Rebecca Malmquist - An Interview with IAAO President for 2024

The property tax assessment profession faces a stark reality: the wave of retirements we've been talking about for years is here, and the traditional pathways into our field simply don't exist. But the real challenge isn't just about filling empty desks, it's about reimagining how we build, support, and retain the next generation of assessment professionals.

Meeting People Where They Are

Rebecca Malmquist, 2024 IAAO President and City Assessor for Minneapolis, offers a refreshing perspective on workforce development that goes beyond conventional wisdom. "It's first about meeting people where they're showing up and asking them what they want, what they need, instead of making assumptions about what I think is best for them," she explains.

This approach acknowledges a fundamental truth about today's assessment offices: new employees aren't always fresh college graduates. Sometimes they're fee appraisers looking for stability. Sometimes they're career-changers drawn to public service. Each brings different needs, expectations, and life circumstances that shape their professional journey.

The power of this philosophy lies in its simplicity. Regular one-on-ones, which Malmquist admits she once underestimated, create space for understanding employees as whole people, not just the portion of themselves they bring to work. "There is so much that can be learned about people in that one-on-one atmosphere, in a more informal setting, having conversations about real life and not just work."

Creating Safe Spaces in a Changing Profession

When Malmquist first joined IAAO, she "looked around the room... and it was more seasoned white men." She couldn't relate to two of those three descriptors. Her experience mirrors that of many entering our profession who don't see themselves reflected in leadership or peer groups.

This isn't about political correctness, it's about professional survival. If we can't create environments where diverse professionals feel they belong, we'll lose the talent war before it begins. IAAO's recent bylaw change to establish a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council represents more than organizational evolution; it's an acknowledgment that the profession's future depends on making everyone feel they're "part of something so much bigger than just what I do in my office."

The creation of affinity groups, from the Women's Initiative Network to Launchpad for new professionals, provides the "safe spaces" that help professionals find their people. As Malmquist notes, having Minnesota colleagues introduce her at conferences made all the difference. "I wasn't just sent into the wilderness of assessors by myself to figure out my way."

The Three R's of Modern Assessment Leadership

Malmquist identifies three critical challenges facing assessment offices: recruitment and retention, resources, and readiness.

Recruitment and Retention

"Where are we going to find new professionals that want to work public service, that want to work in assessment?" The answer increasingly lies in flexibility. Not just remote work options, though those matter, but flexibility in how we approach professional development, work-life integration, and career progression.

"Provide as much flexibility as you absolutely can," Malmquist advises, "because that's what people want and that's what people need." In a world where private sector salaries often dwarf public sector compensation, flexibility becomes our competitive advantage.

Resources

The "do more with less" mandate isn't going away. But conferences and professional networks offer a powerful antidote to resource constraints. "You can go to a session and be like, oh, look at what that jurisdiction did for like, no money at all. I didn't even know that technology existed."

Readiness

The pandemic taught us that readiness can't be theoretical. "Most offices were never ready to pivot and have everybody work from home. But we did it, we know, we made it work." The lesson? "You can only have that readiness skill by practicing it."

Elevating the Mission

Perhaps the most overlooked recruitment tool is the work itself. Property tax assessment touches every property owner's life, every year. It funds schools, roads, public safety, the very infrastructure of civilized society. Yet we rarely tell that story effectively.

"Oftentimes the leaders, elected or non, don't understand the importance of the work that we do," Malmquist observes. This communication gap doesn't just affect funding and resources, it affects our ability to attract mission-driven professionals who want their work to matter.

The solution requires both local and national effort. Individual offices must find stories that resonate with their communities. Meanwhile, IAAO can provide resources that make it easier to educate and engage stakeholders about our essential role in local government.

Beyond Professional Development

When asked about her legacy goals, Malmquist's answer is telling: "The legacy that I want to leave behind is just a better association, that the arms are open to all the people... that there's a home for everybody here."

This vision extends beyond traditional professional development. It's about creating communities where "colleagues become your friends, and these friends become your family." For those just entering the profession, her advice is both simple and profound: "Find the path that brings you joy."

Key Takeaways

1. Workforce development starts with understanding people as whole individuals, not just employees. Regular one-on-ones and genuine interest in personal circumstances build the trust necessary for professional growth.

2. Creating inclusive environments isn't optional, it's essential for attracting and retaining the diverse talent pool necessary for the profession's future.

3. Flexibility is our competitive advantage in the war for talent. When we can't match private sector salaries, we must maximize other benefits that matter to modern professionals.

4. The mission matters, but we must tell the story better. Property tax assessment is foundational to functioning local government, and that message needs to reach both potential recruits and community stakeholders.

5. Professional networks multiply individual capacity. Whether sharing cost-effective solutions or building readiness for future challenges, our connections make us all stronger.

The path forward isn't about choosing between tradition and innovation. It's about preserving what makes assessment essential while adapting how we build and support the professionals who will carry that mission forward. As Malmquist demonstrates through her own journey from GIS intern to IAAO president, when we create environments where people can grow, learn, and find their community, the profession doesn't just survive, it thrives.