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.

Shaun McClain, SR/WA, R/W-AMC
​President

Shaun McClain is a Right-of-Way professional from Western Maryland with over a decade of experience supporting public and private infrastructure projects across the Mid-Atlantic region. His background includes permitting, acquisition, property management, and partnership coordination on transportation and energy initiatives throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia.Shaun is recognized for his ability to build strong professional relationships and bring people together to move projects forward. He has contributed to the success of numerous complex right-of-way efforts by connecting technical understanding with practical, people-focused solutions.
An active member of the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) since 2015, Shaun holds the Senior Right of Way Professional (SR/WA) and Right of Way Asset Management (R/W-AMC) designations. He earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2024 and has achieved the IRWA Peak Certification ​in 2025, marking an exciting new chapter as he expands his horizons through teaching and mentoring within the Association.
As President of IRWA Chapter 14, Shaun remains dedicated to fostering engagement, education, and connection among members across the region.

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Michael Chicorelli, MAI
President Elect

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. 

Christopher Helmick
Treasurer

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.

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Nina Mwangi
Secretary

Bio Coming Soon!

Melody Campbell, SR/WA
Assistant Secretary/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.