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Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright LLPMs. Benford is a skilled negotiator, trusted advisor and trial-tested commercial litigator who maintains a diverse practice. A seasoned litigator, she has more than a decade of experience trying cases in state and federal courts where she has first-chaired jury trials to verdict. She has represented clients of all sizes in multi-party cases involving breach of contract, construction disputes, fraud, real estate disputes, eminent domain and condemnation, wrongful death claims, and energy related catastrophic personal injury claims. Ms. Benford has helped clients navigate all aspects of litigation, including fact and expert discovery, temporary and permanent injunctions, alternative dispute resolution, dispositive motion practice, arbitration and trial. She joined the Houston office in 2000 and has been a partner since 2011. A graduate of the American Board of Trial Advocates National Trial Academy, she serves as a faculty member of the firm’s Trial Training Program for all first year litigation attorneys in the firm. Ms. Benford serves on a number of firm committees and previously served as the hiring partner responsible for attorney employment in the Houston office. She is a frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Education programs across the country and serves in leadership positions on the boards of several non-profit organizations.

President & CEO at West Houston AssociationMr. Campbell is the president and CEO of West Houston Association and is an advocate for better infrastructure, development, and quality of life in 1,000 square miles of Greater West Houston.  West Houston Association is a nonprofit organization that aims to create a better living and working environment for the 1.6 million residents and 600,000 employees in Greater West Houston.  Mr. Campbell was previously the assistant city attorney for the City of Houston, and practiced in the areas of water, utilities, construction, and affirmative action programs.  He served in the United States Army and received his J. D. degree from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2006.

Attorney at Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLPMs. Cheney’s principal areas of practice are real estate, planning and development, and construction law matters, with an emphasis on the representation of cities, counties, and other local governments. She has represented both large and small cities in matters such as acquisitions and sales, commercial leases, easements, licenses, construction projects, and the development of real estate. She has represented various entities in the acquisition of office buildings, electric utility power plants, and water rights. To accomplish the project objectives, she has coordinated the land use planning, zoning, and development aspects of projects with the land acquisition and construction. Ms. Cheney has worked with communities in connection with a variety of land use and development issues. She has advised cities regarding the writing, codification, amendment and implementation of land use, zoning, and subdivision regulations and other ordinances. She has worked on matters involving private/public partnerships for economic development, affordable housing, “smart growth” development, downtown revitalization, environmental conservation, and historic preservation.Ms. Cheney has represented local governments in numerous construction projects, including municipal buildings, courthouses, jails, schools, and water/wastewater projects. She has served as legal counsel and expert witness in matters involving title disputes, easements rights and condemnation.

Partner at Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLPMr. Katz is a partner with Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP in Austin. His principal practice areas include environmental law, administrative law, water law, electric utility regulation, and related litigation. He represents municipalities, river authorities, water districts, and private entities in these and related matters before state and federal agencies and in state court. Mr. Katz was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2005 and is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas. He is a graduate of Rice University (B.A. 2001) and the University of Houston Law Center (J.D. 2005, cum laude).

Foley & Lardner LLP, Austin
As a member of the Government Solutions Practice and Austin Litigation Team at Foley & Lardner LLP (formerly Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP), Ms. Silcocks focuses her practice on civil litigation and government-related matters. She primarily focuses on eminent domain and inverse condemnation, representing both condemning authorities and property owners, having represented clients in over 250 Special Commissioners’ Hearings and in over 25 condemnation and inverse condemnation jury trials. Ms. Silcocks also has extensive experience handling civil litigation, including contract, employment, and tort cases. She is well-versed in other government-related issues, including open records laws, contract procurements, bid protests, environmental disputes and other regulatory issues with a variety of state and local agencies. Prior to joining the firm in 2011, Ms. Silcocks spent 15 years in the Office of the Attorney General of Texas primarily representing the Texas Department of Transportation, including the last five years as chief of the Transportation Division.

Mr. Blake has practiced land surveying throughout central California and western Nevada. He is licensed in both states and is also a certified federal surveyor. He specializes in surveys to support large public works infrastructure projects. He also serves as an expert witness in disputes involving boundary survey or land title issues. He currently works as the Mapping Department manager for Hawkins and Associates in Modesto, California. In his previous positions he worked as the Mapping Department manager for O’Dell Engineering and the assistant surveyor manager for KSN in Stockton, California. Mr. Blake serves as a volunteer on the Land Surveyor Technical Advisory Committee to the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists. He is currently the president of the California Land Surveyors Association Central Valley Chapter and the vice president of the American Council of Engineering Companies Central California Chapter. Mr. Blake teaches at surveying and GIS events around the Western United States.

Partner with Gagen McCoyMr. Muller’s clients include property and business owners, homebuilders, developers, public agencies, and individuals. He has over 20 years’ experience resolving – and litigating, if necessary – a wide array of property and business-related disputes, including matters involving land use, eminent domain/direct condemnation, inverse condemnation (unconstitutional regulatory and physical “takings”), development impact fees and exactions, redevelopment, purchases/sales, easements and boundaries, other municipal/constitutional law issues, as well as probate, will contests, and estate planning disputes. In an era when few cases go to trial, and litigators with trial experience are rare, Mr. Muller’s experience is unusual – and valuable, in allowing him to effectively counsel clients and win in court. Early in his career, he sought increasing litigation responsibility and was given the opportunity to handle dozens of cases from the early pleading and discovery stages, through successful jury and bench trial verdicts.

Of counsel, Freeman Mills PC in Dallas
Mr. Beecham began his career working for a major oil and gas company. He is experienced in dealing with acquisitions, exploration and production of non-producing and producing oil and gas properties including fee lands, Indian lands, and state and federal lands. Mr. Beecham has been involved with all aspects of mineral titles, leases, leasing, seismic agreements, exploration agreements, drilling contracts, joint operating and master service agreements, participation agreements, oil and gas acquisitions, energy lending transactions, natural gas transportation agreements, gas processing agreements, and pooling and unitization agreements. He has litigated many oil and gas issues and has represented water districts in administrative matters and other issues. Mr. Beecham caries an “AV Preeminent” rating from Martindale Hubbell peer review rating service. He has spoken at many seminars and written papers concerning oil and gas matters and water issues.

Coleman & Associates Land Surveying, Denton
Mr. Coleman is a registered professional land surveyor and a geographic information systems professional, and he founded Coleman & Assoc. Surveying in 1983. He graduated from the University of North Texas in August 1999 with a B.S. degree in Geography. Mr. Coleman has served as adjunct faculty at North Lake College in Irving and North Central Texas College in Corinth. He has been an active member of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors since 1977 (director, 1989-1992 and 2005- 2008). Mr. Coleman has served on the board of directors of the Geographic and Land Information Society (2009-2018), the GIS Certification Institute (2012-2018), Denton County Historical Commission (2011-2016) and several others. He was elected Denton County Surveyor from 1986 to 1989. A certified Texas master naturalist, Mr. Coleman served on the Board of Directors of the Elm Fork Chapter and is currently a Trustee for the Texas Historical Tree Coalition.

Partner, Kelly Hart & Hallman in AustinMr. Dickman is certified in the practice of administrative law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. His practice includes representing clients in contested permitting cases before the State Office of Administrative Hearings, defending clients in environmental enforcement cases, advocating for clients in environmental rule making matters, and advising clients on how to maintain environmental compliance in the most cost-effective manner. As part of his water and sewer utility law practice, Mr. Dickman has extensive experience in negotiating and drafting water and sewer utility easements. Mr. Dickman also represents landowners affected by construction of electric power transmission lines in cases pending at the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and he advises clients on federal and state agency contracting and procurement matters.

Senior Associate, Decker Jones in Fort WorthMs. Powers’ primary practice is in the areas of real estate law, oil and gas law, and general business transactions.As a licensed attorney in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and North Dakota, Ms. Powers has represented entities and individuals in various real estate transactions including, but not limited to, the purchase and acquisition, development, and sale of commercial, industrial, and residential real estate, including associated due diligence matters, and drafting office building, industrial park, and shopping center leases on behalf of landlords and tenants. She has also assisted clients in easement and boundary issues. Ms. Powers drafts right of way agreements and drilling and division order opinions and provides ongoing general business advice and counseling to her clients.

Partner, Jackson Walker, L.L.P. in AustinMr. Small has more than 40 years’ experience representing clients before the Texas Legislature and Texas regulatory agencies, in addition to his litigation practice. He has served as counsel to entities and associations with legislative and regulatory issues. Mr. Small has appeared for clients before the Texas Legislature and State and Federal agencies. His clients include associations and entities seeking solutions to issues affected by State Government. Mr. Small’s litigation experience includes water rights, boundary issues, condemnation, oil and gas, and other land related issues.

Mr. Bryant focuses his practice on construction law. He writes and negotiates construction contracts for private and public projects, representing participants including owners, architects, engineers, general contractors, and subcontractors. Mr. Bryant resolves construction project performance and payment disputes, including surety bond claims and mechanics lien claims. He also represents owners and contractors in litigation matters including defense and prosecution of breach of contract, warranty, and construction defect claims. Mr. Bryant has defended design professionals against claims of professional negligence. He has written and spoken on many construction-related topics, including contract negotiation, public construction, and licensure of construction professionals. Among other organizations, he is a member of the Steering Committee of the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law Division 7 for Insurance, Surety, and Liens.

Kenneth Davies is Of Counsel at the law firm Heyl, Royster, Voeckler & Allen.  Mr. Davies’ practice focuses in real estate and commercial transactions, corporate organization, real estate development, land use laws, property disputes, and estate planning. He has represented clients in the creation of multi-million dollar subdivisions and condominiums, business acquisitions, shopping centers, and franchise agreements requiring the negotiation of such issues as matters of title, surveys, and environmental clean-ups. An accomplished litigator, he has successfully argued in the Federal Court of Appeals, winning groundbreaking cases resulting in a change it the way the United States administers its flood insurance policies. Mr. Davies serves on the Illinois State Bar Association’s Real Estate Section Council. In addition to drafting and reviewing proposed legislation involving real estate matters, he lectures throughout Illinois on real estate including matters involving realtors and real estate brokers, contracts, agency, fair housing, licensing, construction law and antitrust.

Mr. Olsen is a Senior Professional Land Surveyor with Engineering Design Source, Inc., a Civil Engineering and Surveying Firm based in Chesterfield, Missouri. Mr. Olsen has more than 30 years’ experience as a professional land surveyor, beginning in the Chicago metropolitan area. He is currently licensed as a land surveyor in Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Texas.

He has been fortunate to have worked on numerous Highway Department/Department of Transportation horizontal and vertical control surveys, land acquisition and topographic surveys, County Transportation Department Plats of Highway, and Municipal Highway Department surveys.

Mr. Olsen is currently enrolled in the University of Maine Graduate School in the Surveying Engineering Technology Program. He earned an MS in Engineering Technology-Surveying Engineering in 2024 and is currently working on an Eng.D in the same subject at UMaine. He has a BA in Mathematical Sciences. Mr. Olsen has presented seminars and webinars previously with HalfMoon Education on topics including Law and Ethics of Illinois Land Surveying; Locating Land Boundaries on Paper (and on the Ground); Complying with Minimum Standards of Practice; Handling Ethical Issues in Land Surveying Practice; Complying with the Illinois Plat Act; Complying with National Society of Professional Surveyors Creed and Canons. His article “The Changing Mosaic of Professional Land Surveying Licensure Requirements in the United States and its Territories” is to be published in the May 2026 Journal of Surveying and Land Information Science (SaLIS) of the American Association for Geodetic Surveying (AAGS).  

Jonathan Phillips is a shareholder at the law firm Shay Phillips, Ltd.  Mr. Phillips focuses his practice on intellectual property and internet law, energy and utility law, and commercial litigation — especially in federal courts. At the Illinois Commerce Commission, he opposed several transmission and pipeline projects. Mr. Phillips has also created alternative routings (or defended against landowner created routing) for projects that have been adopted by the Commission. He has also opposed the grant of eminent domain power, and the exercise of that power in the Circuit Courts. Mr. Phillips assists landowners in easement negotiations with utilities, pipelines, and wind project developers.

Harvey Sheldon is a partner with the law firm Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP.  Mr. Sheldon has been engaged in the private practice of law, concentrating in environmental law, for more than 40 years, primarily on behalf of business clients. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Amherst College. Mr. Sheldon is a partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, based in Chicago, where he concentrates on environmental law issues. He has been designated by peer vote as a “Leading Lawyer,” “Leading Attorney,” and “Super Lawyer,” and has held an “AV” ratingfrom Martindale-Hubbell over 30 years. He was the regional counsel for the United States EPA, Region 5, and the Chief ofthe Illinois Attorney General’s Environmental Bureau before that. He has taught environmental law at both Loyola University and John Marshall Law Schools. Respecting water law generally,Mr. Sheldon has advised clients on common law and statutory water rights, has litigated over water uses and discharges to water, and has negotiated statutory changes respecting water laws in Illinois and other states.

Mr. Blake has practiced land surveying throughout central California and western Nevada. He is licensed in both states and is also a certified federal surveyor. He specializes in surveys to support large public works infrastructure projects. He also serves as an expert witness in disputes involving boundary survey or land title issues. He currently works as the Mapping Department manager for Hawkins and Associates in Modesto, California. In his previous positions he worked as the Mapping Department manager for O’Dell Engineering and the assistant surveyor manager for KSN in Stockton, California. Mr. Blake serves as a volunteer on the Land Surveyor Technical Advisory Committee to the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists. He is currently the president of the California Land Surveyors Association Central Valley Chapter and the vice president of the American Council of Engineering Companies Central California Chapter. Mr. Blake teaches at surveying and GIS events around the Western United States.

Partner with Gagen McCoyMr. Muller’s clients include property and business owners, homebuilders, developers, public agencies, and individuals. He has over 20 years’ experience resolving – and litigating, if necessary – a wide array of property and business-related disputes, including matters involving land use, eminent domain/direct condemnation, inverse condemnation (unconstitutional regulatory and physical “takings”), development impact fees and exactions, redevelopment, purchases/sales, easements and boundaries, other municipal/constitutional law issues, as well as probate, will contests, and estate planning disputes. In an era when few cases go to trial, and litigators with trial experience are rare, Mr. Muller’s experience is unusual – and valuable, in allowing him to effectively counsel clients and win in court. Early in his career, he sought increasing litigation responsibility and was given the opportunity to handle dozens of cases from the early pleading and discovery stages, through successful jury and bench trial verdicts.

Fidelity National Title Insurance, Los AngelesMr. Chernin is an attorney with Fidelity National Title Insurance, where he focuses on all aspects of real property law, including acquisitions, sales, land use, construction, and mortgage financing. Mr. Chernin has underwritten title insurance coverage for thousands of commercial transactions comprising office and industrial buildings, hotels, shopping centers, ski resorts, large tracts of land, paper mills and other specialty uses. He has also counseled escrow officers handling the closing of these often complicated transactions involving defeasances, tax credit financing, bond indentures, etc. In addition to being a member of the California State Bar and the American Bar Association, Mr. Chernin has been active in the Real Property Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, where he was chair of the Section’s Executive Committee. He is a frequent speaker at seminars on real estate and title insurance issues presented by the Real Property Section, the Los Angeles Escrow Association and other program sponsors. Mr. Chernin earned a B.A. degree in International Relations from UCLA and a J.D. degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

Nossaman LLP, IrvineMs. Duran-Brown is an eminent domain and real estate litigation attorney primarily focusing on eminent domain, inverse condemnation, regulatory takings and valuation matters. Ms. Duran-Brown also has experience assisting clients with land use, entitlement matters, and landlord/tenant-related disputes. She has worked for some of the largest public agencies and projects in California, such as San Bernardino Associated Governments, San Diego Association of Governments,Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority, and Los Angeles Unified School District. Ms. Duran-Brown plays an active role in project planning and implementation, from initial planning and the precondemnation acquisition process all the way through trial and appeal. She has advised public agency clients on a variety of infrastructure improvements. Her experience in project oversight and coordination ensures the necessary steps are taken to meet project construction schedules.

Laurence L. Hummer, A Law Corporation, Los AngelesMr. Hummer is an attorney who helps businesses and individuals with real estate transactions, and with controversies overcontracts and real estate. Mr. Hummer has represented clients in the purchase, leasing and sale of properties for office, retail,restaurant, commercial, and residential purposes. His work has included review of planning and zoning permits, access easements and other title issues, and consultation with environmental, architectural and construction specialists. He has resolved many real estate boundary, easement and encroachment disputes for businesses and homeowners. Continuing Education of the Bar (“CEB”), a joint project of the University of California and the State Bar, has published the legal treatise California Easements and Boundaries: Law and Litigation, for which Mr. Hummer co-authored and regularly updates Chapter 8, Boundary Easements and Neighboring Property Rights. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Real Property Section. Mr. Hummer also has written for Los Angeles Lawyer magazine and the County Bar’s Real Property Section Review. Mr. Hummer has presented seminars for attorneys on real property boundary disputes and on how to write, interpret and litigate easements and licenses. He received his B.A. degree, with distinction, from Stanford University, and his J.D. degree from UCLA School of Law.

Best Best & Krueger LLP, Los AngelesMs. Wordham’s practice areas include water rights, water quality, endangered species, the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and related fields of environmental and natural resources law at both the state and federal levels. As deputy attorney general with the California Attorney General’s office from 2001 through 2011, she represented several state natural resources agencies in petitions for writ of mandate, as well as traditional litigation. Ms. Wordham also acted as in-house counsel for some agencies. Her representation of state agencies involved biological opinions for the operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project, amendments to State Water Contractors’ long-term water contracts, California and federal Endangered Species Act litigation, streambed alteration agreements, cleanup and abatement actions, and CERCLA (Superfund) cost recovery settlements. Ms. Wordham works with clients on implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, updating urban water management plans and responding to the State Water Board’s drought regulations. She is admitted to practice law in the State of California.

Mr. Ellis has been practicing water law and been involved in water issues for over three decades. As a law student, he helped clerk the House Natural Resources Committee working on a variety of water legislation. After receiving his J.D. degree from the University of Texas School of Law, He worked as legislative liaison for the Texas Water Commission and later served as general counsel to the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District. The Edwards Aquifer Authority hired Mr. Ellis as their first general manager in 1997, a position he held until October 2004 when he left to start his solo law practice. In addition to representing subsidence districts and groundwater conservation districts, he serves as board secretary of the Texas Water Foundation, a nonprofit corporation that provides water conservation education throughout the State.

Justin Hodge – Marrs Ellis & Hodge LLP
Mr. Hodge is a trial lawyer who represents Texas landowners in condemnation, eminent-domain, and real-estate lawsuits.  He has handled complex condemnation and eminent-domain cases throughout the State of Texas.  Mr. Hodge has appeared in condemnation and eminent-domain lawsuits and he has defended landowners against the Texas Attorney General’s office, pipeline companies, electric transmission line companies, school districts, cities, and counties.  He is passionate about Texas property rights.  Mr. Hodge has testified on Texas condemnation and eminent domain reform on behalf of Texas landowners in front of both the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate.  He also writes a weekly blog at TexasCondemnation.com.  Mr. Hodge is currently an adjunct professor at University of Houston School of Law where he teaches a course on eminent domain. 

Andrews Myers P.C., Houston
Ms. Howard is a trial attorney focusing on commercial litigation, real estate disputes and employment law. She has handled evictions, lockouts, title and lien priority disputes, foreclosure on real and personal property, Fair Housing Act violations, enforcement of deed restrictions, ad valorem taxes, easements, adverse possession, boundary disputes, and disputes arising out of the acquisition of real property. Ms. Howard has handled hundreds of landlord/tenant disputes primarily but not exclusively on the landlord’s side. She has represented lenders and loan servicers in matters involving foreclosures and lending practices. Ms. Howard advises individuals seeking to acquire property about their possible liabilities and consults on the closing documents and indemnification agreements. She received her B.A. degree in Economics, Political Science and Managerial Studies from Rice University (TX) and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center.

Jackson Sjoberg McCarthy & Townsend, L.L.P., AustinMr. McCarthy is a partner in the firm who practices primarily in water and natural resources law. His background is rooted in property rights and land titles, and the development of subsurface property rights, including mineral and groundwater rights. Mr. McCarthy represents clients in water projects before the Texas Legislature, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Water Development Board and groundwater districts across the State. He was lead counsel on the first ASR project permitted in Texas to use state water rights, and subsequently worked on the development of legislation to codify the use of ASR as a water development resource. Mr. McCarthy co-authored TWDB Report No. 0904830940 entitled An Assessment of Aquifer Storage and Recovery in Texas (February 2011). He earned his J.D. degree in 1981 from St. Mary’s University School of Law.

Andrew Lonnie Sikes, Inc., HoustonMr. Sikes founded Andrew Lonnie Sikes, Inc., in 1977, offering a broad range of surveying and engineering services, with a special emphasis on land and boundary surveying, as well as aerial mapping.  He received his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Engineering degrees in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station.  Mr. Sikes served on the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying under three governors and was elected to the board of directors of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).  In addition to running a regional engineering and surveying firm, he serves the University of Houston as an adjunct instructor of surveying from time to time.  Mr. Sikes provides consultation and testimony to clients and their attorneys when there are surveying issues being litigated.  He has received numerous awards from ASCE and TSPS for service to the profession of surveying.

Mr. Stuckey practices primarily in corporate, real estate, and environmental law, including transactional work and litigation. He has a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and J.D. and L.L.M. degrees from the University of Houston Law Center. Mr. Stuckey is admitted to the practice of law in all Texas courts, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the U.S. Claims Court. He is also licensed in Texas as a professional engineer and a registered public land surveyor.

Mr. Bridges was previously an attorney at the Hughes & Hughes Law Firm, a business law firm in Arkadelphia. While in private practice, Mr. Bridges represented companies and professionals in the areas of energy and natural resources law, fire subrogation and arson litigation, business organizations, commercial transactions and litigation, title insurance claims and litigation, insurance defense and community practice. He has a B.A. degree, cum laude, from Lyon College, and a J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

C. Michael Daily is a member of the Fort Smith, Arkansas, firm Daily & Woods, P.L.L.C., where he practices primarily in the areas of real estate, and oil, gas and mineral law, including title examination and litigation. He also practices in the areas of estate planning, contract law, business law, and collection law. Mr. Daily is a graduate of Hendrix College (B.A.) and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (M.B.A. and J.D.). He is a member of the Sebastian County, Arkansas and Oklahoma bar associations, and is a member and former chair of the Marketable Title Standards Committee and the Natural Resources Law Section of the Arkansas Bar Association. Mr. Daily is licensed to practice in four mineral-producing jurisdictions: Arkansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota and Wyoming. He is also an adjunct professor at Northwest Arkansas Community College teaching courses in real estate law, commercial law, civil litigation and natural resource law.

Mr. Swaim has served as Executive Director of the Bayou Meto Water Management District since April of 2019. The district was formed in 1991 to provide irrigation water, flood control, and wildlife habitat to over 750,000 acres in Lonoke, Jefferson, Prairie, and Arkansas counties. The project involves multiple federal, state, local, and private partners, and is currently under construction. Prior to working for Bayou Meto, he had been chief of the Water Management Division of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission since October of 2010. A major achievement during Mr. Swaim’s time in the job was involving over 1,000 citizens to update the Arkansas Water Plan. Since completing the plan update, implementation has included better water use reporting and data on groundwater use and availability, formulation of several watershed management plans to reduce nonpoint source pollution, creation of a statewide drought planning workgroup, and building better relationships between agencies and with the public.

Mr. Swaim was general counsel (2003 to 2010) and associate general counsel (1995 to 2001) for the Commission and an assistant attorney general (2001 to 2003). All three positions with the Natural Resources Commission included legal, data, policy, and programmatic support for the Bayou Meto project and its companion to the east, the Grand Prairie Area Demonstration Project. From 2001 to 2012, he served as a Judge Advocate officer in the US Army Reserve. He is also a member of the Plum Bayou Irrigation District board of directors. Plum Bayou distributes Arkansas River water to over 14,000 acres of farmland near England, Arkansas. Mr. Swaim is from England, Arkansas, in the Bayou Meto project area. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College and a law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

Mr. Helfrich has been principal land surveyor with Craig R. Knoche & Associates, P.C. and its successor Koru Group PLLC in the Chicago area for the last 30 years. Mr. Helfrich first picked up a plumb bob in 1971 for Webster & Associates. From tape-and-transit to GPS, mortgage surveys to shopping centers, he has his seal on billions of dollars of commercial, residential and institutional developments and transactions in 23 counties in Illinois together with consulting and managing projects in 15 other states. Mr. Helfrich has enjoyed working with countless prominent developers, attorneys and other professionals in the field and the office. His specialties include real estate law, boundaries and boundary law, easements, rights-of-way and other encumbrances and servitudes, statutory and common-law plats, ALTA surveys, topography, building and site layout, construction- and project-management as well as land development consulting. He has presented classes and co-written manuals with the Illinois Institute For Continuing Legal Education along with classes at the University of Illinois and HalfMoon Education. Mr. Helfrich is a member of the National Society of Professional Surveyors and the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association.

Prior to his service at TVA, Mr. Savage was in private survey practice for 10 years specializing in dispute resolution and expert witness services. He has surveyed several disputed state boundaries to resolve jurisdictional conflicts. Mr. Savage is an adjunct professor at Cleveland State Community College where he teaches courses in boundary law, geodesy, GIS, and surveying fundamentals. He has researched and retraced the historical surveys of Henry David Thoreau and has published several articles on the subject. Mr. Savage teaches exam review and continuing education seminars at various state and local conferences across the country.

Survey Manager at Mackay Sposito in Federal Way, WAMr. Morriss is a Professional Land Surveyor in Washington. As a land surveyor Mr. Morriss has more than 35 years of experience, and he is considered an expert in boundary, easement and title issues. He is currently the survey manager for the Federal Way, Washington, branch office of Mackay Sposito. Mr. Morriss also has a law degree and over the last several years he had a law practice which focused on real property disputes and land title issues. He is an active member of the Land Surveyor’s Association of Washington (LSAW), serving as the 2014 president. Mr. Morriss received his B.S. degree in Urban Studies from Georgia State University and his J.D. degree from Seattle University School of Law. He has made continuing education presentations related to boundary law, boundary adjustments, legal descriptions, easements, and water law, to both attorneys and land surveyors.