About the Society of Auditor-Appraisers

The Society of Auditor-Appraisers is dedicated to advancing the profession of audit-appraisal through integrity, education, and collaboration. We uphold high professional standards and ethical conduct, while promoting the recognition and credibility of our members within the public and private sectors.

Our mission includes:

  • Offering a professional certification program that acknowledges experience and proficiency in the field.

  • Providing ongoing education in the principles, practices, and evolving techniques of audit-appraisal.

  • Serving as a resource hub for industry knowledge, research, and innovation.

  • Supporting the personal and professional growth of our members through training, conferences, and networking opportunities.

  • Facilitating open dialogue among members to share insights, challenges, and solutions.

  • Advocating for the interests of auditor-appraisers by engaging with policymakers, the business community, and the public.

  • Promoting tested and effective methodologies for the appraisal of commercial personal property, trade fixtures, and industrial assets.

  • Partnering with organizations that share our goals and values.

  • Maintaining and enforcing a strong Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

Through these efforts, we strive to empower auditor-appraisers and elevate the profession in a constantly evolving economic and technological landscape.

SAA Board Members

Joseph White, Santa Clara County, President
Joseph White is the President of the Society of Auditor-Appraisers and currently serves as a Senior Auditor-Appraiser with Santa Clara County. He has over 13 years of experience in California property tax, including roles as both a property tax agent and an Auditor-Appraiser. He began his public service career in Lassen County, where he worked as an Auditor-Appraiser from 2017 to 2018, before joining Santa Clara County. Within the Society, Joseph has been an active leader for many years, serving six years as Treasurer of the Golden Gate Chapter and four years as Second Vice President of the National Chapter. In these roles, he focused on strengthening financial oversight and expanding professional education. As President, Joseph is committed to raising standards, promoting ethical practice, and uniting auditor-appraisers across the state through education, advocacy, and collaboration.

Melissa Stewart, Los Angeles County, First Vice-President
Ms. Stewart graduated from Occidental College and received her MBA from Claremont Graduate School.  She worked in the non-profit industry and in the wholesale industry before finding her way to the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office.  She has been with the Assessor’s Office over 20 years working in Marine & Aircraft and Major Business Personal Property before becoming the Supervising Appraiser for the Major Leasing Section.  She has two grown daughters and enjoys traveling, music and gardening.

Jill Joy, Santa Clara County, Second Vice-President
Jill Joy is the Second Vice-President of the Society of Auditor-Appraisers. She has held the position of Auditor-Appraiser in the Santa Clara County Assessor’s Office for three years, and her experience includes auditing businesses of various sizes including airlines. Jill graduated from Cal Poly- San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Business with a concentration in accounting. She also received an M.S. in Business (Accountancy) from California State University, Sacramento. Her experience prior to working in the Santa Clara County Assessor’s Office includes finance-related positions in the hospitality industry and public education. Jill is an Advanced Certified Property Tax Appraiser in the State of California as of March 2025

Rebekah Figueroa, San Diego County, Treasurer
Rebekah Figueroa joined the County of San Diego Assessor’s Office in 2012. Within that time, she has worked in the Business Division as an Audit-Appraiser. She graduated from the University of San Diego where she received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Science in Taxation. She loves spending time with family/friends and enjoys traveling.

Paul San Diego, Orange County, Secretary

Chris Dickson, Santa Clara County, Chief Technical Officer and Board Member
Chris Dickson is the Chief Technical Officer and a Board Member of the Society of Auditor-Appraisers, currently serving as a Senior Auditor-Appraiser for Santa Clara County.  With over 25 years of experience in accounting, finance, and business systems analysis—including senior roles at ServiceNow, NetApp, and Applied Materials—Chris brings a unique blend of technical expertise and public sector insight to the organization.  He specializes in process improvement, enterprise system implementation, and technology-driven solutions, and is passionate about leveraging modern tools to support the mission of assessor offices statewide.  Chris earned his B.A. from UC Santa Barbara and is an Advanced Certified Auditor-Appraiser by the California State Board of Equalization.

Jeff Barlow, Santa Clara County, Board Member, Chair of Conference Committee and Board Member

Steve Finch, Orange County, Board Member

Elizabeth Steckel, Orange County, Board Member

Babalola Sowunmi, Santa Clara County, Board Member
Babalola Sowunmi is an Auditor-Appraiser II and has been with the Santa Clara County Office of the Assessor since October 2023. Prior to joining the Assessor’s office, he gained professional experience in the retail industry. In his free time, Babalola enjoys listening to music, readding, and going to the gym.