2-Education and Training.pdf

ACQUISITION AND

RELOCATION SERVICES

ON CALL

April 25, 2025

SOLICITATION NO: BPM006797

Education and Training Industry Excellence Through Continued Education Tierra employs the largest staff of licensed professional right of way agents in Arizona. Our team is made up of the most knowledgeable and well-respected individuals within our region. Tierra team members are often sought out by clients individually to help solve complex right of way matters. Tierra’s clients know that hiring Tierra means hiring the best, most experienced right of way professionals in Arizona. Tierra’s Arizona right of way team is a diverse group of individuals, bringing public agency, service industry, environmental industry, and decades of private consulting experience to one group, allowing for dynamic critical thinking and open collaboration to resolve any challenge encountered within a project.

Tierra places a strong emphasis on education and training of personnel to ensure compliance with industry regulations and to maintain high standards of service.

Staff members are required to stay current on all industry regulations through continuing education courses mandated by the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE). Tierra also conducts monthly in-house training sessions, focusing on acquisition, relocation, title, appraisal, permitting, and many other facets involved in the right of way process. These internal training sessions are led by our highly skilled managers and senior staff so they can share knowledge with junior staff, fostering continual development and reinforcing existing knowledge among senior staff. Attendance at these training sessions is mandatory, as Tierra believes in developing highly knowledgeable and talented team members who can grow in our industry. Tierra’s management also conducts regular reviews of staff qualifi cations and performance to ensure quality standards are met. By investing in individual professional development, Tierra ensures retention of highly skilled team members for many years to come.

“‘Mini Stack’ Interchange of Interstate 10, Loop 202, and State Route 51 (5-Cropped)” by squeaks2569 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Engaging With Professional Organizations All of Tierra’s directors and project managers are engaged leaders in the right of way and real estate industries, collectively possessing over 100 years of experience delivering services according to the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended, and other local, State, and Federal requirements. Tierra’s leadership team is well respected and highly sought after in Arizona due to their expertise, depth of knowledge, and strong character required to thrive in the right of way industry. Each Tierra manager has been with Tierra, continually, for between 12 and 18 years. Tierra cares about our team and invests in their growth, leading to stable, reliable projects.

Tierra also supports our staff with memberships in professional organizations such as the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) and the American Public Works Association (APWA) to remain current on industry regulations, project development, and delivery practices. Furthermore, Tierra regularly sends team members to educational seminars and conferences, including breakout educational sessions for industry-specifi c topics. Tierra also facilitates and encourages senior-level agents and managers to regularly speak and present at these educational events. Most recently, team members presented at the Arizona Condemnation Summit hosted by Jennifer Cranston (Gallagher & Kennedy) O and Ashley Mahoney (Nossaman LLP). Tierra values both its staff and client relationships and is committed to hiring, developing, and retaining the most qualifi ed and properly licensed individuals. In the past year, each of our team members have had access to or have attended at least six internal education meetings, conferences, or external educational seminars. Tierra’s commitment to our team’s professional growth is unrivaled in our region.

Tierra staff regularly participate in several professional organizations, including the IRWA, National Association of Realtors, Phoenix Realtors, Tucson Association of Realtors, Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, APWA, Metropolitan Pima Alliance, Pinal Partnership, and Women in Transportation Seminars. Tierra participates in many industry trade events, including the American Council of Engineering Companies of Arizona (ACEC of Arizona) Annual Roads and Streets Conference. Several of our staff members have been board members for IRWA Chapter 28 (Phoenix) and Chapter 73 (Tucson), and have held designations as Senior Right of Way Professionals (SR/WA) and Right of Way Relocation Assistance Certifi ed (R/W-RAC). Tierra has been recognized as Employer of the Year several times in recent years by both IRWA Chapter 28 and 73.

Ongoing Professional Development For the support of any resulting contract, Tierra will ensure newly hired staff are well prepared through a structured process to deliver all assigned projects.

This includes posing questions related to industry standards and procedures to confi rm the candidate’s knowledge, assessing character traits and negotiation skills, and conducting trial project testing to evaluate skill levels. Through our internal training opportunities and one-on-one mentoring, our management team and senior-level staff will educate our team on current Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) rules, regulations, and standards as they pertain to the scope of a project. Tierra will foster a positive and collaborative environment for our team to grow together in order to be educated on changing industry laws, regulations, or guidelines. Through our wealth of experience with ADOT projects and operational requirements, Tierra’s management team and senior level staff will continually educate and mentor team members to ensure all project assignments are accurate and consistent as related to the policy, procedures, and expectations of ADOT.

The ADRE requires anyone who negotiates for real property or an interest in real property for another and for compensation to possess either a Real Estate Salesperson’s License or a Broker’s License. Since our inception, Tierra has complied with and supported the licensing requirements of Arizona. Tierra also supports its employees by reimbursing the tuition for continuing education courses that are required to maintain one’s real estate license. Further, as per the requirements of this contract and further expressed by ADOT staff during the pre-offer conference, Tierra will invest in each of its licensed employees obtaining MLS and lockbox key access. As this is a large investment for our size of staff, we are open to additional conversations with ADOT to clarify if all our licensed staff, including directors and project managers, will be required to obtain MLS and lockbox key access.

“Loop 101 and Interstate 17 Interchange (3)” by squeaks2569 is licensed under

CC BY-SA 2.0.