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, he works in several areas including alternative dispute resolution, arbitration, commercial litigation, and corporate and transnational law.

Active in professional and civic affairs — he is Chair of the Board of the JEVS Foundation — Samuel First has written for the Pennsylvania Employment Law Deskbook and How ADR Works, Advising Potential Defendants and lectured widely on topics ranging from “Electronic Documents in Litigation” to “Winning Retaliation Lawsuits in a Post Nassar World.”

Mr. First will “focus on the impact new [Trump era] leadership at the Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board, along with the Republican-controlled Congress, will have in reversing the Obama administration’s pro-employee, pro-union agenda.”

Please register early for this educational and informative breakfast meeting which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA re-accreditation.

The Breakfast is FREE for ASA Philadelphia members and $25 for guests. Family members, colleagues, and associates are welcome! To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by January 13 to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

Holiday Charity Event & Happy Hour

The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers will sponsor a Charity Event and Happy Hour on Thursday, December 1, 2016 from 5:00-8:00 pm in the Fayette Room on the first floor of The Great American Pub(610-940-0540), 123 Fayette Street, Conshohocken PA. The event will benefit Cradles to Crayons.

Charity Event. Please bring a new or gently-used article of essential children’s winter clothing. The clothing, or a $10 donation instead of clothing, will go to Cradles to Crayons. The charity helps children living in low- income and homeless situations.

Happy Hour. Enjoy a delicious selection of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and an open bar (soda, draft beer, all house wines and liquor), all courtesy of the Philadelphia Chapter.

Registration Required. The event is FREE for Philadelphia Chapter members, but space is limited so please visit the ASA Philadelphia Members Page to REGISTER if you plan to attend.

Guests Welcome. We’re hoping for a big turn-out for our third annual service event, so bring a friend. Your spouses, colleagues and guests are welcome! Please direct questions about the event to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello, by email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

September Meeting: Hacking Away — Cybersecurity for Businesses Today

The September Chapter Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 pm; all ASA members are welcome. The general meeting starts at 6:30. The guest speaker will be Rebecca Rakoski, Esq., co-founder and managing partner at XPAN Law Group in Philadelphia, a boutique practice focused on cybersecurity and data privacy. Ms. Rakoski will discuss the various types of “hacking” incidents and how to approach and protect your business.

Rakoski Rebecca earned a JD at Widener University School of Law and before that a BS in biology from Washington College. She worked for more than a decade in a large regional firm where she specialized in complex federal and state court litigation, developing a unique expertise in cybersecurity, privacy and electronic discovery. Her presentation will discuss the
differences between the various types of “hacking” incidents, and offer guidance on how to approach and protect against cybersecurity threats. She will emphasize the risks associated with HR data and personal identifiable information (PII), and talk about optimal network infrastructure designs for firms collecting sensitive data.

Ms. Rakoski’s presentation is sure to be of value to ASA members in all disciplines. As seating for this talk is limited, please register early for this educational and productive evening which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation.

Dinner is $35 per person for members and guests. To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, where you can also take advantage of the reduced cost 5-Meeting Plan this month only. Otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by Friday, September 15, to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

September Meeting: The Real Estate Market and Valuation Issues

The September Chapter Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 pm; all ASA members are welcome. The general meeting starts at 6:30. It will include the installation of the 2016-2017 Chapter Officers and presentation of the 2016 George D. Sinclair Award.

The guest speaker will be Neil F. Axler, a Director at RSM US LLP’s New York office specializing in Real Estate Valuation Services. He will talk about “The State of the Real Estate Market and Current Valuation Issues.” A graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Axler’s career path included stops at Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, Marshall & Stevens, and most recently at FMV Opinions.

With over 20 years of valuation consulting experience here and abroad, Mr. Axler’s current projects include valuations for financial reporting; trust and estate; federal government agencies; special servicers; tax appeals; litigation; bankruptcy and restructuring. A popular speaker, panelist and author, he has first-hand knowledge of the economic, financial and market factors that drive the development of public real estate policy.

As seating for this talk is limited, please register early for this educational and productive evening which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation.

Dinner is $35 per person for members and guests. Members: Last chance this season to buy the 5 Meeting Plan for $110 – a $65 saving! To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by Friday, September 11, to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

SAVE THE DATES. This is the first meeting of the 2016-2017 season. Other meetings, all at the Doubletree, are November 16, January 18 (Breakfast) and March 15. A May dinner meeting at a special venue is also planned but not finalized.

ASA ME203-OOO (MTS203): Advanced Topics and Case Studies

The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers will sponsor ME203-OOO (formerly MTS203) Advanced Topics and Case Studies on September 19, 20 & 21, 2016 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at The Desmond Great Valley, located at One Liberty Boulevard, Malvern PA 19355. The instructor for the 3-day ASA course will be Richard A. Berkemeier, ASA.

The course will introduce more advanced concepts and techniques than those taught in ME201 and ME202. It will review case studies illustrating a range of operating entities. The topics explored will include exponential pricing techniques, cost estimation, reproduction vs. replacement costs, quantifying functional obsolescence, use of research data, and the time value of money calculations.

7-Hour National USPAP Update Course

The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers will sponsor an all-discipline National USPAP 2016-2017 7-hour Update Course on Thursday, September 15, 2016 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The course will be held at the Marriott SpringHill Suites, 430 Plymouth Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 (Phone: 610-940-0400). The instructor will be Robert J. Luciani, ASA. Sign-in starts at 8:30 am.

USPAP2016 2017 The National USPAP Update Course from the Appraisal Foundation is a one-day course that focuses on recent changes to USPAP requirements for ethical behavior and competent performance by appraisers. This course, which clarifies several commonly misunderstood aspects of USPAP, will aid appraisers in all areas of appraisal practice seeking updated USPAP competency, including those subject to state licensing or certification and continuing education requirements imposed by professional organizations, client groups, or employers.

This course is required for all State Licensed or Certified Real Property Appraisers and Assessors.

The cost of the 1-day course is $155 per person and includes a course manual, morning and afternoon coffee breaks, snacks and soft drinks. The USPAP 2016-2017 book is available to attendees at the discounted price of $65. Attendees must either purchase the book or bring a laptop or tablet with Internet access to class.

Seating is limited, so please register early for the course, which meets the USPAP continuing education requirements for most appraisers, including the ASA requirement of one 7-hour USPAP update course every five years for accredited (AM, ASA, FASA) appraisers.

To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35 and mail to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello, 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462. RSVP by email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

May Meeting: Wine Tasting, Tapas and Art

The May Chapter Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at the Twenty-Two Gallery at 236 South 22nd Street in Philadelphia. The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 pm. The general meeting beginning at 6:30 pm will feature a Spanish Wine Tasting and Tapas/Hors D ’Oeuvres hosted by Vinocity founder, Vicki Miller. The Gallery will be exhibiting the paintings and drawings of Philly activist/artist Caryn Kunkle.

vickimiller Vicki Miller left the prestigious law firm of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, where she was a partner, to launch Vinocity and a new career hosting wine events that combine “Wine education and tasting in a lively interactive experience.” An engaging host and speaker, Vicki weaves the facts, figures and science of winemaking into stories about wine history and culture that she connects to the wines sampled during Vinocity events.

The Spanish Wine Tasting at Twenty-Two Gallery will include four Spanish wines, a Cava, a Albariño, a Spanish rosé and a Rioja Reserva, starting with glass of wine offered at the door, with the others during the course of the evening, whilst sampling Tapas and a variety of heavy hors d’oeuvres..

Spanish Tapas Platter, including Manchego cheese, Serrano ham, cured olives, marinated artichokes and pequillo peppers, with flat breads and crusty rolls.
Pistachio-crusted chicken with pomegranate dipping sauce.
Mini crab cakes.
Lobster Mac and cheese bites.
Hand-carved filet of beef with goat cheese on a potato cake.
Mini Kobe burgers on sesame seed buns OR mini Beef Wellingtons in pastry.
Goat cheese and Kalamata olive tarts OR mini quiche.
Fresh vegetable platter with dips.
Dessert items.

Space is limited, so please register early for this delicious, entertaining and educational evening, which will include a discussion about investing in wine, and which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation. You’ll want to bring a guest to this special event!

The cost, including the wine tasting and Tapas/Hors D’Oeuvres is $35 per person for members and guests. To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP and/or make payment by Thursday, May 12, to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).