June - IRWA on the Web

North Texas News
INTERNATIONAL RIGHT-OF-WAY ASSOCIATION
DALLAS-FORT WORTH, TEXAS
Since 1960
May 2016
June Luncheon: Officer Installations
Mr. Wayne Goss, SR/WA, R/WNAC, President of the International
Right of Way Association, will perform the installation ceremony of
our new officers at our meeting
on June 7, 2016.
Mr. Goss has been an active
member of the IRWA for 26 years
and has served in a variety of Association leadership positions. Prior to assuming the role of International President 2015-2016, Wayne
Goss
held the positions of International Vice
President, Treasurer and Secretary. He is a
member of the International Governing Council and a past
Chair of the International Public Agencies Committee. Wayne
also served at the Region level as Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary, and at the Chapter level, he was President of Chapter 75,
Chapter Membership Chair, Education Chair, and Professional
Development Chair. He is an IRWA instructor and holds a
Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture/Business from Northwestern
State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
In This Issue
May Luncheon
1
President’s Message
2-3
Ask the Attorney
4
Director’s Message
5-7
PDC Committee News
9
Education Committee News
10-11
Membership Committee News
12
Career Page
13
Chapter Officers 2015-16
President
KAREN STEARMAN, SR/WA
214-794-1014
Vice President
MARCUS BOYD, SR/WA, R/W-RAC
972.979.2850
Treasurer
KIM HIEBERT, SR/WA, R/W-NAC,
R/W-RAC
214.486.3208
May Meeting Location: Cacharel Arlington
Cacharel — 2221 East Lamar Boulevard, Arlington, Texas 76006
June 7, 2016 - 11:30 - 1:00
Board Meeting: 10:30 —11:30
Luncheon Menu
Cacharel House Salad, Raspberry Vinaigrette or Creamy Herb Ranch, Turkey Piccata Served with
an Angelhair Timbale, Served on a Light Red Butter Sauce
$20.00 before the registration deadline and $25.00 after.
No-shows will be billed.
Page 1
Secretary
KRISTEN BENNETT, R/W-RAC
972.971.8660
Director/ 1 YR
DAVID HARRY, MAI
817.225.2025
Director/ 2YR
JENNIFER AYERS, SR/WA, R/W-AC
214.553.9133
North Texas News
President’s Message
Karen Stearman, SR/WA
Greetings Chapter 36 Members,
My heavens time flies doesn’t it? As my year serving you comes to an end on July 1, 2016, I
would like to thank you all for bestowing such an honor on me to serve as your President. I
would like to look back at some of the Chapter’s accomplishments over the past year. Our
Education Team was superb in bringing us the classes that you asked for. We had great speakers at every meeting and it was fun and informative. PDC did an excellent job in obtaining
IRWA recertification credit for all of our regular meetings. In October, with the help of the Appraisal Institute, we received TREC and TALCB continuing education credits for our annual joint
Chapter 36/AI meeting. To better serve you, IRWA headquarters provided leadership webinars
for each board member. The Chapter’s annual Spring Seminar was a record success. Pinnacle, Atmos, Ally Land Services, and Stateside Right of Way had the most employees in attendance. Our PR & Marketing Committee brought in a huge number of advertisers, more than
doubling our paid supporters. The sitting President of the IRWA, Mr. Wayne Goss is a member of
our chapter. Chapter 36 is a finalist this year for the Gene Land Award, for the largest percentage gain of new members. Charles Stearman, SR/WA, past president and 2014 Professional of
the Year, was honored as the 2015 Region 2 Professional of the Year, and this year is a finalist for
the International Frank C. Balfour Professional of the Year Award. Donnie Sherwood, MAI, SR/
WA, past chapter Professional of the Year and past Region 2 Professional of the Year, is a finalist
for the International Instructor of the Year Award. In May our chapter board voted unanimously
to name the Chapter 36 Professional of the Year Award after one of our past presidents, Jan
Whatley, MAI, SR/WA, who left us far too soon. Beginning in December, the award will be
known as the Jan T. Whatley, MAI, SR/WA Professional of the Year Award to honor him for all of
his contributions to the IRWA.
For those who did not have the honor of knowing Jan, he was our past President, and a Chapter 36 Professional of the Year. He partnered with Wendell Pyles at Pyles Whatley Corporation,
for 29 years. The company is a past recipient of the Employer of the Year Award. Jan was a
big believer in the IRWA and donated his time to the chapter and encouraged everyone in his
company to join the chapter and participate in IRWA events.
Karen Stearman, SR/WA
President
Karen Stearman
Stearman and Associates, LLC
511 Monti Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75057
214.794.1014
president@irwachapter36.org
These are all great accomplishments. I want to thank you all for allowing me to serve you and I
want to thank the entire board for their help, as it takes a village. I want to thank our two directors, David Harry, MAI, The Harry Company, Jennifer Ayers, SR/WA, Paramount Valuation Services, Inc., and our officers and committee chairs and members: Vice President Marcus Boyd,
SR/WA, Pinnacle Consulting, Treasurer Kimberly Hiebert, SR/WA, HDR Engineering, Inc., Secretary
Kristen Bennett, R/W-RAC, Sendero Acquisitions, LLC, PDC Chair Michael Kersten, SR/WA, Westwood Surveying, Education Chair Lora Gunter, TxDOT, Website Chair Dorrien Himes, Paramount
Valuation Services, Inc., Membership Chair Tommy Matthews, R/W-AC, Edgestone Realty, Programs Co-Chair Jennifer Hall, R/W-NAC, Teague Nall & Perkins, Programs Co Chair Jace Whatley, Pyles Whatley Corp., Newsletter Chair Kreg Hodge, Pyles Whatley, Corp., Young Professional
Chair Trevor Brittingham, SRLS Texas, LLC, Education Co-Chair Dalton Vann, MAI, Integra Realty
Resources DFW, Education Committee Jimmy Thomas, SR/WA, ONCOR Electric Delivery Company, PDC Co-Chair Denise Perez, SR/WA, City of Irving, PDC Committee Michael Hale, SR/WA,
Cobb, Fendley & Associates, Inc., Newsletter Committee Leighton Gambill, Paramount Valuation Services, Inc., PR & Marketing Co-Chair Margaret Lein, SR/WA, ONCOR Electric Delivery
Company, PR & Marketing Co-Chair Sherry Smith, ONCOR Electric Delivery Company, Programs Committee Sarah Riebe, Sendero Acquisitions, LLC., and Programs Committee Richard
McBride, Pyles Whatley Corporation.
I want to thank each of you, the wonderful members of this chapter, for your kindness, eagerness and professionalism. And a big thank you to our corporate sponsors. Without you all,
Chapter 36 wouldn’t be the chapter that it is.
Truly Yours,
Karen Stearman, SR/WA
Quote of the month: "Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful”.
http://www.primitivesbykathy.com
Page 2
North Texas News
President’s Message
Karen Stearman, SR/WA
Our Tribute To
Jan T. Whatley, MAI, SR/WA
The Chapter 36 Board of Directors has elected
to honor the late Jan Whatley by titling the
Professional of the Year award to read “The
Jan T. Whatley Professional of the Year.”
Jan took great pride in being recognized as a
professional. He was a hard-working, competitive guy and enjoyed the respect of his peers
and his clients. A strong, initial educational
background, commitment to continuing
coursework, and the attainment of professional
designations, he felt, were needed if you were
to be a real professional in the business world.
He felt a lot of hard work was also a necessary
ingredient.
Karen Stearman, SR/WA
President
Karen Stearman
Stearman and Associates, LLC
511 Monti Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75057
214.794.1014
president@irwachapter36.org
Jan accomplished a lot of milestones in applying himself to those endeavors.
Coming out of Big Spring in West Texas, he worked his way through college earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Texas, Austin. He would go to college for a semester and then drop out and work until
he had enough money to complete another semester. He had lots of different
jobs: worked on a water well drilling crew; worked in a mobile home manufacturing plant; and he did the ultimate – working as a roughneck on the
drilling floor in the oil patch.
Jan was a long-time partner of Pyles Whatley Corporation and widely respected as one of the top right-of-way appraisers in Texas.
Jan departed life on May 30, 2013, at age 59.
He held the SR/WA designation, was an MAI in the Appraisal Institute, state
certified general appraiser, licensed real estate broker in the state of Texas,
and a past President of Chapter 36. Jan was recognized by Chapter 36 as
Right-of-Way Professional of the year in 2008.
Page 3
North Texas News
Ask the Attorney
Scott Moran
Question:
Did the 84th Texas Legislature pass an Eminent Domain Bill?
Answer:
Yes. The 84th Legislature recently passed Senate Bill 1812, a
bill that mandates the Comptroller of Public Accounts create
an online eminent domain database. SB 1812, Government
Code, Section 2206. 151-157, requires public and private entities with eminent domain authority to report specific information to the Comptroller for posting.
In accordance with the legislation, the Comptroller’s office
has developed an electronic reporting form to enable entities or their third-party representative(s) to submit the required
information starting December 7, 2015.
SB 1812 requires the Comptroller’s office to collect and post
online:
 The entities name
 Address
 Contact person
Submit Questions About
Right-of-Way Matters to
Scott Moran
Baker Moran Doggett Ma & Dobbs
1400 Preston Road, Suite 350
Plano, Texas 75093
469.351.3495
smoran@bakermoran.com
 Type of entity
 Legal provision(s) granting eminent domain authority
 Scope of authority
 The date eminent domain was first exercised
 Tax ID information
 Filings of condemnation petitions in the last calendar year
 Website or other contact information
Page 4
North Texas News
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
DAVID HARRY, MAI
2016 Scholarship Recipients
LORA GUNTER
Education Committee Chair
817.370.3682
Donald J. Sherwood, SR/WA Student Scholarship
Chapter 36 received a record number of applications this year and awarded a record number of
student scholarships in 2016. The combined scholarships awarded in 2016 total $6,500 – also a new
record for us. This scholarship is offered to qualifying
IRWA Chapter 36 members and to students with
family who are members of Chapter 36. The goal
of the scholarship is to encourage college or graduate level students to consider a profession in the
right-of-way industry. The Scholarship Committee
this year is comprised of Lora Gunter, SR/WA, Michael Kersten, SR/WA and David Harry, MAI.
This year’s recipients are:
Danyelle Donnelly is a Chapter 36 member and
employee at Stateside Right of Way. Danyelle is a
student at North Central Texas College, enrolled in
the associates degree program, focusing on
general studies.
DALTON VANN, RWA, R/W-AC
Education Committee (2YR)
817.962.2371
JIMMY THOMAS, SR/WA
Education Committee (3 YR)
214.486.3208
MICHAEL KERSTEN, SR/WA
Professional Development
Committee Chair
940.206.3577
David Harry, MAI
Harry Company
DENISE PEREZ, SR/WA
Professional Development
Committee (1YR)
972-721-2472
MICHAEL HALE, SR/WA
Professional Development
Committee (2YR)
817.445.1016
DORRIEN HIMES
Webmaster
214.553.9133
TOMMY MATTHEWS
Membership Chair
214.924.4550
JENNIFER HALL, R/W-NAC
Programs Co-Chair
817.665.8213
Raquel Flores is the niece of Chapter 36 member Robert Duran, SR/WA. She is currently
enrolled at the University of Texas at Dallas,
studying Political Science.
JACE WHATLEY
Programs Co-Chair
214-340-5880
MARGARET LEIN
PR & Marketing Committee
214.486.2206
SHERRY SMITH
PR & Marketing Committee
817.215.6588
TREVOR BRITTINGHAM
Young Professionals Chair
214.846.6529
KREG HODGE
Newsletter Editor
214.340.5880
JACE WHATLEY
Historian
214.340.5880
Page 5
North Texas News
Sherwood Scholarship Recipients
Emery Hiebert is a Marine Transportation major
at Texas A & M, Galveston. He is the son of
Chapter 36 member Kim Hiebert, SR/WA.
These are the recipients of
the Chapter 36 Donald J.
Sherwood Student Scholarships for 2016-2017.
Special thanks to
Nominations and
Elections committee
members: Lora Gunter, SR/
WA, Michael Kersten, SR/
WA, and David Harry, MAI.
Scott Lowrie is an Electrical Engineering major at
the University of Texas, Tyler. He is the son of
Chapter 35 member, Kirk Lowrie.
IRWA 2016 Education
Conference
IRWA on the Web
Susan Lowrie is a Doctor of Pharmacy student
at the University of Houston. She is the daughter of Chapter 36 member, Kirk Lowrie.
Page 6
North Texas News
Sherwood Scholarship Recipients
Lauren Reinhardt is the daughter of Chapter 36 member, Gary Reinhardt, SR/WA.
She is an Elementary Education major at
Oklahoma Baptist University.
Paige Snow is an Elementary Education
major at Ouachita Baptist University. She is
the daughter of Chapter 36 member, Darlene Snow.
Kristin Williamson has been accepted to
Texas A&M University for the Fall of 2016
where she will study Civil Engineering. She is
the daughter of Chapter 36 member, Paul
Williamson.
These are the recipients of
the Chapter 36 Donald J.
Sherwood Student Scholarships for 2016-2017.
Special thanks to
Nominations and
Elections committee
members: Lora Gunter, SR/
WA, Michael Kersten, SR/
WA, and David Harry, MAI.
IRWA 2016 Education
Conference
IRWA on the Web
Madison Zschokke is the daughter of
Chapter 36 member, Tommy Matthews,
R/W-AC. Madison is an Elementary
Education major at Arizona State
University.
Page 7
North Texas News
Page 8
North Texas News
Professional Development Committee News
Michael Kersten, PLS, CFM, SR/WA
Approved candidates may challenge exams (take the exam without attending a course) for any beginning course to earn qualifying education
units. If an exam is challenged and not passed, it may not be challenged
again. The course must be taken and passed in order to earn credit for the
course. Exams may be challenged by submitting a form to local chapter
Professional Development Chairs. Any SR/WA can proctor an exam.
All members should be aware that the IRWA now has new course requirements for designations that went into effect January 14, 2016. Every member who declares candidacy for the RWA, RWP or SR/WA will fall under the
new guidelines. The new requirements have been posted to the credentialing page of the IRWA website.
All designations now have a set syllabus of classes to take, depending on
which area you wish to specialize in: Oil and Gas, Electric and Utilities, Transportation, or Generalist. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the
course requirements for the new designation paths. The education committee will be rolling out new courses as they become available. Please let us
know if there are classes you need. If you have questions about designations and certifications, send an email to pdc@irwachapter36.org.
Michael Kersten, PDC Chair
2740 North Dallas Pkwy, Suite 280
Plano, Texas 75093
214.473.4640
michael.kersten@westwoodps.com
Michael Kersten
IRWA Chapter 36, PDC Chair
Calendar of Events
June 7
IRWA Chapter 36 Luncheon
August 25
Problems in the Valuation of Partial Acquisitions
Sept. 6
Legal Aspects of Easements
Sept. 26-28 SR/WA Study Session and Exam
Sept. 29-30 Bargaining Negotiations
PDC Committee Members
Denise Perez, SR/WA
PDC Committee (2 YR)
972-721-2472
dperez@cityofirving.com
Michael Hale, SR/WA
PDC Committee (3 YR)
817-445-1016
mhale@cobbfendley.com
Page 9
North Texas News
Education Committee News
By Lora Gunter
Applause, Applause, Applause!
Although Chapter 36 has some amazing members, IRWA has many great members
and supporters from other chapters, too. We had the privilege of having one of
these great leaders come to our chapter to teach relocation classes in May. Tami
Benson, from Chapter 33 in Oklahoma, taught Course 505 Advanced Residential
Relocation Assistance and Course 502 Non-Residential Relocation Assistance at
Westwood in Plano. I want to tell everyone how extraordinary Tami Benson is for
coming to instruct these classes. You see, we only had two participants in each
class. Two! Normally, that low of enrollment would kill the class. But, Tami donated
her time and travel expenses to come down to teach—even knowing that there
were only two people in each class. Chapter 36 is so grateful! There are a couple
of our chapter members that really needed these classes. There is no online alternative for these two courses, so it was imperative that the classes move forward as
scheduled for these members. Because Tami is committed to the IRWA, the education program, and to the membership in general, she made this happen! Though I
seriously doubt Tami lives for the applause, let’s give it to her, anyway!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Tami Benson!!
So Long, Farewell.…
Membership on the Education Committee is a three-year commitment. The first
year is the Year 3 position. Much of this year is spent learning—and there is a LOT to
learn! The Second Year position takes a much more active role in class scheduling.
Whew! That is really hard work! Then, the last year is in the role of Education Chair,
which involves a lot of planning. Ultimately, it takes a team to put together the education program.
I could not have been a decent Education Chair without the assistance and mentoring of my predecessors. I want to express my sincere appreciation to Denise Perez and Christi Glendinning for paving the way for me. And of course, I must also
thank my team this year Dalton Vann (Year 2) and Jim Thomas (Year 3). They really
helped to keep the classes on track. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the
scenes to put on a class. The day of class is the mere culmination of that work. We
all have put in an excellent work effort this year. I know the Education Committee is
left in more-than-capable hands.
Few of you may know that Dalton really got almost all of the classes scheduled this
year. In fact, we’ve had classes scheduled through the end of 2016 for months
now. Please take a look at the class schedule table below and start planning!
Lora Gunter
Committee Chair
Lora Gunter
TxDOT
2501 SW Loop 820
Fort Worth, TX 76133
(817) 370-3682
Lora.Gunter@txdot.gov
PDC Committee Members
Dalton Vann
Member (2 YR)
Integra Realty Resources
dvann@irr.com
Jimmy Thomas
Member (3 YR)
Oncor
jimmy.thomas@oncor.com
Page 10
North Texas News
Education Committee News
By Lora Gunter
We will be having a special out-of-state instructor in September—Carol Brooks. She
has previously traveled from California to teach for our chapter and was very wellreceived! She is returning to instruct the SR/WA Study Session and Exam. While she is
here, she will also be teaching Course 205 Bargaining Negotiations.
I want to end my last Education Committee column by telling you how much I have
thoroughly enjoyed my time on the committee. I have learned a great deal about
the education curriculum offered by IRWA. For example, we committee folk can talk
in course numbers and know what class we’re referring to. In addition, I’ve had the
opportunity to work with and get to know some fabulous instructors. Some of the outof-area instructors are renowned in the IRWA organization, such as Tami Benson
(Oklahoma), Carol Brooks (California), and Faith Roland (Washington). And naturally, I
have been extremely honored to work with Chapter 36’s very own Donnie Sherwood
on several occasions. We are so fortunate to have a world-renowned IRWA instructor
at our front door. However, my favorite part of being involved with the Education
Committee is the interaction it allowed me to have with the general membership. I
got to meet a variety of people in the classes I attended, as well as those asking questions about the course schedule. You really get to know people on a different kind of
level when you take a class. That opportunity was by far the best part of my Education Committee experience.
So, this month I pass the education baton to Dalton Vann as the incoming Education
Committee Chair. So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye. And with that, I say
these final words:
Lora Gunter
Committee Chair
Lora Gunter
TxDOT
2501 SW Loop 820
Fort Worth, TX 76133
(817) 370-3682
Lora.Gunter@txdot.gov
Wow, I really had fun.
But, whew! Now, I’m done!
PDC Committee Members
Chapter 36 Education Calendar
Course
Date
431 Problems in the Valuation of Partial Acquisitions
802 Legal Aspects of
Easements
August 25
SR/WA Study Session and
Exam
205 Bargaining
Negotiations
403 Easement Valuation
Sept. 26-28
409 Integrating Appraisal
Standards
207 Practical Negotiations
for US Land Acquisitions
Page 11
Location
Instructor
Westwood
Plano
Halff Assoc.
Richardson
Donnie Sherwood
Carol Brooks
Oct. 5
Atkins/TxDOT
Bedford
Atkins/TxDOT
Bedford
City of Irving
Oct. 27
City of Irving
Donnie Sherwood
Nov. 1-2
Oncor
Fort Worth
Ed Opstein
Sept. 6
Sept. 29-30
Scott Moran
Carol Brooks
Charles Stearman
Coordinator
Dalton
Vann
Dalton
Vann
Dalton
Vann
Dalton
Vann
Dalton
Vann
Dalton
Vann
Dalton
Vann
Dalton Vann
Member (2 YR)
Integra Realty Resources
dvann@irr.com
Jimmy Thomas
Member (3 YR)
Oncor
jimmy.thomas@oncor.com
North Texas News
Membership
Tommy Matthews, R/W-AC
Four new members were approved to join the IRWA Chapter
36 family at the May Board meeting. Please welcome the following members listed below:
Mr. Joshua C. Dean – AEP Transmission
Ms. Christa Bell – Halff Associates
Mr. Jeran Jackson – O.R. Colon & Associates
Mr. Phillip L. Postel – Community National Title
IRWA Chapter 36 currently has 377 members.
If you do not have a member badge, or would like to receive
one, please contact Tommy Matthews (Membership Chair) at
tommy@edgestonerealty.com.
Tommy Matthews, R/W-AC
15851 Dallas Parkway
Addison, Texas 75001
214-924-4550
tommy@edgestonerealty.com
Please check the Chapter website and view your contact information. Each member has their own unique username and
password to edit/update their contact information. If you
would like something changed or do not have this information,
please email me at membership@irwachapter36.org.
Don’t put off advancing
your career. Visit the classes section of Online
Learning Center at
www.irwaonline.org
or call 310-538-0233 ext.
138 for more information.
Learn. Lead. Advance.
Page 12
North Texas News
Career Opportunities
Right of Way in North Texas and Beyond
Overland, Pacific & Cutler
Positions: Right of Way Agent
Career Center
Senior Right of Way Agent
Project Manager
Stateside Right-of-Way Services
Positions: Right-of-Way Agent
Salary: Commensurate with Experience/Market
Qualifications: See Website
Send Resume here
Search for jobs, post
your resume or post
an opening at IRWA’s
careercenterjobs.irwaonline.org.
Get Hired
Universal Field Services, Inc.
Click the following job title to see more details.

Acquisition Agent

Relocation Agent

Quality Assurance/Quality Control Agent
More information on
these job listings can
be found at
IRWAchapter36.org/jobs
City of Austin
Click the following job title to see more details.

Real Estate Services Program Manager
Post a Job Listing
Send your job listings
to Dorrien Himes at
dorrien@pvstexas.com
Page 13
North Texas News