Michael E. Lahodny is a Consultant with Sacramento based Right of Way Firm Bender Rosenthal, Inc. As a technical project specialist he provides project oversight and appraisal planning/review for project delivery. Prior to joining Bender Rosenthal he held several management positions with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and was responsible for project delivery coordination and local agency liaison in the Bishop, Marysville, Redding, Eureka and Stockton offices. He has been involved with the preparation and review of appraisals for eminent domain activities for over 30 years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University, Northridge. Undergraduate and graduate studies were completed with emphasis in real estate and urban planning. Extensive appraisal courses have been taken from IRWA, the Appraisal Institute and other appraisal organizations. Mike was involved in the development of appraisal and related courses for Caltrans. He is a former Caltrans representative to the Federal Highway Administration Appraisal Advisory Board. He is currently a member of Chapter 27 and has been instructing for numerous years.

James H. Finnegan, SR/WA is a Right of Way consultant, specializing in best practices, acquisition and relocation. He was formerly Senior Vice President, Western Division, of Universal Field Services, Inc. Prior to joining Universal Field Services he operated his own consulting business, providing project management services. Mr. Finnegan spent over 20 years with the California Department of Transportation, having held several top management positions including that of Chief Appraiser. He has been a consultant to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, providing guidance in the drafting of regulations relating to the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act. Mr. Finnegan has also testified before Congress on matters pertaining to the Uniform Act. Mr. Finnegan has held several IRWA committee positions, including having served on the Association’s International Executive Committee, and was the 2006-2007 International President of the Association.

William Busch, SR/WA is the retired Director of Right of Way for the San Diego County Water Authority. He managed the acquisition, survey and property management sections. The department oversees approximately $400 million in real estate fee and easements, and nearly 200 miles of pipeline right of way. William is active in the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) as a facilitator for several courses. He is past President (2005) of Chapter 11, and the 2006 Region 1 Professional of the Year. In 2011 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Chapter 11. Currently William serves as the outgoing Chair for the International Local Public Agency Committee. William graduated from Humboldt State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management. He has published several articles for Right of Way Magazine and the Journal of Public Works. Prior to coming to the Water Authority he was employed 16 years by the U.S. Forest Service and 8 years in private education as an instructor and Director of Athletics.

David Layne, SR/WA is the owner of Layne Consulting Services, Inc. Dave has thirty plus years experience in all phases of right of way (project scoping, appraisal / appraisal review, acquisition / relocation assistance, asset (property) management, and organizational management). Currently, he teaches at proprietary schools, for several professional organizations, and at the college/university level. He has advanced degrees in both business (M.A.) and adult education (C.A.S.). In 1991, Dave received the Frank C. Balfour Professional of the Year Award. In addition to the SR/WA designation, Dave holds an ASA designation with the American Society of Appraisers and an IAO designation with the Institute of Assessing Officers. He is a certified general real estate appraiser in New York State.

Joachim (Joe) Pestinger, SR/WA is the Principal Partner of "A Better Way-MEDIATION, LLP", specializing in R/W dispute resolutions. Previously he was the Director of Real Estate Services for the Washington State DOT, where he administered the acquisition, appraisal, title clearance, condemnation, and property management and relocation assistance activities. He has testified before the state legislature and as expert valuation witness in State Superior Courts. He represented 17 western states on AASHTO's R/W and Utility Committee Executive Board. He proposed, developed and co-chaired a study tour of European Best R/W Practices. Time and money saving concepts are now being implemented in the US. He has served on IRWA's International Transportation, Property Management and Education Committees. He is approved to teach 23 IRWA courses and taught classes in more than 44 cities throughout the US and Canada. Joe was the lead author for courses # 700, # 801 and a course on Mediation for the R/W Professional.

Stephen M. Kiley, SR/WA, graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BA in Geography in 1974.  He was an Associate Right of Way Agent for Caltrans for 19 years in San Diego, CA. where he worked in various functions including Relocation, Appraisals and Utilities.  He retired from Caltrans in December of 2006.  Mr. Kiley graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University with a Master of Arts in Education in Teaching and Learning in May 2007.  He has taught English language workshops at several Universities in Honduras.  From 2005 to 2008 he worked as an English Language Instructor with the San Diego Community College District. He has been an English Language Instructor at National University in San Diego for the past three years. Most recently in 2010 he taught an intensive summer session for international students at UCSD.  He presently has his own company and teaches English for Special Purposes for private companies throughout California and does private English language tutoring. Stephen is presently a certified facilitator for eight 200 series courses. He is a past member of Toastmasters International, a member of TESOL, a global education association for English language professionals and he is a volunteer with READ/San Diego, a literacy program.