Donald A. Fisher, MAI, ARA, Vice President

Donald A. Fisher, MAI, ARA

Executive Vice President

Don Fisher holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and has been awarded the MAI professional designation from the Appraisal Institute and the ARA (Accredited Rural Appraiser) designation from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. He is past President of the Upstate New York Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. He has also served as District I Vice President of ASFMRA and President of its Northeast Chapter. Don has served in several additional officer positions for the Appraisal Institute and ASFMRA local chapters as well as national committees, including six years as Chair of ASFMRA’s National Appraisal Review Committee, Chair of the ASFMRA Editorial Committee (1998-2017), and was also Chair of Publications Commission of Valuation 2000, a valuation conference co-hosted by the three principal professional appraisal organizations. Don also served on The Appraisal Foundation Advisory Council.

He has taught several appraisal courses and seminars for a variety of organizations, including Cornell University’s Graduate Real Estate Studies program, NYS Assessors Association, and chapters of the Appraisal Institute and the ASFMRA.

Don is a New York State Certified General Appraiser (#46-0060), a NYS Real Estate Appraisal Instructor, and a Consultant Appraiser for the NYS Department of Transportation.

Don, a two-time national champion on Cornell’s heavyweight rowing team, has been active in a variety of county, town, school and local groups, utilizing his experience in real property valuation services and first responder emergency services to assist with development of projects, community services, and advancement of governmental and private projects.

Experience includes appraising a wide variety of property for public, institutional and private clients. Don has testified before Federal Courts, New York State’s Supreme Court and Court of Claims, and a variety of commissions.

Employment History:

2016 to Current: Executive Vice President, CNY Pomeroy Appraisers, Inc.
1994 to 2015: President, Pomeroy Appraisal Associates, Inc.
1986 to 1994: Executive Vice President, Pomeroy Appraisal Associates, Inc.
1984 to 1986: Vice President/Secretary, Pomeroy Appraisal Associates, Inc.
1974 to 1984: Staff Appraiser, Pomeroy Appraisal Associates, Inc.

Education:

Cornell University: Bachelor of Science – College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Syracuse University: graduate studies
Appraisal Institute: appraisal valuation courses and seminars
American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers: appraisal valuation courses & seminars
International Right-of-Way Association: appraisal courses and seminars
NYS Assessors Association: appraisal courses and seminars

Professional Designations:

MAI #6935 – Appraisal Institute
- Member, Appraisal Institute (MAI) designation is awarded by the Appraisal Institute to those members who have years of experience, are technically trained, have passed a rigid examination and subscribe to a high code of ethics.
ARA #623 – American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA)
- I hold the Accredited Rural Appraiser (ARA) designation which is awarded by the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers to those members who have years of experience, are technically trained, have passed a rigid examination and subscribe to a high code of ethics.

Professional Affiliations:

Appraisal Institute (1979-present)
- Chapter Committees:
  — AIREA/SREA Unification (1991-92)
  — Regional Standards Panel (1986-91)
  — Chapter Admissions, Chairperson (1987-89)
  — Admissions (1985-1989)
- Chapter Offices:
  — President (1/1/2011-12/31/2012 [2-yr. term])
  — President-Elect (2010)
  — Treasurer (2009)
  — Secretary (2008)
  — Treasurer (1992)
  — Secretary (1991)
  — Director (1990)
American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers (1975-present)
- National Committees:
  — National Editorial Co-Chair (1998-2002) and Chair (2002-2017)
  — National Appraisal Review Committee Chair (1988-94)
  — Executive Council (1995-98)
  — Report Writing Seminar Development (2022-Present)
  — Ethics & Standards Task Force (2009-2010)
  — Publications Commission Chair, Valuation 2000 (1998-2000)
  — By-Laws (1980-81)
  — Young Professionals (1981-84)
  — Appraisal Manual (1984-85)
  — Regional Membership (1985-1988)
  — Rural Appraisal Book (1993-1995)
  — Long Range Planning (1995)
  — Annual Meeting (1997 & 1999)
  — The Appraisal Foundation Advisory Council (2002-04)
  — Strategic Planning Task Force (2003-04)
  — Recognized for 40-Year Membership (2018)
- National Office:
  — District I Vice President (1995-1998)
- Chapter (Northeast) Offices:
  — Secretary-Treasurer (1979-89)
  — Vice-President (1989-91)
  — President (1991-93)
  — Director (1993-96)
  — Audit Committee (2020-2022)
International Right-of-Way Association – Chapter #18 (1982-present)
International Association of Assessing Officers (1999-present)
New York State Assessors Association, Inc.
Past Regional Advisor – State Board of Real Estate Appraisal

Licenses & Certifications:

Certified by Appraisal Institute through December 31, 2023
Certified by ASFMRA through December 31, 2022
NYS Certified General Appraiser #46-000000060 (1991 to present)
- Certified by NY Department of State through October 7, 2023
Certificate of Completion – Valuation of Conservation Easements course – AI/ASFMRA/ASA (2008)
Certificate of Completion – Yellow Book – Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions –ASFMRA (2006 and 2018)
NYS Consultant Appraiser – New York State (1978 to present)
NYS Qualified Appraisal Course Instructor – all appraisal course levels (1991 to present)
Certificate of Appreciation – Appraisal Review Committee Chairman (6 years)
Certificate of Appreciation – Editorial Committee Chairman (19 years)
NYS Notary Public

Awards:

G. Richard Kelley Memorial Award (formerly President’s Award) – 2014, presented by Upstate New York Chapter, Appraisal Institute
Appraisal Professional of the Year by ASFMRA – 2012
Gold Quill Award for Journalism from ASFMRA – 1985 and 2011
Volunteer of the Year Award from ASFMRA – 2017
Silver Plow Award – 10+ years as Chapter Secretary/Treasurer from ASFMRA – 1989
Silver Cow Award for Contribution to Agribusiness from Onondaga County Dairy Promotion Committee – 1999

Publications:

“A Case Study of Upstate New York Landlocked and Restricted Access Land Values”
— Journal of the ASFMRA, May 2020
“An Environmental Trade Case Study: Agricultural Conservation Easement Pays Off Environmental Penalty”
— Journal of the ASFMRA, June 2011 (ASFMRA 2011 Gold Quill Award)
“Is Your Forest Land Fairly Assessed?”
— Empire Envoy, Empire State Forest Products Association, Vol. 97, No. 5, August 2004
“Conservation Easements: A Review of Alternative Valuation Methods”
— Journal of Property Economics, co-published by American Society of Appraisers, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, International Association of Assessing Officers and National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers, Volume 1, Issue 1, 2004
The Appraisal of Rural Property, 2nd Edition, 2000, co-published by ASFMRA and Appraisal Institute – Dairy Farm Chapter
“Timberland Assessments” – Farming, January 2001
“Gas Pipelines: Are They a Detriment or an Enhancement for Crops?”
— Journal of ASFMRA, 2000; republished in International Right-of-Way Magazine, Dec. 2000
“Timberland Valuation”
— CFA News, Catskill Forest Association, Inc., Fall 1999
“Understanding Development Rights from Both the Appraiser and Consultant Perspective”
— Seminar for ASFMRA, May 1997
“Farm Assessment Problems” (5-part series)
— New York Farmer, 1996-1997
“Conservation Easements & Valuation Issues”
— Appraisal Views, Valuation International, Ltd., 2nd Quarter, 1996
Rural Appraisal Manual
— ASFMRA, 6th Edition, 1986 – Revision Committee
“Using the Income Approach for Specialized Agricultural Properties”
— Journal of the ASFMRA, April 1985 (ASFMRA 1985 Gold Quill Award)
“Do You Need a Professional Appraiser?”
— American Agriculturist, January 1983

Teaching & Lecturing Experience:

Upstate NY Chapter (Appraisal Institute):
— Valuations in Indian Land Claims, Eminent Domain Analysis, Catastrophic Event, Natural (Tourist) Attraction, Current Use v. Highest and Best Use, Land Under Elevated Highway, Avigation Easements, Wind Development Rights, Utility Easements, Determination of Economic Units, Market Value Impact from Solar Systems on Residential Properties, Effects of Stigma
ASFMRA & Northeast Chapter:
— Agricultural Valuation, Conservation Easements, Avigation Easements, Wind Development Rights, Dairy Farms, Utility Easements
ASFMRA Ohio Chapter: Conservation Easements
International Right-of-Way Association Chapter 18:
— Conservation Easement Valuation, Avigation Easements, Wind Development Rights, Effects of Stigma
NYS Assessors Association:
— Farm Valuation, Income Capitalization Approach, Conservation Easement Valuation, Waterfront Valuation, Mini-Marts and Convenience Stores, Partial Interests Valuation, Appraisal Report Review, Mixed-Use Property Valuation
NYS Association of County Directors:
— Conservation Easements: Alternative Valuation Methods
Cornell Cooperative Extension:
— Farm Assessment Problems, Agricultural Conservation Easements
Cornell University:
— Appraisal Issues, Eminent Domain, Conservation Easements, Indian Land Claims
Federal Land Bank:
— Highest & Best Use Analysis
US Army / Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust / Ducks Unlimited:
— Fort Drum Army Compatible Use Buffer Program (2012): Conservation Easements
New York Farm Show / Woodsmen’s Field Days (2010, 2011, 2012):
— Conservation Easements
Ohio State University:
— Conservation Easement Valuation
Onondaga Community College:
— Real Estate Principles
Onondaga County Assessors Assoc.
— Farm Valuation, Conservation Easements, Convenience Stores, Property Classifications and Current Use v. Highest and Best Use Issues

Court Experience:

Testified before US Federal District Court*; NY State Court of Claims; NY State Supreme Court^; Massachusetts Court; Commissions and Hearings throughout NY State;
^2010 NY Court of Appeals favorable decision on current use valuation certiorari project (Gordon v. Town of Esopus);
2 Appellate Division favorable decisions on current use and economic unit valuation for certiorari (Adirondack Mountain Reserve v. Towns of Keene and North Hudson; Corvetti v. Town of Lake Pleasant)
*1981 Oneida Nation Land Claim was reviewed and upheld by the US Supreme Court (March 1984)

Professional Experience:

Career responsibilities bridge a wide scope of public, institutional and private assignments dealing with eminent domain, mortgage financing, tax matters, zoning, easements, estate planning, and general valuation questions.

Projects include Indian land claims, rights-of-way acquisition, railroad valuation, urban redevelopment, waste disposal, water use and hydro-power valuation matters, watersheds, airports, pipeline and power-line corridors, agricultural crop analysis, and environmental analysis.

Assignments have dealt with office buildings, shopping centers, most types of commercial and industrial properties, apartment complexes, hotels and motels, churches, schools, all types of agricultural properties, timberland, freshwater and tidal wetlands, all types of recreational and residential properties, conservation easements, and utility line easements.

Community Activities:

Cornell University Athletics:
- Heavyweight Rowing National Champion – Varsity 1971 and Freshman 1970
- International Rowing – Silver Medalist, Brazil 1972
Cornell University:
- Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network (1989-2006)
- Alumni Career Link (1989-present)
Onondaga County Waste-to-Energy Facility:
- Citizens Advisory Committee (1991-2000)
- Chairman (1993-1994)
- Property Value Stabilization, Sub-Committee Chairman (1991-2000)
Town of Onondaga:
- Environmental Advisory Council (1976-81)
- Fire Training Center Bylaws (Chairman 1986)
- Length Of Service Awards Program (Town Committee Chairman 1989-91, 2000-02, 2004-05, 2017-18, 2019)
Onondaga Central Schools Committees:
- Facilities Advisory (1989-90)
- Citizens Advisory (1994-96)
- Building Planning (1994-96)
- Facilities Development (1997)
- Academic/Building Advisory (2000-2003)
- Capital Project Advisory (2005-12)
- Citizens’ Budget Advisory (2015-16)
St. Camillus Health & Rehabilitation Center:
- Trustee (1987-1992)
- Development Comm. (1990-1992)
South Onondaga Fire Department:
- Member (1970-present)
- President (1978-85, 1989-94, 2000-2014)
- Immediate Past President (2014-2023)
- Director (1985-87; 1988-89; 1994-2000)
- supervised new fire station construction (1990-91)
- Life Member (since 2004)
- Length of Service Awards Program Trustee/Administrator (1989-present)
- Sign amendment to Town zoning (2022)
Onondaga County Volunteer Firemen’s Association Red Jacket Distinction Award – 2012
New York State Emergency Medical Technician for over 30 years
Corpus Christi Catholic Church:
- Building Committee (1991-92)
- Lector (2006-2016)
South Onondaga Water District – proposed and approved (2000-01); extension project (2022)