Our People
Diversified Municipal Services (DMS) is expertly staffed with individuals whose objectives are centered around three simple concepts:
One: Obtain value for our client.
Two: There is no substitute for great research.
Three: Get it right.
With over 35 years experience in Property Tax, Assessment, Appeals, and Municipal Government fields, we’ve acquired an expert knowledge base that benefits our clients in multiple ways.
With enthusiasm and diligence we are grateful for the opportunity to do so.
Dominick Gambino
President, Diversified Municipal Services
As President of DMS, Dominick maintains the Certified PA Evaluator (CPE) designation and has been licensed by the PA Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs as a Real Estate Instructor. Dominick established Diversified Municipal Services Inc in 1999.
From 1978 through 1990, he held the position of Manager of Accounting for the Allegheny County Controller’s Office where his responsibilities included the auditing and processing of the county’s revenues and expenditures, reconciling the county’s general ledger and assisting in the preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).
In 1991, he held the position of Administrative Assistant to the Controller in charge of special reports and audits. The reports are highlighted in the county’s CAFRs, including a report featured on Dateline NBC. The reports detailed and corrected deficiencies in governmental systems that resulted in additional revenue and expenditure reductions for local taxing authorities and changes to county, state and federal regulations. While in this position he was instrumental in crafting the county’s bulk tax lien sale that resulted in $40 million of additional revenue for the county.
Concurrently, from 1984 to 1992, Dominick was elected to the Wilkinsburg Borough Council, elected borough and school real estate Tax Collector and was appointed to collect all Act 511 taxes. He held several board positions including member of the Board of Directors of the Wilkinsburg Development Corporation, Pennsylvania State Pension Board, the Champions Association and Treasurer of the Board of Wilk-Penn Water Authority.
From 2001 through 2003, following Sabre System’s completion of the 2001 reassessment, he returned to the county as the Manager of the Office of Property Assessments (OPA). In 2002, OPA conducted its first in-house computer assisted mass appraisal (CAMA). In 2003, OPA facilitated the conversion of 1.8 billion bits of property data to the county’s present CAMA system, including a new GIS division to digitize all parcels. Under his guidance the real estate website (www.county.pa.us) was enhanced to include an interactive GIS mapping system and a sophisticated search engine allowing for complex queries of assessment data.
From 2001 through 2003, OPA staff, in conjunction with the Appeals Board, 200,000 assessment appeals. Thirty-one OPA employees qualified for the Certified PA Evaluator (CPE) designation. In addition, Dominick initiated continuing education classes at CCAC to instruct citizens and real estate professionals about the nuances of CAMA systems. Mr. Gambino is a graduate of Duquesne University.
Nancy Carroll – Attorney
Nancy provides consultation and services to school districts and municipalities on matters relating to property assessments and appeals. Through her consultation role, she represents school districts and municipalities on matters relating to property assessment appeals and consults local government officials on matters relating to public administration, with a focus on public sector financial management.
Her history and acquired expertise as serving as the Deputy County Manager for Allegheny County benefits Diversified Municipal Services and their clients significantly.
Shawnett P. Rauso – Research Director
Shawnett has a 20 year history of work for the Allegheny County Office of Property Assessment. Her experience in the property assessment office of Allegheny County is unique and unmatched. She has worked in all aspects within the department including clerk, secretary, supervisor and manager. Mrs. Rauso was instrumental in managing the appeals process that scheduled over 100,000 assessment appeal hearings and spearheaded the off-site appeal centers that allowed greater access to the public. Mrs. Rauso helped streamline the appeals process and allowed better access to public records that benefited both the taxpayer and the local taxing bodies.
Lon Sonick – IT Manager
Lon has over a 50 year history in IT services, functioning at high levels of management, primarily as Vice-President of Information Technology (RT) for Industrial Appraisal Company in Pittsburgh, PA. His tenure includes multiple application development using IBM midrange/mainframe and PC platforms, developing inventory and value update modules using barcode technology as well as all accounting applications. Additional work included in-house HR and accounting applications as well as marketing and customer interface products. Lon and his team were responsible for the hit software application Fixed Asset Accounting Software (FACS) resulting in $9 million plus in revenue. His work included management of in-house IBM System 36-38, and AS 400 systems.