Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers (MAAO)

What Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers (MAAO) does

The Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers (MAAO) is a nonprofit professional association founded in 1890 and incorporated in 1980, headquartered in Northborough, Massachusetts, serving approximately 1,400 municipal property assessors across the Commonwealth. Its core offering is a portfolio of professional designations (MAA, RMA, CMA, CAA, MAT), a continuing-education catalog (MAAO Courses 200, 4, 5, 6; IAAO Courses 101, 102, 201; 7- and 15-hour USPAP), a biennial 28-hour recertification regime, and an annual August school delivered at the Wellsworth Conference Center in Southbridge alongside a Winter School. The organization is governed by an elected Executive Board led by President William B. Mitchell (FY26), President Elect Eric Josephson, Immediate Past President Ashlie Brown, Treasurer Ruth Anderson, Secretary Ellen Brideau, and Executive Director Kathleen Costello, supported by a lean staff of approximately 7 employees including Membership Coordinator Maggie Fitzpatrick.

MAAO operates on a diversified nonprofit revenue model: annual membership dues ($100 Regular and Associate, $320+$75 Subscribing, complimentary Honorary), per-course registration fees ($350-$775 depending on member status), biennial designation/recertification fees ($100), a three-tiered corporate sponsorship program (Platinum $4,500, Gold $3,000, Silver $1,500), newsletter and homepage advertising ($200-$1,000 placements), and a fee-based career center job posting product. Distribution is via a YourMembership.com-powered website (maao.org), in-person Annual School and Winter School events, and a network of nine county associations (Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden/Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk/Suffolk, Plymouth, Worcester) that coordinate local programming.

The business is defined less by technology than by institutional role: MAAO is the credentialing body for Massachusetts municipal assessors, holds mutual partnership with IAAO for course-substitution acceptance, and works directly with the Massachusetts Division of Local Services on training standards and legislative matters, including publishing an annual Legislative Package and ongoing legislative update bulletins. A formal Code of Ethics (adopted 2002) and Ethics Committee, combined with 135 years of operating history, anchor its identity as the standards-setting body in a regulated municipal function, not as a technology or SaaS business.

Name

Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers (MAAO)

Legal name

Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers, Inc.

Website

https://maao.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MAAO is a 1,400-member nonprofit professional association, founded in 1890, that delivers professional designations (MAA, RMA, CMA, CAA, MAT), continuing education courses, biennial recertification, and an Annual School to municipal property assessors across Massachusetts, operating from Shrewsbury, MA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Shrewsbury

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual dues from Regular Members ($100), Associate Members ($100), and Subscribing Members ($320 primary + $75 additional). Honorary members receive complimentary membership. Revenue supports association operations, education programs, and advocacy efforts.
2. Professional Designations and Recertification: Fees for MAA, RMA, CMA, CAA, and MAT designations along with biennial recertification fees of $100. Self-study not allowed for designation purposes.
3. Corporate Sponsorships and Advertising: Three-tiered corporate sponsorship program: Platinum ($4,500), Gold ($3,000), Silver ($1,500). Newsletter advertising: Full page ($300), Half page ($250), Quarter page ($200). Business services page advertising ($600) and home page scrolling hyperlink ($1,000).
4. Course Registration Fees: Revenue from educational courses including Annual School courses (Course 200, 5, 6 at $675 member/$775 non-member), specialty seminars ($475-$650 member rates), IAAO courses, and USPAP courses ($350-$475 member rates).
5. Career Center Services: Free job postings for members and subscribing organizations. Non-member organizations pay a fee for one-month online job postings ($100).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MAAO is a statewide nonprofit professional association that provides professional designation programs (MAA, RMA, CMA, CAA, MAT), continuing education courses, an annual school and specialty seminars, biennial recertification, legislative advocacy, and member services to approximately 1,400 municipal assessing professionals in Massachusetts. Its mission is to educate assessing officers and their assistants, promote uniform administration of local tax laws, and provide opportunities for professional development and peer discussion.

Product overview

MAAO is a professional association serving Massachusetts assessing officers with a portfolio of professional designations, continuing education courses, and member services. The core offerings include the Professional Designation Program (MAA, RMA, CMA, CAA, MAT), comprehensive continuing education courses (Course 200, Course 5, Course 6, and IAAO courses), Annual School conferences, quarterly newsletters, a career center job board, business services directory, and scholarships/awards program. These products and services support the professional development and certification needs of the organization's 1,400+ member professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Annual membership tiers for Massachusetts municipal assessors, assistant assessors, out-of-state assessors, businesses, and distinguished contributors. Provides access to designation programs, continuing education, forums, newsletter, career center, and legislative advocacy.
• Professional Designation Program Five professional designations and certificates for Massachusetts property assessors: Massachusetts Accredited Assessor (MAA), Residential Massachusetts Assessor (RMA), Certified Massachusetts Assessor (CMA), Certified Assessment Administrator (CAA), and Mass Appraiser in Training (MAT). Includes $100 application fees and biennial recertification.
• Continuing Education Courses Comprehensive catalog of paid continuing education offerings including MAAO Courses (200, 4, 5, 6), specialty seminars (Mass Appraisal Bootcamp, ATB Uncovered, ADUs/Billboards, Income Capitalization), IAAO Courses 101, 102, 201, and USPAP courses (7-Hour Update, 15-Hour). Each MAAO course provides up to 33 CE credits; member rates $350–$675, non-member rates $400–$775.
• Annual School Multi-day annual educational conference held each August at the Wellsworth Hotel and Conference Center in Southbridge, MA, hosting MAAO Courses 200/5/6, specialty seminars, IAAO courses, and 15-Hour USPAP training with exam administration for members seeking designations and CE credits.
• Career Center Job Postings Online job board hosted on maao.org/networking/ for property assessment positions. Free job postings for MAAO members; $100 one-month fee for postings by non-member organizations seeking assessing professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Biennial recertification requires 28 hours of continuing education including 7-hour USPAP Update

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Vision Government Solutions InccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatinum sponsor of MAAO. Provider of CAMA Software and appraisal services to assessing departments since 1975. Offers the most advanced CAMA system built by assessors for assessors with fast 5-month implementations and best customer service.
• CIDAREcoreTechnology or IntegrationGold sponsor. Real estate data collection and analysis firm focused on providing assessors better property data and information. Offers data collection/analysis projects, innovative technology, and educational materials.
• YourMembership.comcoreTechnology or IntegrationAssociation management software provider powering the MAAO website since 1998. Provides online community software, membership management, event management, email marketing, career center, and buyer's guide products.
• IAAO (International Association of Assessing Officers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAAO accepts IAAO courses as substitutes for MAAO coursework. IAAO Course 101 substitutes for courses 1 or 2, Course 102 for course 3, and Course 201 for courses 1 or 2. MAAO provides IAAO courses at Annual School and Winter School.
• Massachusetts Division of Local Services (DLS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner. MAAO works with DLS on training standards, certification requirements, and legislative matters. DLS Gateway provides regulatory updates and bulletins for assessors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New York State Assessors Association: NYSSA is the direct state-level peer to MAAO, serving New York assessors with designations, CE courses, and an annual school. The two associations operate nearly identical professional-association business models at the state level.
• California Assessors' Association (CAA): CAA is California's state-level counterpart to MAAO, providing education, designations, and advocacy for county and city assessors. As a state-level professional membership association for assessors, it is a direct functional peer.
• International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO): IAAO is the international counterpart to MAAO, serving property assessors globally with designations, courses, and standards. The two organizations have a formal course-substitution partnership, making IAAO the closest functional peer to MAAO.

Broad incumbents

• Appraisal Institute: The Appraisal Institute is the largest professional association of real estate appraisers, offering designations (MAI, SRA), education, and standards. It serves an adjacent profession to assessing and operates a comparable designation-and-CE model.
• International City/County Management Association (ICMA): ICMA serves local government managers and administrators with credentialing (ICMA Credentialed Manager), training, and advocacy. Its membership-association model with designated credentials is structurally similar to MAAO.
• National Association of Counties (NACo): NACo is a national membership organization for county governments offering training, advocacy, and member benefits. It serves a different geographic level but operates a similar professional-association model with member dues and conferences.
• National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP): NATP is a U.S. membership association for tax preparers and practitioners offering CE, certifications, and member services. Comparable membership-and-CE business model, though focused on tax preparation rather than property assessment.
• National League of Cities (NLC): NLC serves municipal officials across the U.S. with training, advocacy, and leadership programs. Its member-driven association model with annual conferences and educational programming parallels MAAO's structure.
• Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA): GFOA serves government finance professionals across the U.S. with certifications (CPFO), training, and best-practice standards. While broader than assessing, its mission of professionalizing municipal finance closely parallels MAAO's mandate for Massachusetts assessors.

Regional players

• Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA): MMA is a Massachusetts-based statewide association serving cities and towns with advocacy, training, and member services. While broader in scope than MAAO, it shares the same Massachusetts membership base and government-affiliation profile.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/massachusetts-association-of-assessing-officers-maao-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers (MAAO)