Chesney M. Leafblad, Chief Deputy Assessor for Warren Township (Lake County), has earned the Certified Illinois Assessing Officer-Master (CIAO-M) advanced designation from the Illinois Property Assessment Institute. Leafblad previously earned the Certified Illinois Assessing Officer-Specialist (CIAO-S) advacned designation from the Institute.

Leafblad has nearly two decades of experience in property assessment. Leafblad is member of the International Association of Assessing Officers, where she serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Chapter, a member of the CIAO Association Board of Directors, and an instructor and course developer for the IPAI.

To obtain the Illinois Property Assessment Institute’s CIAO-M designation, an individual must first hold the CIAO designation, then take at least 180 hours of continuing education, work at least eight years in the assessment field, and pass an exhaustive exam. Less than 1% of the CIAOs hold the advanced CIAO-M designation.