Gary Earnest
Gary serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Central Appraisal District of Taylor County. He has a significant background in property valuation, taxation, and leadership within the appraisal and assessment industry.
During his 30-year career, he has specialized in complex issues involving the administration and implementation of property valuation systems, restructuring and building organizations, natural disaster valuation, as well as streamlining tax calculations for a multi-unit county. He also serves as a resource for school districts navigating school financing.
Speaker and Author
Gary has spoken at industry-leading events, including the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, and the IAAO Information Technology Conference in San Antonio, Texas. His article on capturing electronic data during onsite inspections was published in the International Assessing Officers quarterly magazine.
Educator
Gary supports the continuing education of property tax professionals. He has served on the International Association and Texas Association Education Committees. He is the past president of the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts (TAAD). He was recognized by his peers for his commitment to the appraisal profession with the Earl Luna Award. Gary is a past instructor at the Chief Appraiser Institute and is a Texas Tax Professional Advisory Committee member, which provides guidance for licensing property tax professionals.
Education and Certifications
Gary holds bachelors and masters degrees in organizational structure and human resource development from Abilene Christian University. Additionally, he holds certifications as a Registered Professional Appraiser, Registered Texas Assessor-Collector, Certified Tax Administrator, and Certified Chief Appraiser.
Jeff Craig
Jeff most recently served as the Director of Administration for the Tarrant Appraisal District in Fort Worth, Texas. In that position for over a decade, he oversaw the smooth running of the finance, human resources, purchasing, education, Appraisal Review Board operations, and the facilities departments.
Jeff began with the District in 1983 and, with them, has worked in management positions across disciplines like Residential Appraisal, Residential Research, Land Valuation, Commercial Appraisal, and Commercial Research. Prior to becoming Director of Administration, he served 15 years as the Director of the Business Personal Property Division and for a brief time as Interim Chief Appraiser.
Award-Winning Educator
Jeff is a past recipient of both the James A. Goodwin Excellence in Education Award and the Earl Luna Award for his work in the industry statewide, both awarded by the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts (TAAD).
He has also served as a subject matter expert and expert witness at the state and federal level. He participates each year as a member of the Exam Review Committee for state certification testing.
Dedicated to the Development of Texas Tax Professionals
Jeff has proven himself committed to the property tax profession.
He is Past President, 2020, of TAAD as well as a current member of their Conference and Education Committees. He is formerly a member of the Curriculum Committee of the Property Tax Education Consortium, the Instructor Relations Committee of the Texas Association of Assessing Officers (TAAO), and the Instructor Advisory Committee of the Board of Tax Professional Examiners. He is also a Mentor Instructor with the latter.
Jeff has been a speaker at various conferences on ad valorem valuation issues. He has also participated as a course writer for professional development courses.
Education and Certifications
Jeff earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Abilene Christian University and a Master of Arts in public affairs from the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington.
He is a Registered Professional Appraiser with the Texas Board of Tax Professional Examiners, and he is Board Certified in Business Appraisal from the Professional Certification Board of the National Society of Appraisal Specialists. He is a Certified Instructor with the following agencies: Texas Comptroller, Property Tax Division, TAAD, and TAAO.
Scott Howard
Scott began working in the property tax industry in 1978 as a field appraiser with Taylor County. He transitioned to the Central Appraisal District upon its establishment in 1981. In 1989, Scott joined McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, P.C. Attorneys at Law, where he continues to serve as a Legal Assistant with responsibilities to clients across Texas in delinquent tax collections and appraisal district administration services. He contributes to the development of appeals filed with the Property Tax Assistance Division of the State Comptroller’s office on behalf of school districts during the annual Property Value Study.
In over four decades, Scott has worked with appraisal districts and assessment offices throughout Texas, providing administrative counseling and staff development, ensuring that each team member is trained and confident.
Award-Winning Educator
Scott is committed to the education of property tax professionals. Scott is a certified instructor for educational courses mandated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation hosted by the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts, the Texas Association of Assessing Officers, and regional association chapters.
He currently serves as the Chairperson of the Property Tax Education Coalition, Inc., as the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts appointee, and as a member of the Education Committee of the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts.
Scott received the Instructor of the Year Award from the Texas Association of Assessing Officers in 2002, 2012, 2019, 2020, and 2022. In 2006, he received the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts Excellence in Education Award. Scott also holds a certification as a Registered Professional Appraiser.
McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, P.C. Attorneys at Law (mvba) has been empowering Texas property tax professionals since 1961.
mvba has long been a leader in the ad valorem tax industry designing, developing, and deploying effective delinquent property tax collection programs for municipalities across the State. Our appraisal district litigation attorneys skillfully litigate cases dealing with valuation, exemptions, allocation situs and other issues arising therein. We also advise and render opinions on matters such as exemptions, taxable suits, interstate allocation issues, appraisal district review boards, Public Information Act, Open Meetings Act, and basic employment issues and contracts.
Award-Winning Educators Dedicated to the Development of Texas Tax Professionals
mvba’s award-winning staff teach the many continuing education courses required for Texas taxing units’ personnel to obtain, and maintain, State-mandated certifications.
Our attorneys and legal assistants teach numerous classes for both:
mvba is an authorized education provider for Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and Tax Assessor-Collectors Association of Texas (TACA).