Employee Voices, Shared Vision: Planning the Future Together

By Donald Swartz, President

Each year, I host a planning meeting for my employees of Swartz & Associates (“SAI”) as well as Indurante & Associates. (“Indurante”) These meetings are conducted separately from each other and provide an opportunity for employees to express their opinions on the respective businesses. For both companies, the planning meetings have evolved, with base roots in the classic “SWOT” analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) to market strategizing of taking an idea and turning into an action.

Entering our 12^th appeal season for SAI and my 8^th year as owner of Indurante, the meetings have become very interactive with no shortage of opinions and ideas to move forward.

Employee Perspectives

Swartz & Associates

I appreciate the employees’ perspectives on the operation of business as well as “state of the industry”. We are a niche service business; Indurante being extremely niche oriented. Having experienced employees who can comfortably express their ideas is important. And being part of creating the plan to continue to serve the needs of our clients allows everyone to feel they are contributing to make a positive difference.

We typically go off site for our meetings, providing an opportunity to think and create in a different space, rather than the usual conference room at the usual place of business. I have found this really changes the flow and is the best way to mix things up to get the creative thinking going.

New Challenges, New Opportunities

Indurante

While each year has its challenges, this coming year could provide our toughest test.

For Indurante, three significant clients have indicated they are being acquired by another entity or are facing bankruptcy proceedings. For Swartz, the timeline to achieve reductions for our clients continues to lengthen as the court proceedings in several states are now two years delayed from the initial year an appeal was filed.

In both situations we must be proactive  – whether it is discussing Indurante’s services to the new companies or working with the various jurisdictions to resolve our valuations disputes, we must continue to look ahead without fear and build excitement for the opportunities that lie ahead.

We will remain diligent in servicing our customers, always working in the client’s best interests even if that means a longer period to achieve the resolution. It is comforting to know our employees have the necessary experience and knowledge to react accordingly and offer suggestions/ideas that will make us stronger and better in 2026.

Our planning meetings allow a “recharge” of our personal batteries to tackle 2026 and beyond and I believe tremendous opportunities await. I look forward to sharing our successes in 2026!

Swartz + Associates, Inc. (SAI) is a full service property tax firm specializing in the review, analysis and appeals of real and business personal property tax valuations. If you need help with your property taxes, give us a call!