Our Origin Story.

The ​International Right of Way Association (IRWA) was birthed out of the hard work and foresight of Frank C. Balfour of the California Division of Highway in October 1934. Mr. Balfour, with the help of 14 men, began organizing right-of-way agents from City, County, and State Departments, Utility Companies, and the Railroads. Monthly meetings were held to exchange industry knowledge and aid agents in developing new ideas to address industry-specific issues or challenges. In 1955 a monthly bulletin was published to cement the workings of members, committees, and their accomplishments in their individual service to the right-of-way profession. This was the first chapter of our Association, the reach of has grown and extended throughout both the Nation. 
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Establishing Chapter 14.

​The first recorded mention of an American Right of Way Chapter in the Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland area is in a letter dated October 18th, 1955, sent to the heads of legal departments of public utilities and private firms involved in right of way Association. 

​The first regular Chapter meeting was held in Baltimore on June 18th, 1956. Before this first meeting, plans were being made for the members to journey to Richmond, by private railcar, on the RF&P Railroad for the September meeting. It was agreed that meetings would rotate from Washington to Baltimore to Richmond. Meanwhile, the second national educational conference was held in Houston, Texas, on June 14th, showing good Chapter 14 representation. 

Our Focus.

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Chapter 14 Leadership.

Judy Michael
​President

Judy Michael is an SR/WA and the Property Acquisition Officer for Charles County Government.  She has been with Charles County for 26 years and a member of our chapter for 14 years.   Judy also is the current Education Chair for the Chapter.  Judy fondly remembers being first contacted by member Francis Winterwerp, welcoming her to the chapter in 2008 and asking her to take on the Secretary position.  Her membership in the organization and activity in the chapter continues.

Shan McClain
​President Elect

Bio Coming Soon!

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Michael Chicoreli
​Secretary

Michael joined Lipman Frizzell & Mitchell LLC in August 2005 and, in March 2019, became a Principal with the firm. Michael is a graduate of Towson University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, with a Chemistry minor. He obtained a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins University. Before joining LFM, Michael worked as an environmental engineer and consultant. He holds a certified general real estate appraiser license in Maryland, Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
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Michael’s appraisal experience focuses on right-of-way assignments, with 100+ reports written over the past several years related to condemnation proceedings. Other valuations and consulting assignments include: office buildings, shopping centers, industrial properties, mixed-use and urban developments, subdivisions, distressed real estate, tax appeals, estate planning, easement valuation, feasibility studies, government rent studies, and going concern appraisals. Michael has testified as an expert witness for U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Maryland Tax Court, Circuit Court of Prince George’s County, and PTAAB. He currently serves on the Board for the Maryland Chapter of the Appraisal Institute and Chapter 14 of the International Right-of-Way Association.

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Tiara McCray
​​Treasurer

Tiara McCray  currently works as a Real Estate Specialist III for the Maryland - Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT). She has been involved in the Right-of-Way field for more than six years working in both Maryland and North Carolina.

Before joining MCDOT, Ms. McCray worked extensively with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to acquire property interests and provide relocation services for large transportation improvement projects. During her tenure, she also independently managed the surplus inventory resale for her region. Ms. McCray is a proud alumnus of the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Science - Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. She represent Aggie Pride, nationwide!

Having joined the IRWA in 2019, Ms. McCray has served IRWA Chapter 14 as the Assistant Treasurer/Secretary, and presently as the Young Professional (YP) Committee Chair and Chapter Treasurer. She also sits on the International YP Committee as the Region 4 Representative.

​Ms. McCray has also begun her tenure as Program Advisor for The George Washington University Women in Leadership Executive Program. She is passionate about engaging and encouraging new and young members within the Association for lasting success or the organization and looks forward to making connections with YP’s across the Region!

Rhonda Collins
​​Assistant Secretary/Treasurer

Rhonda Collins has over 36 years of experience in Maryland government; she currently works in the State Highway Administration - Office of Real Estate, where she has spent the past 18 years. In early 2022, Rhonda expanded her professional horizon by joining the local IRWA Chapter. Encouraged to become active within the chapter, she was recently elected to serve as the Chapter Assistant Secretary-Treasurer for the 2022-2023 term.

Rhonda holds an Associate's degree in Human Services from Hagerstown Community College and is pursuing another Associate's degree in Business Administration at the Community College of Baltimore County. Her future educational ambitions include transferring to a university and continuing her work towards a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Rhonda is simultaneously pursuing educational advancement in the right-of-way profession through classes offered by IRWA to receive her professional credentials.

​Rhonda's interests involve a love of music, arts, science fiction, and travel. A healer at heart, she holds a license as a professional Maryland Massage Therapist and is currently pursuing her practice in Seated Chair Massage.
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