Awards

Professional Of The Year

2026 Matt Lance, SR/WA, R/W-RAC, R/W-URAC

Project Manager, HDR Engineering, Inc.
Matt Lance is a Project Manager with HDR Engineering, Inc., where he has worked since 2006, following nearly 20 years with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Throughout his 34-year career in right of way and relocation services, he has managed the relocation of numerous residential and commercial properties affected by federally, state, and locally funded transportation and infrastructure projects. His client experience includes the City of Austin, Austin Transit Partnership, City of Fort Worth, Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, Trinity Metro, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Tarrant County, TxDOT, and TxDOT’s Aviation Division. Matt's expertise includes project management, development of relocation policies and procedures, relocation planning, replacement housing payments, personal property inventories, advisory services, and the coordination of complex and specialized moves. He is known for delivering practical, innovative solutions to challenging acquisition and relocation issues. Matt currently serves as Director 1-Year for IRWA Chapter 36 and is the recipient of the 2025 Chapter 36 Jan T. Whatley, SRWA, Professional of the Year Award. He is also an IRWA Certified Instructor and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Real Estate from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Young Professional Of The Year

Mercedes Osbern is a Right of Way Manager with more than 10 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. Throughout her career, she has led right-of-way efforts supporting pipeline operations, terminals, capital projects, and property management across multiple operating regions. Mercedes most recently served as Director One-Year for Chapter 8 (2025-2026) and previously served as Region 2 YP Co-Chair. She is also a board member of ROW Cares, a nonprofit organization of right-of-way professionals that supports charities in the greater Houston area.