About Us
IRWA Illinois Chapter 12 is a chapter of the International Right of Way Association and has been serving land acquisition professionals throughout Illinois since 1955.
Our members are land acquisition professionals who work in all facets of acquisition, management, and disposition of 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 cable, skyscrapers, pipelines, just to name a few, require real property.
Explore our web site and feel free to contact us. We want to hear from you and show you how IRWA Illinois Chapter 12 can serve you. Membership provides many important benefits for land acquisition professionals.
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.
Meet the Officers
President / Rob Kirkpatrick
Rob works for Ameren Services as a Real Estate Supervisor, currently leading LEAN Continuous Improvement and Innovation efforts.
In previous roles at Ameren, he led teams of ROW agents across Illinois & Missouri that handle electric distribution, gas transmission, gas storage, and property management. He started with Ameren in 2012, acquiring electric substations and was on the team that handled real estate activities for the divestiture of Ameren's merchant generation fleet in 2013.
Prior to joining Ameren, Rob worked in commercial real estate development, brokerage, and property management for nearly two decades across Illinois and Pennsylvania.
Rob is a die-hard football fan and is looking forward to watching his son play college football for the next several years. He and his wife Jackie enjoy traveling, boating, and exploring new wineries.
Vice President / Don York
Don works for Ameren Illinois Company as a Senior Right-of-Way Agent in Peoria, IL. Prior to working for Ameren, Don studied Business at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale and held an Illinois Broker's License.
He also worked in the Oil and Gas industry as a Land Agent in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York securing land rights for production.
Don grew up with three older brothers who ran a construction company building houses and currently holds a card as a Journeyman Carpenter at Local #243.
President Elect / Laura Moonshower
Laura works at Black & Veatch as a Senior Right of Way Agent in Westmont, IL. She has over 20 years of right-of-way experience and worked at BP Pipelines as a contract right-of-way agent for 6 years.
Laura and her husband, Lee have three children Ellie (17), Coleman (15), & Addie (11). Laura has been a Girl Scout Leader/Coleader for the past 10 years. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking with her dogs, and spending time with family and friends.
Treasurer / Jennifer Spurlock
Jennifer Spurlock works for Shawnee Professional Services as the Real Estate Supervisor. She began working for Shawnee in 2013 providing research and data entry support and for the last couple of years has been managing all real estate aspects for Ameren overhead transmission line projects.
Prior to working for Shawnee, Jennifer studied Business at Mid-Continent University. Since, she has attained her Right-of-Way Agent certification through the International Right of Way Association and Missouri Real Estate license.
Jennifer is a lifetime resident of Southern Illinois and enjoys outdoor activities with her family and friends.
Secretary / Dan Olson
Dan Olson is the Manager of Field Research for Wheatland Title Company. Dan has served as a land title researcher for Wheatland since 1999. At Wheatland, he is responsible for the oversight of all land title researchers throughout the 102 counties in the State of Illinois. Dan’s research experience entails everything from a standard residential transaction to complex commercial, mineral and right of way transactions. Throughout his career, Dan has worked on countless right of way, utility and railroad projects.
Dan is a longtime resident of LaSalle County, Illinois. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife and two sons.
Past Presidents
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
2005-2006
2004-2005
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
Gerald Cain
Carol Bellinger
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
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
Service Committees
| Communication & Marketing: | Lisa Krenz |
| Education: | Theresa Campbell |
| Ethics: | Lawrence Bellinger |
| Membership: | Jodi Griffel |
| Nomination & Elections: | Kris Koehler |
| Professional Development: | Robin Upchurch |
Education Committees
| Asset Management: | Tara Jones |
| Environment: | Dan Field |
| Legal/Legislative: | John Ammons |
| Local Public Agency: | Theresa Campbell |
| Pipeline: | Dave Sommerfeld |
| Relocation: | Kim Polk |
| Surveying & Engineering: | Mike Filipski |
| Transportation: | Carlos Molina |
| Utilities: | Marc Featherstone |
| Valuation: | Dave Rogers |
IRWA-Illinois Chapter 12 Bylaws
