International Right of Way Association

The International Right of Way Association (IRWA) is considered the central authority for right of way^[1] education and certification programs, as well as professional services, worldwide. Since its inception as a not-for-profit association in 1934, IRWA has united the efforts of its members toward professional development, improved service to employers and the public, and advancements within the right of way profession.^[2]

The IRWA Headquarters Office is located in Gardena, California, in the South Bay area of Los Angeles.

October is Right of Way month in the United States.^[3]

History

IRWA was started in 1934 by Frank C. Balfour, a right of way agent employed by the California Division of Highways (now CalTrans^[4]) in Los Angeles, California. Originally named the Southern California Right of Way Agents' Association, the first meeting was attended by fourteen right of way professionals, and was held on October 16, 1934 in Los Angeles.

The Association was renamed the American Right of Way Association in 1935 and again in 1980, when it became the International Right of Way Association.

In 1986, IRWA joined with eight other leading professional appraisal organizations in the United States and Canada, including the Appraisal Foundation to form the Ad Hoc Committee on the USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice).^[5]

Organization

As of 2014, the IRWA comprises 10 regions that are divided into 75 chapters all across the United States, Canada, Africa and Mexico. ^[6] Each region has a chair and vice chair that serve as IRWA officers and are elected by the IRWA Board of Directors. Each region holds two forums annually — one in the fall and one in the spring — and also conducts caucuses at IRWA's Annual International Education Conference.

IRWA annually forms several committees and communities to accomplish its goals and objectives.The Association provides funding for the committee chairs and vice chairs. Chairs are appointed by the current IRWA president with the approval of the balance of the IEC. Committees and Communities of Practice are divided into three areas: Service Committees, Industry Committees and Discipline Communities of Practice.

International Service Committees

These are designed to provide input into the key management functions of the Association.

• Ethics
• Nominations & Elections
• Professional Development
• International Industry Committees

International Industry Committees

These focus on issues impacting the disciplines and industries associated with the right of way profession.

• Electric & Utilities
• Local Public Agencies
• Oil & Gas Pipelines
• Transportation
• International Discipline Communities of Practice

Communities of Practice

These focus on issues related to the industries IRWA serves.

• Asset Management
• Environment
• Relocation
• Surveying and Engineering
• Valuation

Leadership

At the top of IRWA's leadership structure is the International Executive Committee (IEC) and the International Governing Council (IGC).

The IEC is composed of an elected International President, International President-Elect, International Vice President International Treasurer and International Secretary as well as the Association's Executive Vice President and International General Counsel. The Executive Vice President and General Counsel have a voice but no vote in the deliberations of the IEC. The IGC is composed of the IEC members as well as the ten region chairs.

IRWA's 2014 - 2015 International President is Lee Hamre, SR/WA, R/W-RAC, R/W-URAC.

Board of Directors

IRWA's Board of Directors is composed of representatives from all 75 Chapters and 10 Regions, as well as all members of the IEC, and is tasked with overseeing the policies and strategic planning of the Association. The Board meets annually at the International Education Conference to review Association financial reports and budgets, consider and vote on any resolutions, and also elect new international officers.

Partners

As part of the Association's strategic initiatives to create a right of way community and facilitate collaboration, IRWA has established a partnership with foundations, consulting companies, public agencies, sponsors, other associations and affiliates.

Public Agency Partners

• Federal Aviation Administration^[7]
• Federal Transit Administration^[8]
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers^[9]
• Federal Highway Administration^[10]
• U.S. Bureau of Land Management^[11]
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Association Partners

• Appraisal Institute
• FIABCI - The International Real Estate Federation^[12]
• NSPS - National Society of Professional Surveyors
• NAIFA - National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers^[13]
• ASFMRA - American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers

Affiliates

• Japanese Consultants Council
• Compulsory Purchase Association
• Institute for Underground Infrastructure

Consultants

• Right of Way Consultants Council^[14]

IRWA is also a sponsoring organization of the Appraisal Foundation^[15]

Members

IRWA has nearly 10,000 professional members who are a group of multi-disciplined professionals employed by private industries and government agencies, including acquisition agents, project managers, appraisers, environmental specialists, engineers, property disposition professionals, real estate attorneys, property managers, relocation assistance agents, surveyors, title expert and utility employees.

Education

IRWA's education and training programs provide a foundation for right of way professionals across the United States and Canada in all right of way disciplines: negotiation and acquisition, management, appraisal, relocation assistance, environmental, asset/property management, real estate law, engineering and surveying.

Credentialing

IRWA offers two career paths for right of way professionals: a generalist path and a specialist path, both of which can be achieved by taking IRWA educational courses.^[16][17] IRWA's premier designation, the SR/WA Senior Right of Way Professional, is the highest designation available to right of way professionals.

Generalist Path

IRWA has three levels of certification and one designation for the generalist right of way professional:

• Right of Way Agent Certification (RWA)
• Associate Right of Way Professional Certification (ARWP)
• Right of Way Professional Certification (RWP)
• SR/WA Designation

Specialist Path

IRWA has six discipline certifications and one designation for the specialist right of way professional:

• R/W-AC Appraisal Certification
• R/W-AMC Asset/Property Management Certification
• R/W-EC Environmental Certification
• R/W-NAC Negotiation and Acquisition Certification
• R/W-RAC Relocation Assistance Certification
• R/W-URAC Uniform Act Certification
• Appraisal Cross Certification

Foundations

IRWA has two education foundations, the Right of Way International Education Foundation (RWIEF)^[18][19] and the Canadian Right of Way Education Foundation(CRWEF), which were established for the primary purpose of funding right of way education initiatives. They were founded under the belief that continuing education and professional development are essential to the growth and advancement of the right of way profession. The foundation focuses on generating financial contributions and determining how to best allocate those funds on behalf of the right of way profession.

The Right of Way International Education Foundation and the Canadian Right of Way Education Foundation each provide funding for the development of IRWA education programming.

Annual International Education Conference

Each year, IRWA holds its Annual International Education Conference, which gives right of way professionals the chance to meet in one location to attend informative sessions, network with other professionals, complete courses for credit toward a certification or designation, and showcase services at the Expo event.

The 2014 Annual Conference will be held June 22-25, in Hartford, Connecticut

Right of Way Magazine

IRWA's publication, Right of Way Magazine,^[20] has an international audience of professionals employed by private industry and government agencies. Recognized as the Voice of the Right of Way Profession, the bimonthly magazine features noteworthy infrastructure projects, industry updates and valuable information affecting all facets of right of way. Editorial contributors are experts in appraisal, engineering, environmental, relocation, surveying, transportation, asset management, land acquisition and real estate law.

References

External links

• Official website