Couverture de Elevated Access | The Inside Story

Elevated Access | The Inside Story

Elevated Access | The Inside Story

De : Chad Hughes | CEO; Entrepreneurial Leader; Author
Écouter gratuitement

3 mois pour 0,99 €/mois

Après 3 mois, 9.95 €/mois. Offre soumise à conditions.

À propos de ce contenu audio

 Welcome to Elevated Access, a podcast about the access required for energy and infrastructure developments across North America. Join me, Chad Hughes, as we meet with those at the top of their field whose experiences have helped shape the energy and infrastructure landscape – leaders who get access. Whether you’re a business leader, project developer, or professional who has been part of the access journey, or simply interested in what enables development, this podcast sheds light on the depth of care and attention that goes into securing access for development – and just how big of an undertaking it is.2023 LandSolutions LP Economie Politique et gouvernement Science Sciences de la Terre
Les membres Amazon Prime bénéficient automatiquement de 2 livres audio offerts chez Audible.

Vous êtes membre Amazon Prime ?

Bénéficiez automatiquement de 2 livres audio offerts.
Bonne écoute !
    Épisodes
    • 42 - The Abundance of Opportunity: Charting a Dynamic Right of Way Career with Brett Farner

      42 - The Abundance of Opportunity: Charting a Dynamic Right of Way Career with Brett Farner
      Jan 14 2026
      In this episode of Elevated Access, host Chad Hughes sits down with industry leader Brett Farner to explore the amazing and varied opportunities in the right of way and utility real estate profession. With a 17-year career spanning Ameren, Invenergy, and now a new leadership role at Toth & Associates, Brett shares a deeply insightful journey through utility infrastructure, electric transmission development, land acquisition, technology modernization, competitive transmission, and right of way leadership. Brett’s experiences offer a rare inside look at the soft skills, strategic thinking, and mindset needed to succeed in the profession.Brett emphasizes the career-defining importance of staying curious, asking questions, seeking mentorship, and being unafraid to take on work that no one has attempted before. From shoreline permitting at Lake of the Ozarks to navigating intense public opposition on the 100-mile Mark Twain Transmission Project, Brett discusses the nuances of building stakeholder trust. He shares how transparency, fair market valuation, and genuine listening transformed a highly opposed project into a success delivered ahead of schedule.Brett encourages newcomers to see the profession as a long-term, rewarding career path. He emphasizes that this profession desperately needs new talent, and the upward mobility is tremendous for those who lean into learning and leadership. With advice for newcomers and seasoned professionals alike, he encourages listeners to stay open-minded, stay curious, invest in their development, and recognize the essential role real estate plays in the success of every infrastructure project.“If I see something that could be better, I’m not just going to point it out—I’m willing to carry the load to make the improvement.” - Brett FarnerAbout Brett Farner: Brett Farner is an accomplished leader in the utility real estate and right of way industry, recognized for his ability to develop strategic direction, drive innovation, and deliver complex infrastructure projects. With nearly two decades of experience, Brett has consistently demonstrated expertise in property acquisition, transmission development, and organizational leadership across the energy sector.In his current role as Manager of ROW and Real Estate Acquisition at Toth & Associates, Brett oversees all aspects of right of way acquisition and real estate strategies for complex development projects. He is responsible for ensuring compliance, optimizing processes, and fostering collaborative partnerships with stakeholders to support the successful delivery of large-scale infrastructure initiatives.Prior to joining Toth & Associates, Brett served as Director of Transmission Development at Invenergy LLC, a leading global developer of sustainable energy solutions. There, he led teams executing land campaigns for major HVDC transmission projects, managed budgets exceeding $100M, and implemented visionary organizational plans to support the organization’s strategic growth in emerging markets.Earlier in his career, Brett spent 15 years at Ameren Corporation, a Fortune 500 energy company, where he advanced through multiple leadership roles. As Manager of Real Estate, he directed a property portfolio in excess of $1B, spearheaded a $12.1M customer affordability initiative, and managed technology-driven improvements to enhance operational efficiency. His tenure also included oversight of large-scale transmission projects, including the Mark Twain Transmission Project, where he was the lead for real estate on routing, public engagement, property acquisition, and construction support.Brett holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) from the University of Missouri, with emphases in finance, banking, and real estate. He earned the prestigious Senior Right of Way Professional (SR/WA) designation from the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) and has served in numerous leadership roles within the organization, including Past International Director and Chapter President. He also contributed as a past member of the Board of Trustees for the Right of Way International Education Foundation (RWIEF), is a frequent industry speaker and has been published in Right of Way Magazine.Known for his strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and commitment to excellence, Brett continues to champion innovation and professional development within the utility and real estate sectors.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website | linkedinBrett Farner | Manager of ROW and Real Estate Acquisition | Toth & Associates: linkedin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
      Afficher plus Afficher moins
      1 h et 24 min
    • 41 - Inside the IRWA: Leadership, Mentorship, and the Future with Koby Godwin

      41 - Inside the IRWA: Leadership, Mentorship, and the Future with Koby Godwin
      Dec 10 2025

      In this episode of Elevated Access, Chad Hughes is joined by IRWA President Koby Godwin for a deep dive into his journey through the International Right of Way Association and the path that led him to his top leadership role. Koby’s career began in urban and regional planning with the Alberta government, then evolved into a passion for the right-of-way industry, association involvement, and professional development. Chad and Koby discuss his early exposure to IRWA meetings, the value of education, mentorship, and building long-term relationships across the profession.

      Koby shares the personal and professional barriers he faced along the way, including overcoming a fear of public speaking, managing growing leadership responsibilities, and finding work-life balance while navigating career transitions. He reflects on the impact of volunteer service and how IRWA provided opportunities to stretch his skills beyond his day job in land acquisition, surplus property disposition, and infrastructure planning. Chad finds that Koby’s insights offer practical takeaways for right-of-way professionals and those looking to enter the profession.

      Koby discusses his future top priorities as IRWA President, including strengthening mentorship programs, expanding industry partnerships, and elevating recognition of the SR/WA designation across North America. With IRWA membership growing and new education initiatives underway, he shares why now is a pivotal time for professionals to get involved and make the most of the association. This episode is packed with valuable perspective and actionable advice for those in the right-of-way profession or anyone wanting a behind-the-scenes look at how the IRWA operates.

      “The way we work has changed. With people remote and disconnected, mentorship is harder. But that makes it even more important.” - Koby Godwin

      About Koby Godwin:

      Koby Godwin is the current International President of the International Right of Way Association, stepping into the role in June of 2025. The IRWA is a global, member-led organization of dedicated professionals within the right of way industry. The IRWA’s purpose has always been to improve people’s quality of life through infrastructure development. They provide invaluable connections and education through its network of over 8000 members across 15 countries. One of the main goals for his tenure as President is to increase awareness of the IRWA, it’s educational programs and improving member benefits.

      He has been a member of the IRWA for 18 years and has been a part of leadership is his local chapter, region as well as being a conference co-chair for the 2018 conference in Edmonton. He decided to become more involved in leadership once he realized the global experience he could gain by becoming more involved in the association.

      Koby Godwin has worked with Alberta Infrastructure for 19 years, starting as a Land Planning Technologist before moving into his current positions as a Property Agent with Acquisitions, Sales and Development disposing of surplus government land. In his position he has dealt with sale of small parcels of land to local landowners, to multimillion dollar dispositions to large corporations.

      In the due diligence of surplus parcels, he works with various other government departments and reviews all aspects of the sale, including environment site assessments, appraisals, historical land use, encumbrances, easements as well as any other items that may relate to land use and rights. Prior to his time in Government, he worked as a drafting technologist doing land planning and engineering design for various engineering companies.

      He was born and raised in the Edmonton area and has been married to his wife for almost 25 years and they have two children attending the University of Alberta. He graduated from the Urban and Regional Planning Drafting Technology program at NAIT in 1996. Outside of work and the IRWA he enjoys sketching, game design and playing board games, as well as playing hockey, curling and axe throwing.

      ---

      Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedin

      Koby Godwin |IRWA President: website | linkedin

      __


      Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
      Afficher plus Afficher moins
      59 min
    • 40 - Engaging Landowners Through Consistency with Tara Green

      40 - Engaging Landowners Through Consistency with Tara Green
      Nov 12 2025
      In this episode, Chad Hughes is joined by Tara Green, a Real Estate Specialist with Ameren Corporation, to discuss the innovative approaches she introduced to Ameren for engaging with landowners. Tara’s experience has taught her strategies, effective communication, and the importance of consistency in messaging and teammates. She shares sound advice and is very encouraging to those who may have an interest in joining the industry.Tara lets Chad in on her career journey from a small-town childhood in Illinois to leading real estate and transmission routing projects at Ameren. She was influenced by her father’s work in the electric utility sector and through his stories developed keen respect for landowners and rural communities. This respect shaped her empathetic approach to easement acquisition and project development. One of the key focuses of Chad and Tara’s conversation is Tara’s creation of “impacted landowner meetings,” which are collaborative, community-style assemblies that replace traditional door-to-door negotiations. Through these meetings, Ameren was able to build trust, maintain consistent messaging, and address landowner concerns directly through subject matter experts in every area. Tara emphasizes communication, respect for landowners, and consistency from project conception through construction as critical components of success. “I noticed that there weren't many people sensitive to the landowner receiving the information. And I said, well, as a negotiator, my main job is to take very complicated, maybe scary information, simplify that in a way that normal people understand what's going on, and they're not fearing it. If I can keep it simple and give them the facts that they need to make an educated decision, I've done my job.” - Tara GreenAbout Tara Green:Tara Green grew up with country surroundings in the rural community of Staunton, Illinois, and began her real estate career when she graduated from Staunton High School. Throughout her childhood, her dad, Rollie Lorenz, worked for Union Electric Company (now Ameren) as a design draftsman focused on electric schematics for substation and energy centers. She continued her real estate career by earning a bachelor's degree in business management and maintains her Managing Broker Real Estate License for Illinois.Green spent the first 5 years learning about title searching and real estate ownership rights at Community Title & Escrow in Illinois. Over the next decade, she utilized her Illinois Real Estate Broker's license to partner with commercial, industrial, and investment companies to create jobs and support economic development in Southwestern Illinois. She served as the commercial property manager for Bandwidth Exchange Buildings, two data center carrier hotels located in downtown St. Louis, as the Information Technology industry grew in the Metro St. Louis region. This experience in effective customer service, through quality client relationships, has laid the foundation for her continued success in the real estate network.Tara's awareness of the manufacturing and industrial processes, the need for redundant and reliable energy, and the long-term needs of commercial and industrial companies introduced her to the utility sector in early 2014 when she began supporting Ameren Illinois as a member of their Real Estate Department. Her Ameren Illinois journey began in natural gas pipeline and distribution electric projects along with logistics lead for emergency storm response. Over the next several years, Tara designed and implemented a sustainable railroad permitting strategy for processing and training utility, contractor, and railroad companies to work together as partners. In 2016, Tara advanced to a lead real estate position serving electric transmission leading the vegetation reclamation program and the fiber communication installation and maintenance program (Intelligrid Program) across the existing transmission and distribution facilities in Missouri and Illinois to ensure the reliability of its infrastructure.Currently, she manages multiple certificated greenfield electric transmission projects to serve transmission utility business partners across Ameren's service territory. As a Real Estate Specialist, Tara is responsible for planning, executing and completing real estate scope requirements for large-scale electric transmission construction greenfield certificated utility projects on behalf of Ameren's operating companies. Tara is responsible for coordinating and managing all real estate matters connected to transmission line projects including surveys, market studies and appraisals, public process and testimony, acquisition of land rights and permits, access determination for construction and maintenance support, damage settlements, and eminent domain. Her daily responsibilities include providing written and in-person testimony for the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) public ...
      Afficher plus Afficher moins
      55 min
    Aucun commentaire pour le moment