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meet our team

Property Assessment Solutions Team

here to serve our community...

team members

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Ty Tacoma

Owner

Michigan Master Assessing Officer (MMAO/4)

Ty is a certified Michigan Master Assessing Officer (MMAO/4) through the Michigan State Tax Commission as well as holding a Personal Property Examiner’s (“PPE”) license. He has been in the assessing profession since graduating from Hope College in 2003 with a degree in Economics and in Business Management. Ty is a member of the International Association of Assessing Officers and is an active member, and past board member, of the Michigan Assessors’ Association, Mid-Michigan Association of Assessing Officers, Ottawa County Assessors’ Association and other affiliated organizations. He has been directly involved in legislative updates for law changes to help advocate, educate, and streamline the assessment administration process in Michigan.

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Josh Westgate

Operations Manager

Michigan Certified Assessing Officer (MCAO/2)

Josh is certified by the Michigan State Tax Commission, a branch of the Department of Treasury, as a Michigan Certified Assessing Officer (MCAO/2). Further, Josh holds roles in several different senior executive leadership positions in township government. He has also served on several local, regional, and state boards and committees. He graduated from Grand Valley State University, Seidman School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Management degree and is also a graduate of the Michigan Townships Association Township Governance Academy. In addition, Josh is certified by the Michigan State Police as a Professional Emergency Manager. Josh has many years of local government experience, knowledge, and expertise and served as an area township supervisor for multiple terms. He also holds an FAA certification as a Commercial Drone Pilot which aids in large scale property reviews and access to difficult terrain.

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Barry DeGraaf

Director of Appraisal Services

Michigan Certified Assessing Officer (MCAO/2)

Barry is certified by the Michigan State Tax Commission, a branch of the Department of Treasury, as a Michigan Certified Assessing Officer (MCAO/2). He graduated from Hope College, with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2015. He obtained his MCAO in 2022 when he started working with us. Barry provides support with field work and office hours at a couple of our local township offices.

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Jodi Heintzelman

Staff Appraiser & Business Planning Strategies

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Michigan Certified Assessing Officer (MCAO/2)

Jodi is certified by the Michigan State Tax Commission as a Michigan Certified Assessing Officer (MCAO/2). Jodi has been working in local government since 2015, and completed her certification last fall. She represents the PAS team as a Staff Appraiser, maintaining hours at a couple local offices, providing property assessment support to field staff and residents.

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Bruce Tacoma

Email: n/a

Staff Appraiser & Field Staff Team Lead

RETIRED Michigan Certified Assessing Technician (MCAT/1)

Bruce is a retired high school math teacher. He has a business degree from Central Michigan University and math and education degrees from Aquinas College. He has been certified as an MCAO/1 assessor, and has been doing appraisal visits throughout Ottawa County for the past 10 years.

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Marcia VanVelzen

Staff Appraiser & GIS Mapping/Descriptions Specialist

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RETIRED Michigan Advanced Assessing Officer (MAAO/3)

Marcia adds many years of experience in county and local government property taxation to our group. Marcia worked for the Ottawa County Equalization Department managing the Property Description and Mapping group where she worked closely with local units in preparing assessment and tax rolls. After retirement from the county she worked for an Ottawa County township. Marcia has a Business Management degree from Cornerstone University, and retired as a MAAO/3 assessor.

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Luc Pepper

Staff Appraiser & Field Staff Team Member

Luc joined us in the spring of 2026. Bio to come...

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