About Us
Who We Are
IRWA Chapter 12 is the Illinois chapter of the International Right of Way Association, proudly serving land acquisition professionals of Illinois since 1955.
Our members are land acquisition professionals who work in all facets of acquisition, management, and disposition or real property, and serve many sectors of industry and government, including:
Local, Regional, State, and National Government
Public Utilities
Energy
Commercial and Office Development
Transportation
Telecommunication
The land acquisition profession is an important one. The infrastructure associated with modern society: highways, airports, broadband fiber optic cables, skyscrapers, pipelines, all require real property.
Our History
On a vacation trip to California around 1955, Frank Kaplan, head of the Survey Division of the Cook County Highway Department, visited the California State Highway Department to investigate their operation. While there, he was introduced to Frank Balfour who was head of the California State Highway Right of Way Department and who had founded the Southern California Right of Way Agents Association in 1934. The organization evolved into the American Right of Way Association.
Upon returning, Kaplan discussed the meeting with Balfour and ARWA literature with Raymond J. Budinger, the head of the Land Procurement Division of the Cook County Highway Department who was Frank’s boss. Ray Budinger was interested. The first organizational meeting of Chapter 12 was held in Ray Budinger’s office on September 29, 1955. Fourteen men attended; all enthusiastically offered their services for any job. Budinger was elected President at a subsequent meeting. On October 31, 1955, the Charter meeting for Chapter 12 was held at the Bismark Hotel in Chicago. There were thirty-eight charter members and applicants. A year later the chapter had seventy-six names.
In 1957, the Third Annual Education Seminar was hosted by Chapter 12, and in 1968, the Fourteenth National Seminar was hosted by the Chapter at the LaSalle Hotel in Chicago. Chapter 12 has always stressed the educational needs of its members. In fact, Chapter 12 was one of the first chapters to present a course on “Negotiations” in 1966.
Today, IRWA Illinois Chapter 12 has approximately 160 members, and still strives to meet the educational needs of those members.
Past Presidents
Dan Olson
Don York
Laura Moonshower
Rob Kirkpatrick
Patricia Bajt
Smedmore Bernard
Bill McIntyre
Cassy Beary
Kris Koehler
Rachel Bricout
Laura Moonshower
Tim Fehr
Debra Leetzow
Andy Viola
Alice Johnson
Brad Krabel
Robin Upchurch
John Pribich
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019
2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014
2012-2013
2011-2012
2010-2011
2009-2010
2008-2009
2007-2008
2006-2007
Gerald Cain
Carol Bellinger
Terry Mulcahy
Jeffrey Stenger
Rick Trelz
John Ammons
Dave Sommerfeld
Thomas Mahoney
Dave Sommerfeld
James Pauk
John Ammons
Donald Penn
James Tatera
C. David Ward
John Lay
Terry Mulcahy
Norman Lienemann
Bernard Boyle
2005-2006
2004-2005
2003-2004
2002-2003
2001-2002
2000-2001
1999-2000
1998-1999
1997-1998
1996-1997
1995-1996
1994-1995
1993-1994
1992-1993
1991-1992
1990-1991
1989-1990
1988-1989
Committees and Chairs
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Communications: Morgan Osman
Education: OPEN
Ethics: OPEN
Membership: OPEN
Nomination & Elections: OPEN
Professional Development: OPEN
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Asset Management: OPEN
Environment: OPEN
Legal/Legislative: John Ammons
Public Agency: OPEN
Oil & Gas Pipeline: OPEN
Relocation: Kim Polk
Surveying & Engineering: OPEN
Transportation: Dominic Diorio
Electric & Utilities: OPEN
Valuation: OPEN
Young Professionals: Zach Olson
Meet the Officers
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PresidentPrincipal Technical Consultant at ERM in Land & Right of Way/Land Services. Patty has been with ERM for over 11 years. Prior to working at ERM, she worked in the land surveying and civil engineering field for many years. She has been a member of the IRWA for over 10 years and this is her second time around participating on the Chapter Board. In her spare time, she enjoys taking her dogs on hikes and loves to travel.
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President-ElectJen Enger currently serves as the Right-of-Way Coordinator at Wheatland Title Company. She started with Wheatland in 2005 in the residential order department. She later worked in the Company’s imaging department until she took on the role as the Right-of-Way Coordinator in 2021. In this role, she is responsible for order intake, customer correspondence, and organization of the right of way projects involving everything from transportation and roadways to utility to energy projects. Jen resides in Sandwich, Illinois with her two children, Ty (12) and Lexi (11) and her fiancé, Daniel. She loves to be involved in her community including service as the Treasurer of the Sandwich Baseball Association Board. When she is not busy with work and family, she likes to go fishing for relaxation.
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SecretaryDeborah Love works for Ameren Illinois Company as a Senior Real Estate Agent in Effingham, Illinois. She began working for Ameren in 1998 as a customer service representative, claims support agent, and assistant to in Springfield OC management team. From 2001 to 2011 she worked as a Real Estate Agent in Springfield and Marion Illinois covering duties in property management, permits, research, and easement acquisition for electric and gas distribution. In 2012 Deborah transferred to the Real Estate Department in Effingham, Illinois and is currently working as a Senior Real Estate Agent handling gas and electric distribution projects. Deborah and her husband Willie have a blended family of 11 children ranging in age from 34 to 13. Deborah is involved in the local community and is currently participating on the Facilities Team working with the Unit 40 Superintendent and other leaders in the community for the benefit of improving the Unit 40 school system. Deborah enjoys several outdoor activities and spending time with her family.
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Vice President
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Treasurer
Mark Beyer worked in the civil engineering and land surveying field for 25 years before joining ERM, Inc. as a land agent in 2022, supporting gas and electric projects, including acquisition and ROW encroachment mitigation. After a brief delay, he joined IRWA Chapter 12 in January of 2024. He looks forward to meeting other members and getting involved.