Vision User Spotlight, September 2019
Ellen Brideau, Medford MA
We are excited to announce Ellen Brideau as our September Vision User Spotlight! Ellen has used Vision CAMA for 12 years and has a unique perspective on the assessing industry.
Read about her unique family ties to assessing and some of her best practices!
How long have you been an assessor?
“I’ve been working as an assessor for 12 years. I started working for a revaluation company in the late 80’s in Connecticut. My mom, Barbara Perry, was running several projects and needed help. I switched careers for 20 plus years but always stayed active in valuation with part time pick up work doing building permits and cyclical data collection. In 2007, I decided it was time to go back to the “Family” business full time.”
What is your favorite part about being an assessor?
“It’s never boring. Everyday is something new.”
What is the most challenging part about being an assessor?
“Making sure that me and my other four assessing family members do not bore everyone else to tears at the dinner table with ‘Assessor Talk’.”
What are some best practices you would share with folks who are new to the assessing industry?
“Find a mentor and develop relationships with your peers. You need a network of assessors to bounce problems off of and provide you with a sanity check every now and then.”
How would you describe your community to someone who has never visited?
“The City of Medford offers the best of both worlds to its over 56,000 residents. It has Medford Square with amazing restaurants, it enjoys a close proximity to Boston for an easy commute to work and it has preserved green space with trails along the Mystic River, Wright’s Pond and the Middlesex Fells Reservation (a 2200 acre state park). But what makes Medford really special is it’s residents. Medford residents come from all different backgrounds and cultures. They are passionate about working together to make Medford a great place to live.”
How have you seen the industry evolve over time?
“When I started, towns had just begun converting their data from handwritten cards to computers. I added building permit work to “hard cards” and calculated value changes by hand using cost manuals.”
Are there any changes you would like to see in the industry?
“I would like to see our profession recognized for the significant impact we have on the financial stability of respective communities.”
What other advice, tips or tricks or important information would you like to share with fellow Vision users?
“Only work in a community that has Mike Tarello!”