Elevated Access | The Inside Story

Chad Hughes welcomes Andrew Fulford, Surface Land Manager of Birchcliff Energy, to the show to talk about Birchcliff's unique culture and his thirty-plus-year career. Andrew, who got into the industry by going to Olds College in what was then called the Land Agent Program, got offered his role at Birchcliff twelve years ago, and he reflects on changes in his career and the industry while offering advice to newcomers in the surface land business. Andrew discusses how the always-changing industry offers a lot of opportunity for growth in a career due to the progress and new skill sets required with the shifts. He says it does lead to being a bit of a jack of all trades and includes project management as one of his roles now. One of the things he learned very recently was the role of Indigenous relations when he not only needed to understand the new consultation regulations, but also become immersed in Indigenous history and culture so he could adapt to their way of doing business. Chad and Andrew talk about company culture and what makes Birchcliff so unique and positive. Andrew highlights the relationships frontline people form with communities and the smooth communication they develop. He reflects on how much things have changed in the industry and how the training now would be substantially different than when he first started. His advice to people looking for a career in the industry is to learn about the whole industry, not just land.“... when you first get into the surface land business, if you're passionate about it … I say to people, go to where you will learn the most. Go to those. Look for those places where you will gain the most skills and diverse skills. Don't just focus on one. It may not be the best-paying job that you take off the start, but it's probably the one that's where you're going to learn the most, and it's probably going to take you away from home for longer periods of time. I spent a good part of the first part of my career, you know, behind the wheel of a vehicle and sometimes away from home for 1 to 2 weeks at a time… but I'll tell you what. It paid off in spades towards the latter part of my career. And the skills that I built and the understanding that I had about the business when I did that.” - Andrew FulfordAbout Andrew Fulford:Andrew is the Surface Land Manager for Birchcliff Energy, responsible for surface land access, community and stakeholder engagement, indigenous relations and managing a team of 5 surface professionals.He graduated Olds College in 1986 with a Land Agent diploma and over the next dozen years worked as a consulting landman for several land brokers and a royalty trust company.  In the late 90's he moved “in-house” to the role of Senior Surface Landman for PanCanadian Petroleum, a major exploration and production company which later merged with Alberta Energy Corp. to become into EnCana Corporation.  Here he managed a one of the surface land teams focused on Coal Bed Methane development in southern Alberta.  In 2012 he moved to his present role at Birchcliff Energy Ltd.  an intermediate oil and natural gas company based in Calgary with operations focused on the Montney/Doig resources play in north western Alberta.With over 35 years in the land industry, he has been involved with a diverse variety of projects across all 4 western provinces including acquisition of linear right of ways for powerlines, natural gas and telecom, wellsites, gathering systems and gas processing facilities, freehold and crown mineral land projects, stakeholder and indigenous relations and crown surface land disposition acquisitions.He has worked with the Southern Alberta Institute for Technology to help update and develop their Surface Land Management Course which he also taught for a number of years and has also developed and taught short courses for CAPL and CAPLA (now CALEP and LEMAC) over the past 15 years.Additionally, he has volunteered on various industry committee which presently include the CALEP – Field Acquisition Management Committee and the Olds College, Surface Land Management Program - Industry Advisory Committee.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinAndrew Fulford |Surface Land Manager, Birchcliff Energy: website | linkedin

Chad Hughes invites James Thurston, a longtime friend and experienced land agent, to the show to discuss insights on their generation and its alignment with the industry. James Thurston reflects on his journey, emphasizing the importance of networking and building relationships during his time in the land agent program. He shares how chance and curiosity led him to the field, working on the Alliance pipeline and later in various locations across Western Canada.James explores the unique characteristics of his and Chad's generation, shaped by a lack of parental presence during childhood, fostering resilience, self-sufficiency, and a nomadic mindset. He highlights the generation's ability to adapt to industry changes, particularly during the boom in coal bed methane, and how they navigated through subsequent challenges like the 2008 financial crisis and the fracking revolution. Despite the positive traits, James acknowledges the downsides, such as reluctance to ask for help and potential loneliness.Chad and James touch on the evolution of the land agent role, from individual well projects to centralized pad locations and a shift to Crown land. James emphasizes the importance of adaptability and problem-solving in the ever-changing industry. Their conversation reveals the unique characteristics of their generation and its impact on their successful navigation through the dynamic landscape of land agency.“... if I didn't know the answer, I really made a conscious effort to seek it out. And it was a lot harder back then. As you remember, we didn't have the internet like we do now. We didn't have access to information, but I did have a large network of friends from Olds. And, you know, I leaned on that. … we had to all kind of learn from each other, you know, there was a lot of talk. There was a lot of consensus. There was a lot of sitting at a table and working things out and bouncing ideas off each other and really being open to that idea that not every problem has a simple solution.” - James ThurstonAbout James Thurston:For nearly 23 years, James has journeyed through Western Canada acquiring land and overseeing large-scale acquisitions. His path started in Camrose, Alberta, where he joined a small but busy land broker. Over the course of five years, he dedicated himself to acquiring hundreds of upstream projects. It was a time of growth and development, both personally and professionally. But when the call of opportunity beckoned, James found himself in Calgary. There, he took on the role of an in-house landman at Penn West overseeing large-scale drilling programs in West Central Alberta. As the company underwent transitions, James recognized the need for a new path and that journey brought him to Shell in 2014. He's been able to leverage his skills and knowledge and enjoy a successful career at Shell during an ever-changing time.James is also a proud husband and father of four young children who keep him on his feet and have helped him grow as a person and as a project manager and landman.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinJames Thurston | Discipline Lead, Surface Land, Shell Canada: website | linkedin

Host Chad Hughes welcomes Blandon Granger, Supervisor of Real Estate Services for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), to the show. Blandon has been in the energy industry at SMUD for the past seventeen years and supervises asset management and complex acquisitions. He talks with Chad about the impacts of EV charging and urban development on his role. Blandon explains that SMUD has a “very aggressive” zero carbon plan and by 2030 wants all their energy to be from clean sources. He talks about how SMUD approaches that goal by developing themselves as well as partnering with developers with similar goals. Renewable energy and green initiative projects come with their own challenges that Blandon describes for Chad.Chad and Blandon discuss how the real estate development deals are made, how SMUD is a public agency with an elected board of directors, how the green energy shift comes with decarbonization and the impacts of urban and residential growth on how his department operates. EV charging especially has come with its own challenges and Blandon addresses this and more with Chad in this eye-opening interview. “So, you know, a big concern, I think, anywhere is wiping out [agriculture] lands for these solar projects. Agriculture is a big customer for us. I mean, you know, we've got agricultural customers, it's a part of our heritage in the valley here. I don't think SMUD really wants to be going out there and just decimating significant farmlands and so forth. So the thought is you would bring in compatible type of AG uses. So what we've seen so far is mainly grazing. Sheep are great. They don't bother or destroy the facilities.” - Blandon GrangerAbout Blandon Granger:At SMUD, Blandon Granger manages all real estate activities of the nation's sixth-largest publicly owned electric utility. With an annual budget of $1.6 billion, SMUD is a leader in renewable technologies and developing energy projects. Blandon's group provides services for acquisition, management and disposition of all land rights necessary to operate an electrical utility with generation, transmission, distribution, retail, and administrative facilities. Blandon has also served on the City of Roseville Public Utilities Commission since 2012 and is responsible to the city council for recommendations on policies concerning evaluation, operations, and compliance with state and federal rules and regulations relating to the city's utilities within the city limits. Blandon has achieved the International Right of Way Association's (IRWA) Senior Agent (SR/WA) designation and serves on IRWA's International Electric and Utilities Committee and is the past chair of the Asset Management Committee. ---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinBlandon Granger | Supervisor of Real Estate Services at SMUD: website | linkedin

Host Chad Hughes welcomes Jennifer Tidmarsh, Vice President of Indigenous Relations & Partnerships with Ontario Power Generation, to the show. Jennifer talks about the development of small modular reactors in the nuclear space and the challenges surrounding presenting those solutions to the community.Jennifer explains some of the public perceptions around nuclear power that have been shaped by events like Three Mile Island, Fukushima, and Chernobyl, and even pop culture references like the nuclear power plant in The Simpsons. Her work involves a lot of education around changing those perceptions and explaining the new initiatives in place for nuclear waste management. Chad and Jennifer discuss the Indigenous community's concerns about the storage and handling of nuclear waste, specific facts about nuclear waste, the complex regulatory process for it, and the value of nuclear energy for the future. Jennifer sheds light on the environmental assessments that go into nuclear power generation and how the OPG works to alleviate negative perceptions of nuclear overall and educate the public on safeties in place.“But really the perception has been we want more information about nuclear as a whole, not just those little snippets of, okay, here's the permit we need for this, for the reactor. It's where does nuclear fit into the Ontario grid, and why are you doing this? So we've spent a lot of time really talking about, you know, pathways to decarbonization, which was a report that was put out by the IESO. And you know what, the fact that we need generation and why do we need generation and what's the plan going forward. And so that's been, you know, us doing a lot of that groundwork. And we have had pushback. You know, I can't sugarcoat it all, right?” - Jennifer TidmarshAbout Jennifer Tidmarsh:With a strong background in the energy sector, Jennifer has worked with various organizations, associations, regulated and unregulated businesses, Indigenous communities, governments, and ministerial departments. Prior to becoming the Vice President of Indigenous Relations and Partnerships at Ontario Power Generation, Jennifer was the President of Transmission in Canada for NextEra Energy, the largest renewables developer in North America. In addition to business development in Canada, Jennifer also led the development and construction of the East West Tie transmission project in Northwestern Ontario, which went into service in March 2022.  The East West Tie project is proud to have an equity partner in six First Nations communities, as well as training and employing a large Indigenous workforce in the region.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinJennifer Tidmarsh | Vice President, Indigenous Relations & Partnerships: website | linkedin | opg instagram

Host Chad Hughes welcomes Pablo Gutiérrez, Managing Director of O'Gorman&Hagerman professional services firm, to the show to talk about what it's like to acquire land access and engage with the public in Mexico. O'Gorman&Hagerman started in corporate law but moved to provide agrarian services which is where they now specialize. Pablo explains that Mexico has public and private property, just like the US and Canada, but they also have ejidos and communities which are social property mainly in rural areas which are under agrarian law. He explains how different states have different regulations for the various property types and what it's like to navigate the complex system of authorities governing land rights.Chad and Pablo discuss the complexities of the differing information systems mapping each property type, the process required to assess routes and gain access, and how he and his firm would go about appraising and negotiating compensation. Pablo shares a lot of information about the Mexican right of way system and describes the kind of development with the most activity there. This episode sheds a lot of light on the differences and also similarities between our system and that of Mexico.“... safety is one of our main concerns as a company. It's a very tough one to solve because you don't actually know who to trust. And in each community, you don't know at the onset who's there. We have a team of social experts that through these interviews, try to understand what's happening on the field, who's there, who has interests, who are the leaders, what are they doing if there is organized crime there, and at what level? What do they control if they have contact with the lands or not? So we try to know where we're going. But there are many things that are not apparent, that you cannot see. And that's one, I would say, main risk. And the other is we just have many roads and many areas in Mexico that that are just dangerous at some hours or times or, you know, that you don't want to be on the wrong moment at the wrong time” - Pablo GutiérrezAbout Pablo Gutiérrez:Pablo Gutiérrez de la Peza. Lawyer, MBA and Managing Partner of O'Gorman&Hagerman, a medium-sized law and professional services firm specializing in Lands, Permits and Social Licenses for infrastructure projects in Mexico. Pablo leads a team of high-performance multidisciplinary teams that have successfully acquired the Right of Way for some of the most complex and challenging projects in Mexico. He is a member of the IRWA International Committee.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinPablo Gutiérrez | Managing Director at O'Gorman&Hagerman: website | linkedin | email

Host Chad Hughes welcomes Robert McCallum, President of McCallum Environmental, to the show. Robert has been working in the environmental consulting industry for over 25 years and he specifically brings his experience in working across varied Canadian provincial jurisdictions to the conversation.Robert is a professional biologist registered in Alberta and though he started his career in oil and gas, in 2003 he was pulled into a renewable energy project and has been working in the renewable space since. His company is called into projects to do environmental assessment work; looking at birds, wetlands, watercourses, and land use habitat. Chad and Robert discuss how Robert's experience in the practical side of the industry helps him communicate the regulatory processes to clients, how the regulatory boards differ from province to province, the lengthy time frames involved in obtaining permitting approvals, and how to balance project and client needs against environmental requirements. Robert's insight sheds light on how provincial regulations are the same in spirit but very different in process and execution, something to always consider when working across jurisdictions. “And you can't really take the approach that one thing is more important than the other or one thing is just going to be a token effort at the end of this and we can just move forward with it. So you really need to have it all lined up in the beginning and then you can check them off. Oh yeah, that's not going to be applicable. We don't need to worry about it. We've had the Department of National Defense come back and say that's going to interfere with our radars and no, you can't have turbines there. Now, the Department of National Defense doesn't have the authority to say you can't have radars there. But when the regulatory agency hears the Department of National Defense doesn't want turbines, that holds a lot of weight” - Robert McCallumAbout Robert McCallum:Robert has been working in the regulatory consulting industry and has worked throughout Canada with a variety of industries and people for over 25 years. He has learned that no matter the industry or location, Project Management is about people. Working as a team, having fun, and enjoying the accomplishment of a successful project.He has extensive project management experience in an owner and consulting environment and he understands and can articulate technical, business and project management functions associated with project development and execution. Robert understands typical owner-company project sanctioning / funding cycles and business drivers. He has a demonstrated ability to adjust Project Management approaches to meet the requirements of projects with varying scopes, complexity, risk, constraints, etc. while understanding the implications of process variance. He also has extensive planning, regulatory, construction and commissioning planning and execution experience.What sets Robert apart is both his responsiveness and ability to bring a big-picture approach to all the assessments he is part of. This comes from working on projects through assessment, permitting, construction monitoring, operations monitoring, and reclamation. ---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinRobert McCallum | Project Management, Environmental Consulting and Assessment, President at McCallum Environmental Ltd: website | linkedin | email

In the inaugural episode of Elevated Access' third season, Chad Hughes is joined by Senior Real Estate Infrastructure Advisor Gordon MacNair. Gordon has spent time with the RWA and worked across more than six countries. He shares advice along with the similarities and differences between the jurisdictions.Gordon worked in the BC Ministry of Highways and later for Ontario Hydro, among other companies in his career, which has given him great experience in acquiring land for major land assemblies. It was when he was working for the City of Ottawa that he became heavily involved with the International Railway Association as a volunteer before moving up to become the international president. In his presidential capacity, he has worked alongside people from the UK, Australia, South Africa, Nigeria, Mexico, the US, and Canada.Chad and Gordon discuss the similarities in the industry that exist across different countries and how the work is handled. Gordon also explains the significant differences between the varied jurisdictions, with a not insignificant difference being in terminology. Gordon shares which differences he sees as positives that he'd like to see adopted elsewhere, differing safety and risk situations, and some key lessons he has learned that he imparts as solid advice to those looking to similarly work internationally.“In the past, whenever I think about land assembly, I think you're putting together land for subdivisions or it's for commercial development, industrial development, residential development or whatever. But a lot of countries, especially the UK as well as Australia, they refer to land assembly in terms of you're putting projects together for your infrastructure real estate, whether it's the highways or whether it's the hydro lines or transmission lines, whatever the case may be. So again, a little nuance there with regards to the difference when you're talking about terminology.” - Gordon MacNairAbout Gordon MacNair:Gordon E. MacNair is a Senior Real Estate Infrastructure Advisor employed with MacNair Consulting Inc. His former position was with the City of Ottawa as the Director of the Corporate Real Estate Office where his team oversaw all real estate matters for the City of Ottawa. He is also a certified lecturer for the IRWA and the AIC and has published numerous articles on infrastructure real estate matters. Gord served as the International President of the IRWA and is currently serving as the Chair of the International Relations Committee. Mr. MacNair has taught courses and seminars on infrastructure real estate issues throughout Canada and the United States as well as Australia, South Africa, and the UK.Episode Clarification Notes:Title clarification: Gordon was the Real Estate Manager, not Property Manager as stated. He started off as a Property Agent, then was promoted to Real Estate Manager.Job clarification: Gordon served as the COO (Chief Operating Officer) of Ottawa Community Lands Development Corporation, not with the COO as stated.Andrea Carolan clarification: Gordon worked with Andrea, not for her as stated.Book clarification: A book was mentioned as being by Dr. James McKellar but James is not a Dr (PhD), he is a Professor. The book is by Professor James McKellar. Gordon served as the COO (Chief Operating Officer) of Ottawa Community Lands Development Corporation, not with the COO as stated.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinGordon MacNair | Senior Real Estate Infrastructure Advisor at MacNair Consulting Inc: linkedin

Chad Hughes is joined by Tim Robillard, Vice-Presisdent of Engagement & Operations for Communica Public Affairs, to discuss the energy transition. Tim draws from his background and experience to talk about how the energy transition may create new interests or concerns for stakeholders in the future.Tim has been in the energy industry in various roles for over 25 years. He got his start in peer mediation programs in high school which taught him the value of people talking things through. Mediation and dispute resolution is in his nature, his calling. He believes there is a regulatory backdrop to all healthy dialogue between stakeholders, communities, and industry players.Chad and Tim Robillard talk about the one time he was arrested at an open house for a coal mine project, the different skill sets he draws on in his current work, the human component of the energy industry, how regulatory bodies tie back to the people, and his forecast for the future of the industry. Tim has a keen way of connecting the dots between ideals and issues, and he understands the need for an empathetic human connection in the work that he does, as well as a recognition of regulatory changes. “There are human needs that need to be met, and there are ways in which energy companies try and meet those needs. Getting there is the tricky part, and that's where folks like us can come in.” - Tim RobillardAbout Tim Robillard:Tim brings over 20 years of Energy Industry public affairs and engagement experience in both Canada and the US to his role as Senior Manager, Engagement at Communica.   Known for his diverse leadership and conflict management skills, Tim has led hundreds of teams in a wide variety of energy sector projects in different regulatory jurisdictions through the lifecycle of an asset.Tim has been an active member on the CER Land Matters Group and was a designer & implementer of Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs for the CER, AER and BC OGC.  Tim is Chartered Mediator with the ADR Institute of Canada and has mediated hundreds of energy industry and public disputes, enabling him and Communica to support their clients to better navigate through complex work and enable better Indigenous and stakeholder relationships with companies.Tim has a Master of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and ensures that our clients work always has the best chance of permitting success with a balance of meaningful stakeholder involvement that enhances understanding, trust and a company's reputation in the community.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinTim Robillard | Vice-President, Engagement & Operations - Communica : website | linkedin

Chad Hughes welcomes Jeff Burke - Environment, Land and Emissions Governance for TC Energy - to the show to talk about non-technical risk across jurisdictions. Jeff addresses common challenges that can be expected whether you're in Canada, the US, or Mexico, and shares great advice for land access professionals.Jeff started out in construction and maintenance projects for a Canadian national railway company. Through that he gained an understanding of the ways in which industry impacts land owners, which ultimately led him into his land career. With his current company, TC Energy, whom he's been with for over ten years, he has worked in and around land, and in Indigenous relations and environmental regulatory roles.Chad and Jeff Burke talk about how the pandemic changed communication, the relational skill set required to work in the land industry, evaluating risks in terms of land rights, and the commonalities in the disciplines that apply regardless of jurisdiction. Jeff's advice on managing non-technical risk and how to get a project out of the gate is born from vast experience. His insight will prove valuable to anyone working in land access or project development careers.“And, you know, the relationship management and the ability to form relationships, specifically with landowners, is a critical piece. I look for this in all of the people that do our work. It is absolutely necessary that you have the ability to build those relationships, be relatable, show empathy, communicate effectively, etcetera.” - Jeff BurkeAbout Jeff Burke:Jeff Burke has been with TC Energy since 2013 and has held various management positions, including in Land, Indigenous Relations, Environment and Regulatory affairs. He is currently the Director of Environment and Land Governance, overseeing enterprise level requirements, risk management and strategy for the Environment and Land functions. Over his career, he has been deeply involved in leading the acquisition and management of land rights, and landowner engagement across North America.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinJeff Burke | Director - Environment, Land and Emissions Governance for TC Energy: website | linkedin

Jon Lovink, Western Canada's most experienced media coach, joins Chad Hughes on the show to talk about trust and the media. Jon has a program called CRED which is effective for building trust in scenarios from one-on-one conversations to crisis or media. He gets into details with Chad.Jon describes how he started in news, first as a reporter and eventually as a senior producer for CBC News, which led him to coaching. His speciality, what his company focuses on, is media coaching. At its core, Jon says media training is all about overcoming people's fear of public speaking. There is an added level of overcoming distrust in the media right now, and Jon shares insight on that.Chad and Jon Lovink talk about shaping the headlines in communications, building trust through verbal and body language, controlling the outcome of interviews, and Jon's CRED program. Jon breaks down CRED into C for concern, R for responsiveness, E for expertise, and D for dedication. He and Chad examine how these work into different situations and help prepare you for speaking about a crisis. Jon has a wealth of experience and his stories and insights are light bulb moments on how to handle media.“It really is about shaping the outcome, it's about taking charge of the engagement with reporters. And you know, knowing how to… be outcome oriented.” - Jon LovinkAbout Jon Lovink:Jon Lovink is Lovink Media Inc's president, senior coach and counsel. He has 20 years of intensive media and spokesperson training and counsel experience across Canada and the US. Few media trainers in Canada can lay claim to his combination of years of media and crisis communications training and counsel experience with his 20 years of background in the trenches of day-to-day news and current affairs operations. His work as a communications strategist puts him in contact with the news media on a weekly basis and he is thoroughly familiar with the current trends in print, radio and TV and social media.From communications strategy to research to reporting, news assignment to line-up, hiring to editorial decision-making, Jon has worked in all areas of news operations. This adds significant authenticity and relevance to the training and counsel he provides.In addition, Jon has worked outside the news business as a Director of Communications for three large national organizations and has won an International Association of Business Communicators Gold Quill Award and the American Marketing Association's Masters of Marketing Award. He served on the Board of the Canadian Public Relations Society as well as other not-for- profit Boards He is a graduate of Queens University and UBC.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinJon Lovink | Media Coach / President of Lovink Media Inc: website | linkedin | “on being credible” by jon lovink

Chad Hughes welcomes Charles Neustaedter, the Realty Section Manager at the City of Surrey in BC, to the show to discuss negotiations. Their conversation covers different types of negotiating as well as the importance of preparation in determining the right approach to use. When Charles started at the City of Surrey in 1993, things were very different. He has seen a lot of growth in both the city and technology surrounding his job through the years. He also credits his time with the City as providing him with great mentors. One of the things Charles stresses is the need for a rapport with people, being able to form a relationship.Chad and Charles talk about different negotiation approaches, using the “funnel technique” to handle a difficult situation, why Charles works to find commonality between himself and the property owner, and the necessity of time to forge a successful negotiation. Charles advises that training never ends, that there is never a time to stop finding tools to aid in your work. This is a very insightful interview on the ins and outs of making deals with people in a respectful and successful manner.“... I always have the philosophy that there's no stupid question. And so even at the risk of perhaps being a bit self-deprecating, I'll ask the question anyways. Because I just have this desire to understand and if I have that understanding, then I can certainly share that with someone whose property is being impacted. And I would also suggest [that] your communication skills are hugely important as well.” - Charles NeustaedterAbout Charles Neustaedter:As of 2022, Charles Neustaedter has twenty-nine years of experience at the City of Surrey in the Real Estate Division. He manages two sections in the Real Estate Division: Property Acquisition Section (civil works projects) and the Conveyancing Section.Charles is conversant in civil design and assisting with solutions to mitigate property impact. He is keenly interested in a collaborative problem solving approach with a servant leadership mindset. He truly considers working with Civil Engineers, Appraisers, Lawyers and Property Owners to achieve consensual settlements for capital projects of great importance. Charles works at building relationships as he believes that to be imperative to success.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinCharles Neustaedter | Realty Section Manager at City of Surrey: website | linkedin

Chad Hughes welcomes Eric Barnett, Director of Development for Vistra Corp, to the show to discuss A&D activity in the renewable space as well as evaluating and mitigating risk. Eric has a long career in land and much to share with access professionals and developers alike. Eric explains how his current role involves assessing how to repurpose real estate owned by the company. They are focused on renewables and Eric is excited by the challenges of looking into the environmental aspects of a retired coal plant and how it can be utilized for solar energy.  Chad and Eric talk about working relationships with developers, communication with landowners, some specifics on title policies in Texas, and assessing risk going into a project. Eric shares from his own career experiences, times when he was invested in a project and perhaps lost out on it. He focuses on doing things the right way with due diligence and maintaining relationships with all landowners. Eric speculates on the future of renewables for Chad and offers a lot of insight for listeners to apply to their own careers. “So if you're a developer and you're a smaller private equity group looking to sell projects, I think building relationships with those end owner-operators and having your short list of buyers maybe that you either have some kind of agreement in place with or, hey, you're going to get first shot at these projects. And maybe there's some kind of financial compensation there where they kind of help you with some of the costs while you're de-risking these projects before they would take over and take ownership. You know, I see that with some of the smaller developers.” - Eric BarnettAbout Eric Barnett:Eric Barnett is the Director of Development for Vistra Corp. He comes from a background in oil and gas and land acquisition. He moved into renewable energy in 2014. His work specialties include renewable energy project management, oil/gas/wind/solar lease acquisition; right of way, curative; due diligence; site development, and permitting.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinEric Barnett | Director of Development, Vistra Corp.: website | linkedin

Chad Hughes welcomes Mark Bradley, Principal Owner of Marram Consulting Ltd and Team Lead at Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc, to the show to discuss “the quiet coexistence between pipeline operators and the public”. Mark shares from his wealth of experience in building post-construction relationships. Mark's education is in urban and regional planning, a bit of an untraditional background for someone in the land world. While his classmates dreamed of designing beautiful neighborhoods, Mark decided he wanted to be a right of way planner. He says his background in urban planning was an asset for the work he did in the pipeline industry. Chad and Mark talk about what happens after the pipeline is built: how the handover of stakeholder relationships is handled and maintaining the existing relationships or building new ones in the post-construction time. Mark highlights examples of key things he's learned throughout his career, communication with new landowners about pipelines on their property, the soft skills necessary for the work he does, and who his mentors were. There is a lot to take away from this episode.“Nowadays, this role has become a lot about mitigation. It's mitigating risks, mitigating liabilities. And in order to do that, a land professional really needs to document things well and be very, very meticulous in the documentation. I think the land professional has to have a much better understanding of the regulatory regime, the things that the regulations provide as tools in order to get us, you know, onto the land and to do the things that we need to do. So it's not a matter of just checking a box and saying, I did this because the checklist says we have to do it.” - Mark BradleyAbout Mark Bradley, CPT:Mark Bradley has over 20 years of expertise in the pipeline industry, on both provincially and federally regulated gas and liquids transmission systems. His energy career began as a member of a Pipeline Maintenance Team, working on pipeline inspection and replacement, facilities construction, mainline projects, and even as a welder's helper. This gave him a solid foundation for later progressions into Crossings, Public Awareness, Emergency Preparedness, and Land.Mark is a proven networker and collaborator, having had the privilege of working with the following organizations: International Right-of-Way Association (IRWA), Edmonton Area Pipeline and Utility Operators Committee, Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA), Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA) and Canadian Association of Certified Planning Technicians (CACPT)He is a strong believer that dialogue, education, and understanding effectively brings people and pipelines together. Accordingly, he has been directly involved as the Western Canadian representative for the CACPT, a partner author of Canadian Standards Association "Special Publication PLUS 663 - Land use planning for pipelines: A guideline for local authorities, developers and pipeline operators", Vice Chair, CEPA Damage Prevention Working Group, and on the Education Committee for BC Common Ground AllianceMark holds an Honours Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning. He lives in Calgary, AB with his wife, two teenagers, and dog Crosby (yes, after the hockey player).---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinMark Bradley | Team Lead, Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc; Principal Owner, Marram Consulting Ltd: website | linkedin | email 

Chad Hughes welcomes Andrea Carolan, Managing Director of Public Private Property in Adelaide, Australia, to the show for insight into challenges in her sector. Andrea talks about her career in valuation and sheds light on what approaches are different between urban and rural appraisal.Following her father into valuation, Andrea identifies as a second generation valuer. She still uses things she learned through his mentorship and philosophies. She founded her company, Public Private Property, in 2017 and it focuses strictly on valuation. She explains how she works to value a property before acquisition.Chad and Andrea talk about the industries she's been working on lately in Australia, the differences between valuation for government versus energy companies, how she assesses landowner compensation, and the soft skills required to realize success in the valuation business. Andrea has a lot of experience in working through challenges in the industry. She talks about mentorship and learning by example and her conversation here is a prime example of how willingly she shares her insight.“It's important to show respect. I remember learning that from another valuer where I was probably a little bit out of my depth and went into a conference, and I probably wasn't right, and there was another much more senior valuer. And he was so kind to me and so respectful in the way he communicated. And I just really appreciated it at the time because I'd gone in there pretty gung-ho….he really taught me that day because he could have crushed me, absolutely crushed me, and he didn't.” - Andrea CarolanAbout Andrea Carolan:Andrea Carolan is a Certified Practicing Valuer and Fellow of the Australian Property Institute. She is also a Board Member/Director of the Australian Property Institute (API) and International Director and Past President of the Australian Chapter of the International Right of Way Association (IRWA).Andrea founded Public Private Property in 2017 following 25 years at Maloney Field Services (now JLL Infrastructure Advisory). Her extensive experience serving both the public and private sectors resulted in a nimble and capable specialist valuation practice with an emphasis on carefully selected niche markets.Public Private Property specializes in valuation and compensation for land acquisition associated with both minor and major infrastructure projects throughout Australia. Their experience and services extend to whole of property, partial interest, and easement acquisitions across urban, regional, rural, and pastoral areas.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinAndrea Carolan | Acquisition Valuer / Managing Director at Public Private Property: website | linkedin

Chad Hughes hosts Thomas Schaffer, Senior Manager for Transmission Right-of-Way at American Electric Power, on the show to discuss the work AEP is doing and how they engage with customers in meaningful ways. They delve into Thomas' career history and what the future has in store for the industry.  Thomas came into acquisition through working a summer job at the courthouse in Columbus, Ohio. He started learning about title ownership at the courthouse and that led into easement which ultimately landed him acquisition work. He has been at American Electric Power for sixteen years now in a role surrounding electric transmission facilities that stretch over 40,000 miles. Chad and Thomas talk about not only how AEP has changed and grown in the last sixteen years, but how renewable energy has affected the industry at large. Thomas addresses how the initial approach to landowners is considered and the importance of maintaining that relationship component. He expects changes in the future that will affect regulations pertaining to customers, and considers how social media can affect industry messaging overall. “Number one, looking for affordable electricity is important. We hear that a lot. The other part, too, is clean and reliable electricity. So when you unpack a lot of that, the renewable side comes into play. And so from our position, when we talk about renewables and bringing them onto the grid, there is a lot of demand and trying to find ways to build partnerships with those renewable developers I think is probably the most significant in the aspect of them getting on the grid.” - Thomas SchafferAbout Thomas Schaffer:Thomas Schaffer is a senior manager at American Electric Power (AEP), and is responsible for managing the right-of-way group in securing the land rights necessary for the construction, operation and maintenance of AEP's electric transmissions facilities. AEP has the largest transmission system in the U.S with over 40,000 line miles across 13-states, and currently has a right-of-way staff of over 60 full-time employees and contractors, as well as 13 service providers supporting right-of-way acquisition projects.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinThomas Schaffer | Senior Manager, Transmission Right-of-Way AEP: website | website 2 | linkedin

Chad Hughes welcomes Richard McNally of O R Colan to the podcast to discuss his career in the right of way space. They discuss human resourcing complexities and resource scarcity in the industry, drawing on Richard's extensive experiences and insight.Richard is Vice President of ORC's Utility Division which he says gives him the opportunity to use his history as a go-getter and to trust and delegate to the strong leadership team beneath him. He highlights how ORC puts a strong focus on their values - initiative, respect, knowledge, integrity, and social responsibility - and how they work to keep their fundamentals central through employees and clients alike.Chad and Richard discuss the human quotient in right of way, how the industry lacks for human capital and basic resources, and why education to the public and clients alike is so vital to industry growth. Richard speaks to the training platform developed for employees to assist in placement; he sees a great deal of opportunities in the industry and an increase on the renewable side of the job that would make the profession appealing. The advice Richard shares is sound and invaluable to anyone considering a career in access and right of way. “So when we're evaluating an employee, we're really looking at behaviors, asking behavioral based questions, trying to drive behaviors that we want to see. As far as skills, on the soft skills side, we're really looking at the communication piece, the listening piece, the conflict resolution piece, adaptability and really detail oriented. Those are the real strong soft skills that I look for in a future employee.” - Richie McNallyAbout Richie McNally:Richard McNally, graduate of The College of Wooster, joined ORC in 2014, as the Vice President of Utility & Infrastructure Land Services. Prior to coming to ORC, Richie was the Supervisor of Transmission – Right of Way with American Electric Power. Now as the Executive VP of Utility & Infrastructure, he is a member of the ORC Leadership Team and manages the utility division nationwide. He is responsible for overseeing the company operations and supports strategic planning, proposals, business development strategies and client management. Richie is a member of the International Right of Way Association and Vistage.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinRichard McNally | Executive Vice President of Utility at O R Colan: website | linkedin

Chad Hughes invites Nikki Sitch, Manager of Land and Community Inclusion at Kiwetinohk Energy Corp, to the show to talk about her career journey and the insights she has on attributes that lead to success. As Nikki talks, it becomes clear that she lives what she believes in regards to creating your own future.Nikki claims she got into land “by fluke” as she moved from receptionist at AltaGas to being a Junior Land Admin in the Land Department. She learned on the job and enjoyed it, so she got her land agent's license and earned her Bachelor of Commerce in Petroleum Land Management at University of Calgary over a period of eight years. Nikki is a driven person by nature but also cites mentors she had along the way as being a huge influence on her career.Nikki shares how she approached the challenges she encountered in each job as a chance for education and pushing herself. She tells Chad she enjoys the thought process of solving issues, being creative about approaches, and having a desire to always learn. She is clear that mindset plays a big part in realizing success. This holds true in how she came to write her first book, while maintaining her land career, and seeing it rise to the bestseller's list on Amazon. Nikki has a lot to share about company culture, what it takes to work effectively in land, and how her writing helps inform her land career. “I love the idea of Kiwetinohk just being a different kind of company, we're not just an oil and gas company, we're what's called an energy transition company. Meaning that we obviously are drilling for, you know, mostly we're looking for natural gas. And we're also, we're going out and we're doing renewable energy projects. So I had the opportunity here to work on some solar projects, and to work on some natural gas fired power projects.” - Nikki SitchAbout Nikki Sitch:Nikki Sitch has been with Kiwetinohk Energy Corp. since October 2018 and is the Manager, Land and Community Inclusion. Nikki has roughly 25 years of experience in all facets of land management and indigenous relations in the producing regions of western Canada in exploration, development, acquisitions and divestitures. Just prior to Kiwetinohk, Nikki was the Manager of Integrity and Operations at Aim Land Services Ltd. where she created and expanded the operations, mineral, and upstream departments while managing projects and her growing team. Nikki has created enduring friendships with community leaders, industry counterparts, landowners, and indigenous leaders. She has negotiated and supervised the acquisition of more than 2,500 surface agreements, acquired more than 400 square miles of land and negotiated more than a dozen deals valued between $100K to $100MM.  Nikki earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Petroleum Land Management and holds a valid Alberta Land Agent's Licence. She is an active member of the Canadian Association of Energy and Land Professionals (CALEP) and holds both the P. Land and PSL designations. Nikki has served in a leadership role on many CALEP (formerly CAPL) committees, including President in 2015-16, Director on the Board for 7 years, and in 2007 she was awarded the CAPL Bright Lights Award. Nikki was a founding member of the team that created the Petroleum Land Business extension certificate at Mount Royal University, where she developed and taught the Surface Rights & Regulations Overview course. She was part of the team that created the Professional Surface Landman designation and chaired the team that developed 7 new surface courses with CAPL to support the new designation. In her spare time, Nikki has written two books and is in the midst of writing book three. Nikki's first book, Love, Lust & WTF?! is an Amazon #1 Bestseller. Daisy's Adventures in Love is Nikki's second book and is a continuation from Love, Lust and WTF – Daisy's Dating Adventures. Both books are available in hard copy and in ebook format where books are sold online.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinNikki Sitch |Manager, Land & Community Inclusion at Kiwetinohk Energy Corp / Author: website | linkedin | facebook | books

Chad Hughes invites Kala Belding, Technology Strategy Manager of Wireless Real Estate for Telus, to the show to share her insights on the key attributes that lead to success in real estate management or access roles. Kala's career journey has given her clear sight into what skills and attributes of her own aid in her current role. Kala describes how each of her previous career roles equipped her with knowledge that, when paired with her natural attributes, makes her well suited to her role. She shares with Chad what attributes her work requires when dealing in real estate for a major carrier. They break down the leadership skills and technical understanding needed, as well as how operational decision making and collaboration become important. Kala details the skills needed to approach negotiations which can sometimes get heated. An ability to listen, to explain intentions clearly, and to address concerns respectfully are vital aspects of the job, all of which she expands upon with Chad. Kala also shares what surprised her most about her real estate role, the impressions she had coming into the team, and the real complexity of the work. It's an episode full of insight from the telecommunications real estate side of the industry and not to be missed.“So I would say that when you're starting something new within your business, you need so much internal support from groups that maybe you didn't even know you needed internal support from. I know so many more people in sales and marketing now than I ever dreamed I would knoq. So I think being able to build relationships and to also be able to bring people along with your vision. So you have to be a compelling visionary. And you have to be able to convince others that this is also a great idea and that they should be following along on your journey,” - Kala BeldingAbout Kala Belding, P.Eng:Kala Belding is an Industrial Engineer with more than 12 years of experience in Canadian wireless network design, build, operations and maintenance. She is currently a wireless Technology Strategy Manager at TELUS. Over the course of her career, Kala has been instrumental in driving operational excellence through strong team engagement and a passion for process improvement & innovation. She is currently pursuing her MBA at the University of Victoria and is leveraging her wireless experience in new entrepreneurial ways.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinKala Belding | Technology Strategy Manager - Wireless Real Estate at Telus: website | linkedin

Chad Hughes welcomes Mike Anderson, Manager of Surface Land at Tamarack Acquisition Corp, to the show. Chad centers this episode around Indigenous participation in the industry. Mike is able to shed a lot of light on what Tamarack has been doing in their approach to building relationships and creating opportunities for Indigenous communities through their projects.Mike has been a surface land agent in Alberta for twenty-two years and progressively made his way up through junior, intermediate, and senior oil companies. He cites Tamarack's CEO Brian Schmidt for the drive Tamarack has to help blood tribes and Indigenous communities. Mike explains that Brian's goal is to leave Indigenous communities in areas where Tamarack operates better off as a result of their involvement than those communities were before.Mike shares lessons he's learned throughout his career that have positively impacted the way he approaches consultation now. He unpacks some key advice for Chad in this episode, including the importance of in person meetings and entering conversations and communities with an open heart and willingness to listen. Mike believes leadership from the top, from the CEO, helps to set the tone for how business in Indigenous communities is done, but that each individual also needs to approach people with respect and the intent to build a meaningful relationship.“My personal philosophy on it is how many Indigenous people have you got boots on the ground working on a job. To me, that's a more meaningful impact to the community, because you've got unemployment benefits and whatnot that are going directly into the community and impacting people. … in my view, Indigenous involvement in the resource industries is having actual Indigenous people employed, and on the ground, and an involvement in the communities through community benefits and various other things like that.” - Mike AndersonAbout Michael Anderson:Born in Edmonton in 1976, moved to Calgary when I was 4 and have lived in Calgary ever since. I have been involved in land acquisition since 2000 and with Indigenous Consultation since 2001. I have worked at land brokers, in-house at junior, intermediate and senior E&P companies, and have had my own consulting business since 2016. I am currently the Manager, Surface Land at Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd. I am married to my wife who is also employed in land and have a 12 year old daughter.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinMichael Anderson | Manager, Surface Land at Tamarack Acquisition Corp: website | linkedin

Chad Hughes welcomes Brent Leftwich, President of Leftwich Management Inc., to the show. They discuss Brent's 32+ years experience leading Contract Land Staff (CLS), which he transformed into one of North America's largest independent right of way and land management companies. Brent shares how he grew the business, introduced key technological advancements, and his insights into the right of way industry.Brent Leftwich earned a BA in Geography with a concentration in Urban Planning and Public Administration from Southwest Texas State University and began his career in the public sector holding various positions with the City of Lockhart, Texas. Brent realized, as he began to get requests to do right of way work in the 80s, that right of way opportunities were more available than the oil and gas work he started in. He founded Contract Land Staff on that realization.Brent responded to growth and changes in the industry by being a key innovator in introducing new technology into his company. With a focus on always being of good service to his clients, he leaned into developing regional database advancements and looking at new, at that time, virtual technologies. Brent speaks to the value of introducing tools to companies to both lead your industry, accurately track financials, and care for employees. He also stresses how strategic planning led his company through inevitable economic lean times and shares advice for anyone walking a similar business path to his.“For most projects, we would have two or three days of training orientation before anybody ever went to the field to get survey permission, or the title, or any of that. We made sure that everybody was on the same page to make sure that everybody was telling the landowners the same thing as much as possible. So project wise, I think that training is what really led to us having quality product. But the other part of that is, as I mentioned earlier, we began to develop a project tracking database in the 90s. And we continued to use that all through the rest of the time that I was at CLS, we just continued to develop it and move it to the platform. Our managers could see on a daily basis exactly what each agent was accomplishing.” - Brent LeftwichAbout Brent LeftwichBrent Leftwich, President of Leftwich Management Inc., has an extensive business background. As Founder of Contract Land Staff (CLS), Brent led the company in its growth and advancement in the Right of Way industry from 1985 until 2017, having sold the company twice to equity firms. Brent's Land Management and Right of Way experience includes 40 years of service to the oil and gas, real estate, pipeline, utility, transportation and telecommunication industries. Over the 32 years leading CLS, he transformed his one-man operation into one of North America's largest independent Right of Way and Land Management companies.Brent propelled the growth of CLS, acquiring a reputation of bringing innovation, technology, and new ideas into the Right of Way industry such as the development of CLS's Virtual Right of Way Department® (VROW) and, beginning in 1995, the Right of Way project management database PowerTrak and its second iteration as the state-of-the-art CLSLiNK database integrated with the CLS GISViewer®, which were developed and deployed to numerous clients in the U.S. and Canada.Currently, Mr. Leftwich serves as the Chair of the IRWA International Oil & Gas Pipeline Committee and Vice Chair of the Right of Way Consultants Council (ROWCC). Mr. Leftwich has long been active in civic and church activities, both in Fort Bend and Colorado Counties, TX. Currently he serves on the Board of Trustees for the Sugar Land Legacy Foundation and the Columbus Community Hospital. ---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinBrent Leftwich | President of Leftwich Management Inc.: website

Chad Hughes welcomes Paul Scannell, Manager of Real Estate and Title for Geenex Solar LLC, to the show to talk about title in relation to access. Paul has the better part of 15 years of experience in the sector and sheds light on the intricacies of title, including how minerals for subsurface can affect surface rights.Paul Scannell started in oil and gas research after college before meeting someone who identified his knack for understanding title. That meeting led him into doing title work for solar and wind projects in Texas. Paul explains title as “an evidence chain of ownership of a piece of property” which goes from patent - the first deed given from the government to a private owner - to present.Paul explains the importance of obtaining proper title for a project early to avoid running into incomplete records or multiple owners who object to the project. Paul breaks down the nuances of mineral estate versus surface estate rights in the US, how the two titleholders can be different, and whose is the dominant estate. He shares stories to illustrate title issues involving mineral rights and he imparts valuable advice for anyone starting a project on how to approach title correctly and sooner rather than later.“There were a lot of times where I sat in planning meetings and I asked, ‘Have you considered any issues with minerals', and they go, ‘We'll burn that bridge when we cross it'. And I just… my head would sink. So my advice to anyone developing a project, especially in a mineral heavy area, is don't be scared of it. But be prepared, okay? Know what you're getting yourself into, speak to someone who has done this before.” - Paul ScannellAbout Paul ScannellPaul Scannell is based out of Charlotte, North Carolina and works for Geenex Solar LLC. Paul has been in the renewable space for around 10 years and has been involved in several of the early-stage activities when it comes to developing renewable projects. His focus has primarily been on the title side of things with an emphasis on Mineral Title. Paul earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Sam Houston State University and a certificate of Petroleum Land Management from the University of Houston. He began his title career in the Permian Basin of West Texas and developed skills that later helped him advise developers of the risks associated with minerals for Solar and Wind projects.  ---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinPaul Scannell | Manager of Real Estate and Title, Geenex Solar LLC.: website | linkedin

Chad Hughes meets with Jon Yoachim, innovator and Founder of Part & Parcel, to discuss Jon's background in land access and dive into the details of Part & Parcel. As a matchmaking marketplace that connects access professionals with companies that are hiring, Part & Parcel is set to be a fascinating new resource for the industry.Jon Yoachim has a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate and Land Use Economics, has worked in land acquisition for the likes of Hillard Energy and Faulk & Foster, and in 2016 founded his own land acquisition company, Vanguard Real Estate Solutions, where he still serves as President. His knowledge of and experience in the land acquisition industry not only provided the inspiration for Part & Parcel but informed exactly how he viewed the industry's specific needs.Jon Yoachim explains how he wants to serve both land professionals and the companies looking to hire them equally with Part & Parcel, and how he aims to provide a community with content and resources for both. Chad Hughes explores, with Jon Yoachim, the algorithms that allow professionals to match up with the right company, the input that colleagues and professionals had into Part & Parcel, and the specific benefits the service would provide to those in the industry on both sides of the hiring equation. “For both sides we're trying to reduce the work for both parties involved with finding a job and finding someone to hire, as well as reducing the risk for both parties, again, trying to avoid those bad experiences before they happen. So yeah, it's just, we're not reinventing the wheel, we're just taking a lot of information from a lot of different places, a lot of different technology, and putting it all together, specifically for this industry.” - Jon YoachimAbout Jon Yoachim:Jon Yoachim is the founder of Part & Parcel, a career development platform and marketplace created for land access professionals and the companies seeking to hire them.Jon graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, earning his Bachelor of Science in Real Estate and Land Use Economics. Jon began cultivating his expertise in land acquisition in 2007 as a Senior Leasing Agent for Hillard Energy. From 2008 to 2016, Jon was Senior Project Manager for Faulk & Foster. In 2016, he started his own land acquisition company, Vanguard Real Estate Solutions and is still serving as President. Over the past 14+ years, Jon has honed and tailored his skills to the land acquisition industry. His background in real estate, agriculture and energy has served him well in the industry. Jon has personally managed the acquisition of more than 3,000 parcels and 500,000 acres across 26 states. Jon is also a serial entrepreneur, having founded five companies to date and has served on the board of several non-profit organizations. When he's not enjoying the company of his wife and five children, he likes solving problems and spending time outdoors.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinJon Yoachim | President: Vanguard Real Estate,  Founder: Part & Parcel: part & parcel | vanguard | linkedin

Chad Hughes welcomes Glenn Miller, Land Negotiator and Energy Professional, to the show to discuss his 25+ year career. Together, they dig deep into Glenn's learning experience with an offshore gas exploration project off the East coast of Cape Breton Island.Glenn Miller grew up on a mixed grain farm North East of Calgary which instilled in him a strong work ethic and respect for the land. In the early 80s a well was drilled on their home quarter and that piqued his interest in how it worked and the reasons the company wanted a well there. This curiosity led him to enter the Land Acquisition and Management Program at Olds College and pursue the path to the career he has today.Chad Hughes and Glenn Miller explore the similarities and differences between gaining access for onshore exploration and offshore based on Glenn's experience with the Cape Breton project. Glenn elaborates on the varied stakeholder concerns with a project so close to land and within the inshore fishery area, as well as the steep learning curve he faced in understanding offshore seismic exploration and the operation of offshore drilling rigs. He has very insightful experience to share and sound advice for anyone in the access business today.“And again, it comes down to really what we do in the land business is build relationships. And whether that's with external public people and communities we deal with or, you know, downtown Calgary with another company we're doing business with, it's building relationships.” - Glenn MillerAbout Glenn MillerGlenn Miller is a Land Negotiator & Energy Consultant with over 26 years experience in land negotiations, regulatory, stakeholder, and environmental issues. He has held management roles in the oil and gas exploration business, responsible for the acquisition and maintenance of all facets of land (mineral, surface, contracts).  He also has extensive experience in managing the land and regulatory processes on major energy projects from inception, construction, to the operation phase in a variety of regulatory jurisdictions across Canada.  He currently consults for key clients on specific projects, including the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.  He is a member of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Landmen (CAPL) holding a PSL designation. ---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedinGlenn Miller | Land Negotiator & Energy Consultant: linkedin

Dayna Morgan, COO at BRITT RADIUS, discusses how the land access industry is changing. She shares how stepping into leadership alongside two other strong women has propelled personal and professional evolution that serves employees and clients alike.Dayna started work at BRITT RADIUS when she was still in university; she enjoyed the work and found a strong mentor in founder Ray Ramsay who invited her to stay on and learn from him. She speaks firsthand to the value of mentorship and in having the support to foster her own skills and insights. She also details what the transition from employee to leadership of a company requires.Chad Hughes and Dayna Morgan explore not only the importance of learning but of evolution within the land access industry as a whole and within each corporation individually. Dayna shares her perspective on being a woman in the industry and how gender roles are expanding in much the same way conversations between stakeholders, companies, and communities are growing and expanding. Dayna has valuable advice for anyone entering the industry today.“I've seen, you know, not only from our perspective as women leaders in the industry, but just certain roles as well, that had traditionally had been male dominant, being you know, in the field, land agents, negotiators, we've definitely seen a drastic change in the last 10 years or so, where that's opened up and gender roles are definitely being broken down.” - Dayna MorganAbout Dayna MorganDayna Morgan is a connector who bridges gaps between people, processes and ideas. As COO at BRITT RADIUS, she oversees all services and operations making the company's vision a reality. She knows how to effectively lead a team, implement strategic initiatives, elevate processes and systems, and generate growth opportunities. Dayna is an innovative leader with an ambitious aptitude for learning. With over 20 years of experience in energy, infrastructure, resource, and land development, she utilizes her on-the-ground experiences to mentor and provide strategic advice.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website | linkedinDayna Morgan |COO at BRITT RADIUS: website | linkedin

Nicola Millions-Hollamby is an Instructor and Coordinator in the Olds College land access training program. Nicola sheds light on the qualities that make students successful, the relevance and transferable content contained in the course material, and how the industry has contributed to the program's success.Nicola had, in the past, pursued land agent studies at Olds College which led to her career in the land access sector and her work in the oil and gas and utilities sectors. From there she went into middle school teaching and eventually was brought back to Olds College where her education and industry backgrounds combined making her a natural fit to instruct land access students and guide the program. Of her time in land access she says she learned to “just listen, hear them out, and then redirect our conversation in a kind way or respectful way” which are skills applicable to any situation.Chad Hughes and Nicola Millions-Hollamby discuss in detail the types of qualities and the mindset that assist students in launching into a successful land career - communication, organization, and a continual hunger for learning. Nicola explains how the program has expanded and grown in its 39 years of existence and details the many transferable skills students gain from the program. She appreciates the open support the industry has shown for the program and offers great insight into all the many opportunities the program can offer to students of all ages.“Are you displaying the kind of honesty you need to display? Because I find the students that are, I don't know how to say this… The students that put on a persona and go out, they don't last long. There has to be some genuineness there for them to last. And also that desire to be an ongoing learner, I don't think in land you're too effective if you aren't always pursuing some new interest, some new knowledge, because things are changing.” - Nicola Millions-HollambyAbout Nicola Millions-HollambyNicola Millions-Hollamby has been an instructor and coordinator at Olds College during the past sixteen years. Nicola holds a B.A., B.Ed., and a Land Agent Diploma from Olds College and is a Licensed Land Agent. She has led her program teams through comprehensive program reviews as well as major curriculum reform processes to create the previous curriculum in the land agent program and is currently developing the new surface land major within the Land and Water Resources Diploma program. She co-developed the former online Land Analyst Certificate program that now resides with SAIT. Currently, she teaches Ecology in the LWR program and is a leader in the development of the Indigenous strategy at Olds College and Indigenous student support. Prior to joining the College, Nicola worked as a middle years educator and as a surface land agent in the oil and gas and utilities sectors. Nicola resides in the Olds area and is involved in numerous community sports and activities with her children.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website | linkedinNicola Millions-Hollamby B.A, B.Ed. | Instructor & Coordinator, Old College: website | linkedin

David Gould has over 32 years of experience as a mediator, working to help others resolve conflict. David and Chad Hughes explore the nature of conflict, breaking down how our stories are told, and David shares advice on how he deals with and de-escalates conflict ahead of time.While David Gould started his career as a lawyer, a litigator, he engaged in mediation training in 1988 and, in his words, became “enamored with it”. He has mediated in situations as varied as with the Canadian insurance industry to an oil company in Albania. His work has led him to understand the nature of conflict which he says can initially be framed as a difficult conversation or sometimes a difficult negotiation that shifts and escalates into right and wrong, fault and blame.Chad Hughes and David discuss not only the nature of conflict but the guide David has written to assist in negotiation and de-escalation early in a conflict. Chad learns about David's theory of Rumi's field where David encouraged people to meet him beyond ideas of wrongdoing in a field where conversation about solutions and options can occur. David offers a great amount of insight into debate versus dialogue, advice for resolution of conflict, and his beliefs on the core nature of what mediation is. His thoughts can assist everyone from individuals to industries engage with less tension and more conversation.“And because the guide is intended to be a tool for people really early in the conflict before it has gotten so toxic, I think it has an excellent chance of being effective and having people take a step back and go to what I refer to as Rumi's field - beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right-doing there is a field, I'll meet you there. So in my experience, a mediation is Rumi's field, it's a place for conversations and dialogue, to share stories for understanding and meaning without the drama of fault and blaming, right and wrong.” - David GouldAbout David GouldFor over 30 years David Gould has helped people plan for and have difficult conversations about the issues that matter most to them. He is one of Western Canada's most experienced mediators and an industry leader in the design of conflict prevention and conflict management systems and processes, as well as their integration with regulatory requirements for public and stakeholder engagement. Dave combines an extensive legal background with proven mediation capabilities, conflict coaching and conflict management systems, and design experience to assist individuals, industry, business and government organizations to effectively address complex and challenging conflicts.Much of this work involved David's intervention in the late stages of the conflict. While it is always better late than never, a prolonged conflict still leaves lives consumed by stress, relationships shattered, fortunes drained in legal fees and a loss of confidence in the future. He now engages with clients to support them to get ahead and stay ahead of conflict.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website | linkedinDavid Gould |Mediator & Conflict Coach: website | linkedin | negotiation guide

Travis Warren has extensive experience securing access for renewable energy development across the United States. He discusses with Chad Hughes some of the key differences between access needs for renewable energy projects versus access required for pipeline projects.Travis began his career in land access in 2006 in the renewable sector. He trained on the job with a company in Texas and learned both access and renewable energy at the same time. While the majority of his career has been supporting renewable energy projects, he has also supported power transmission and oil and gas development requiring access. He understands the difference in approaches and what considerations are important from sector to sector.Chad and Travis discuss how much broad renewable energy knowledge was required, especially when Travis first started in the renewable sector. The expectation of stakeholders was for Travis to know about everything, from how wind turbines were built to how they were accessed inside, and how low to the ground the blades would get. Everything was questioned including where the equipment was from and what it looked like as well as the history of the developer behind the project. Travis has sound advice on strategizing and preparation for agents and insight on how green energy is slowly gaining more recognition and acceptance from land owners.“There's always been two things I've tried to press on my staff in the past. 1. You really need a sense of ownership in the project. Without that it is just a job and it's just you knocking on a door trying to get a signature…. 2. Be prepared to be challenged and critiqued.” - Travis WarrenAbout Travis WarrenTravis Warren is a Business Development Officer for AmTrust Title Insurance focused on energy transactions, specifically in the renewable energy space. His project experience involves development, land acquisition, title research and curative, landowner engagement and community outreach, and project management. Prior to joining the AmTrust Title team in Houston, Travis spent 15 years in the land service industry working on renewable energy, oil and gas, and transmission projects throughout the United States. After graduating from college at Lubbock Christian University, he joined a land service firm in Midland, TX working on several land acquisition assignments for wind energy companies before joining an aggressive development at Padoma Wind Power as an Assistant Development Manager. In 2010 he began working independently as a land agent for numerous renewable companies which grew into his own right of way firm, MAS Field Services, LLC, that he later merged with Contract Land Staff and subsequently took over as Vice President of Renewable Energy. Travis has worked for many of the key development firms in the renewable space in wind, solar, and storage projects from coast to coast. A few of the project highlights that he has been involved in are the Roadrunner Solar Farm in Upton County, TX, the Buckthron Solar Farm in Pecos County, TX, the Holstein Solar Project in Nolan County, TX, the Langford Wind Project in Tom Green County, TX, The Amazon Solar Farm Ohio in Brown County, OH, the Skeleton Creek Wind project in Major, Alfalfa and Garfield Counties, OK, and the Sagamore Wind Project in Roosevelt County, NM.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website | linkedinTravis Warren |Business Development Officer: website | linkedin

Dan Tocher, Vice President Stakeholder Relations for Greengate Power, has worked on some of the largest renewable energy projects in Canada. He walks Chad Hughes through his career and the skills that have assisted him in becoming a leader in his field, and how he deployed these skills in acquiring the access required for the Travers Solar Project.Dan Tocher grew up in Guelph, Ontario and it wasn't until he moved to Alberta in 2005 when someone offhandedly said to him “you should be a land man” that he looked into what that meant and started his current career. Now, working with Greengate Power, he has successfully negotiated land agreements for some of the largest renewable energy projects in Canada, including the Blackspring Ridge Wind Project and the Travers Solar Project. Dan attributes part of his success to “The approach of extreme patience and extreme respect as I'm approaching people about, oftentimes ...the first-time people have ever heard of renewable energy.”Chad Hughes and Dan delve deep into the process of the Travers Solar Project specifically - a massive 450-megawatt project that would come to encompass 1.3 million solar panels, 3680 acres, and 13 land owners by the time it neared completion. Dan explains that he used a different approach on that project - instead of meeting with landowners individually, he facilitated their request to have everyone in the same room at the same time and that strategy worked well. He maintains that consistent, respectful relationships and communication are key to success.“Everybody is different and everybody has their strengths and weaknesses and I developed a set of skills, a unique set of skills, in dealing with people early on in life.” - Dan TocherResources mentioned in this episode:Blackspring Ridge Wind ProjectTravers Solar ProjectCopenhagen Infrastructure PartnersVirtual Power Purchase AgreementAbout Dan TocherDaniel Tocher has led the land negotiations, stakeholder and community relations, and complex, regulated stakeholder consultation of 1418Mw's (approx. $2B) for all of Greengate's Wind and Solar Projects in Western Canada since 2008, which includes 2 of the largest Wind and Solar projects in Canada. Dan's strengths are his exceptional leadership and communication skills, as well as his ability to build genuine relationships within the communities where Greengate's projects are operating.

Chris Lupaschuk started in land acquisition in 2005 while attending Olds College. In 2017 his career journey led him to a copper mining project in the Republic of Serbia where he developed the first successful land acquisition and resettlement program in the country. Moving from Canada to Serbia was a giant leap for Chris Lupaschuk and his family but in examining the opportunity he realized that “it really had to do with the adventures, when we actually looked on a map and saw where Serbia was, it's only a few hours drive to Budapest or to Romania, or Prague is driving distance”. His team and project were based in a small town called Bor, about a three hour drive from Belgrade. By the time the copper mining project was done, it would represent approximately 1000 hectares (3000 acres) of land, between 12 and 13 hundred parcels within that footprint, and between 450 to 500 property owners.Chris tells Chad Hughes that his moving from oil and gas drilling programs to linear pipeline projects in Canada helped prepare him for the large impact of the Serbian project. He dealt with everything from needing decoy documents to dissuade land speculators to erratic sized parcels to the Herculean task of pulling land titles in a country that had been besieged by wars, occupations, and ever-changing governments. However, Chris maintains that the keys to success in Canada ultimately are the same in Serbia: good communication with owners and other stakeholders, and fair and consistent dealings.“My residence that I spent 70%+ was in eastern Serbia and it was in Bor. Immersing myself in the culture and really taking an appreciation for what struggles people in the local area were going through and that this was serious business… this is one of the most serious things you could ever talk with someone about. And one of the most important things that they have in their ownership is their property. That language is the same in English as it is in Serbian.” - Chris LupaschukResources mentioned in this episode:Map of Serbia (including town of Bor)About Chris LupaschukChris Lupaschuk is the Senior Project Manager Development at NextEra Energy Resources. Chris is a proven senior leader with extensive experience supporting major project development, construction, and operations in the oil and gas, mining, and electrical transmission sectors.He has played successful key government relations roles supporting the development and construction in projects as diverse as Power Transmission for NextBridge East-West Tie Transmission Project ($777M) to Oil and Gas for Enbridge Line 10 Westover Segment Replacement Project ($135M). Chris Lupaschuk also developed the first successful land acquisition and resettlement program in the Republic of Serbia.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website | linkedinChris Lupaschuk | Senior Project Manager Development at NextEra Energy Resources: website | linkedin

Chris Bakker has over 20 years of access experience in the oil and gas and mining sectors. In today's episode, he breaks down lessons he's learned and experiences he's had that have shaped how he approaches business with his company Avanti Energy.In 2002/2003 Chris worked in Eastern Europe, specifically in Romania, where he says things worked in a manner that was 180 degrees different from how they work here. That eye-opening experience taught him to very much consider the culture and communities he was working in, to take into account their history and background. He relates specific experiences with Chad Hughes and they discuss how this positively influenced his outlook.Throughout Chris' career he's focused on honesty, transparency, and consistency in terms of his work philosophy. He explains why those values are important and how they apply directly to the work he does. He talks about some of the trendsetting work he did with the Cut Bank project and how managing people's disparate needs can come down to the idea of “position versus interest”. He is currently infusing his desire for thoughtful and honest culture into the Avanti Energy team structure while spearheading soon-to-be-revealed projects he is truly passionate about.“What's really worked well as a philosophy is ‘Treat everybody like you're going to see them again' because you probably are.” - Chris BakkerResources mentioned in this episode:Uses for heliumAbout Chris BakkerChris Bakker has over two decades of experience in oil and gas, most recently working as a commercial negotiator with Encana/Ovintiv for major facilities and pipelines in the Montney gas play. His expertise includes all facets of Natural Gas Exploration like land acquisition, exploration, drilling, well production and facility integration and construction. Prior to Avanti, Mr. Bakker co-founded Terrelium Resources as a pure-play helium company.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website | linkedinChris Bakker | CEO, Avanti Energy: website | twitter | linkedin

Jason Gouw has 25+ years of experience managing land acquisition and engagement programs and has seen substantial changes in the industry with how stakeholders and Indigenous communities participate. He believes collaborative relationships and transparent engagement are the keys to the progressive future of land access.Having grown up on an irrigation farm, one with cows, Jason was no stranger to agricultural considerations but he knew early on that farming was not his path. After an enjoyable time spent on oil rigs, he entered Olds College to study land agent work and that defined his career path to this day. The industry as he knew it upon emerging from Olds College has changed, however, and much more emphasis is now placed on relationship building and ensuring stakeholders understand exactly what they're signing and why.Jason Gouw and Chad Hughes discuss how Jason's time at Gulf in 2000 had a foundational impact on changing his thinking in terms of engagement philosophy. They explore how the regulatory environment has been part of the catalyst for change and how the agreements that used to be pressured to close in months are now anticipated to be built over years. Jason has immersed himself in first-hand experiences with Indigenous communities, finding inspiration and clarity in their profound respect for the land, and he believes strongly that we need to embrace understanding of our differences and focus on relationship building and true collaboration.“The days of land agents being focused on oil and gas, that's changed. There's the renewable sector, there's the transmission sector, infrastructure, telecom, there's a lot of different opportunities out there for land agents.” - Jason GouwAbout Jason GouwJason Gouw has over 25 years of experience, and a specialization in negotiation and building collaborative relationships between stakeholders.Jason started with LandSolutions in 2018 as VP Land, Engagement and Regulatory with the environment division added to his accountabilities shortly after in 2019. During this time, he developed a high performing team generating positive results that is recognized across our business, and by our clients.Jason Gouw's incomparable knowledge of issues relating to the Canadian energy sector has been hard-earned over two decades of expert involvement. Whether managing large project teams or overall support of our entire land department, Jason is a consummate professional. ---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website | linkedinJason Gouw | Chief Operating Officer at LandSolutions LP : linkedin | website | email

Sandy Grigg has 45 years of public sector real estate and consultancy experience. He's gained much insight through every facet of his career, but one of his most valued takeaways is that collaboration and person to person relationships define success.From relatively humble beginnings as a clerk with Ontario Hydro, Sandy has worked through every aspect of real estate from property acquisition to appraisal to project planning and more. Something he realized early on was that “the more you get involved with people, the better it is”. He has a very strong sense of how to properly address access issues and it always involves talking with the property owner face to face. The basic principles hold true whether he's navigating agricultural fields or an urban core.Sandy and Chad dive into Sandy's work with GTA and the MetroLinks Ontario Line, whose route will run clear through downtown Toronto via Queen and Yonge Streets, and all the complex access and infrastructure challenges that presents. Sandy maintains, however, that a basic motto of “collaborative, cooperative, and communicative” work will make the project possible, as it has with any number of complex projects in the past. And he has specific advice for proponents on how to realize success in their own challenging projects.“Every day is a new day and you learn something new every day when you interact with people.” - Sandy GriggResources mentioned in this episode:International Right of Way Association (IRWA)About Sandy GriggSandy Grigg, President at Sandy Grigg Consulting Limited, is an Infrastructure Real Estate Professional specializing in negotiations, expropriations, project management and project planning and strategy. Sandy's career spans over 45 years in the industry, including 30 years spent in public sector real estate.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website | linkedinSandy Grigg |President at Sandy Grigg Consulting Limited: linkedin | email

Andrew Hamilton's 20+ year career in the energy sector has taught him many lessons, but none greater than the careful skills and transparency necessary in dealing with stakeholders. And he says “The easiest way to be consistent is to be honest.”Andrew Hamilton counts his career path as an “accidental journey”. Out of high school he studied forestry in university which he decided wasn't for him, but the handful of soil courses he took really resonated. An agriculture degree and soil sciences transitioned him from agriculture to work in the oil and gas industry. He enjoyed that it was outdoors work with a wide range of people and felt as though he were really accomplishing something.Having worked through environmental planning and waste management, he eventually arrived at Nexen and found all his crossover skills contributed to him being a good project manager. So when he began work on the Aurora LNG Project in BC, he was prepared with an understanding of what it takes to work with stakeholders for industry development. As he explains to Chris Hughes, you can't disconnect any one piece from the others - from stakeholders to regulators to executives, everyone must be heard and their concerns balanced. Andrew relies on open conversations that really let him listen to the themes of what is being said: what are the positive themes and what themes describe the concerns or desires of the community. After all, he says, they're feeling you out “as a potential neighbour” and want to know how much trust can be given and if consistency will be offered. He never wants to break promises so he is prepared to invest the necessary time into communication with stakeholders.“As you begin to peel back the onion or open the box on any stakeholder, you find that there are a lot of nuances and it's very dangerous to sort of paint them with a broad brush.” - Andrew HamiltonResources mentioned in this episode:Andrew Hamilton emailAbout Andrew HamiltonAndrew Hamilton is a senior HSE & Project Leader & Manager with over two decades of HSE, contaminated sites, project management, strategy, stakeholder engagement and negotiating experience. He has a career history of assembling and leading high performing HSE and project teams of diverse experts.  Andrew has carefully honed the ability to step into complex and stalled projects, identify and overcome obstacles, and successfully deliver intricate projects in difficult operating environments.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website | linkedinAndrew Hamilton |Project Leader & Manager: website | linkedin | email 

Mike McPhie holds a philosophy of taking time for conversation and sincerity; he finds this serves him well in his work navigating the natural resources sector. With over two decades of experience, Mike shares what he's learned from success and failure in his career.Having earned a Bachelor of Science in physical geography from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC, then a Master of Science in environmental management and business from Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC, Mike's career path eventually took him to the historic gold mining town of Timmins, Ontario. It was his five or six years spent in Timmins being drawn into the project development group where he says he found his calling. Being introduced to Indigenous engagement, community concerns, and working with all levels of government ultimately led him to what would become the focus of his work. Mike is very aware of the pressures on projects, that precarious tension between shareholders and boards on one hand and community concerns on the other, but he claims his key to success is taking the time needed to truly sit down with the communities and listen to their issues and perspectives. His career has given him plenty of examples where this sincere engagement has worked and where doing the opposite hasn't. He discusses with Chad Hughes that he believes more transparency on the part of industry players would go a long way with earning community support.“I think what we've learned particularly probably in the last 20 years is that the other side of access is having community support for what you're doing.” - Mike McPhieResources mentioned in this episode:Falkirk EnvironmentalResolve About Mike McPhieAn accomplished executive based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Michael McPhie possesses more than two decades of experience in the natural resources sector across Canada and the globe. A specialist in the base and precious metals industry, Michael McPhie is a founding partner of Falkirk Environmental Consultants, Ltd., in Vancouver.Firmly committed to the idea of "giving back," Michael McPhie supports a variety of education, charitable, and public service organizations, including the Britannia Beach Historical Society, British Columbia Children's Hospital, South Delta Minor Hockey Association, and British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). He also maintains membership in the Association for Mineral Exploration and the Canadian Institute for Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum.---Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website | linkedinMike McPhie | Co-chair and Founding Partner, Falkirk Environmental: website | twitter | linkedin | email 

Coming Soon: 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.Subscribe now so you don't miss the upcoming launch of the show. https://elevated-access.com