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72nd Annual International Education Conference will be held June 26th - 29th in Omaha
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Chapter 14 and Region 4 - Bid for 2030 IRWA Conference
IRWA CHAPTER 14 - POTOMAC CHAPTER
Maryland | Washington, D.C. | Northern Virginia
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Upcoming Chapter Events
IRWA 72ND ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE
Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, June 26, 2026 to
Monday, June 29, 2026
The 2026 Conference Host Committee looks forward to welcoming you to Omaha, Nebraska, June 26–29, 2026, for the 72nd Annual International Education Conference. This year’s event will feature engaging educational sessions, dynamic programming, and exciting new additions designed to enhance your conference experience.
Job Openings
Right of Way QA/QC Specialist - Remote
ORC is seeking a QA/QC Specialist for a full-time remote role (Eastern or Central time zones). Responsibilities include reviewing ROW acquisition documents for accuracy, identifying discrepancies, and coordinating with project teams to ensure quality and compliance.
The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, and able to manage high-volume workflows in a deadline-driven environment.
Salary ranges from $55,000–$70,000 with full benefits, including 401(k), paid time off, and professional development.
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Our Origin Story
About Chapter 14
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.
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.
Chapter 14 Leadership
Michael Chicorelli, MAI
President
Michael has been a commercial real estate appraiser since 2005 and in March 2019 became a Principal at Lipman Frizzell & Mitchell. 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. He holds certified general real estate appraiser licenses in the State of Maryland, Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Michael’s appraisal experience includes a focus on right-of-way assignments and has testified in court on a number of cases. Other valuation 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. He currently serves on the Board for both Chapter 14 of the IRWA and the Maryland Chapter of the Appraisal Institute.
Sara Cox
Secretary
Sarah is a seasoned land professional with decades of experience in title insurance and real estate law. As a Title Insurance Agent and Real Estate Paralegal, she has guided thousands of property owners through the title and settlement processes. In 2024, she transitioned to a Right of Way Agent role, where she applies her expertise to transportation projects across Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Sarah is currently pursuing her Right of Way (RWA) certification and is passionate about continuing to grow within the field.
Christopher Helmick
President Elect
Chris received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Fairmont State University and a Master of Business Administration from West Virginia Wesleyan College. He began his career in 2007 performing land work in the natural gas industry gaining over a decade of experience before joining Loudoun County in 2018. From 2018-2024, Chris focused on acquiring rights of way and easements for transportation projects. In July 2024, he accepted an advancement opportunity within Loudoun County as Senior Land Acquisition Manager where he focuses on land acquisition for capital facilities, identifying land opportunities for affordable housing, managing County leases, and other land acquisition as needed.
Heather Hackley
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
Heather Hackley has more than 30 years of experience in the Right-of-Way field, supporting transportation and capital improvement projects across Northern Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. She began her career with the Virginia Department of Transportation in 1994 and, in 2000, transitioned into a consulting role where she continued to advance her career. Since then, she has contributed to several major infrastructure initiatives, including the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, the I-495 & I-66 Express Lanes, Fairfax County Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project, along with many other road widening and multi-modal projects.
Heather is currently the Assistant Director of Right of Way at Rinker Design Associates and is recognized for her practical, detail-oriented approach to project management, with a strong emphasis on quality assurance, thoughtful planning, and effective project tracking. She is committed to helping clients successfully navigate complex projects and deliver meaningful results for the communities they serve.
She has been a member of the IRWA, Chapter 14 for four years.
Melody Campbell, SR/WA
Treasurer
Melody became the owner of Everett Benfield Advisors in April 2017. Everett Benfield is a woman, veteran owned real estate appraisal firm located in Harford County that provides services to individuals, attorneys, financial institutions, government agencies, and contractors.
Melody began her career in 2006 and holds Certified General Appraiser licenses in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, DC. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Baltimore and a Master’s degree in Real Estate from Johns Hopkins University.
She has also obtained the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute, and the SR/WA and R/W-AC designations from the IRWA.