Establishing an Oklahoma Presence Through a Meaningful Investment

Western Land Services is pleased to announce it has recently acquired Barton Land Consultants, of Duncan, Oklahoma. The transaction closed on March 22nd, 2018. This comes a year after WLS positioned itself as an Employee Owned Company, and represents a bold new step for the future and growth of WLS.

BLC was formed in 2006 by owner Brent Barton. Now a 60+ person, full service operation, Barton has built a solid reputation for providing quality and timely land services to its clients in Oklahoma and beyond.

WLS is thrilled to welcome Brent and the BLC family to the fold. With evident synergies in company cultures, values, and service portfolios, WLS is eager to expand its footprint in Oklahoma and to become more involved in one of the most prolific oil and gas areas in the nation. In conjunction with this acquisition, WLS is also in the midst of securing an Oklahoma City office to strengthen its commitment to this region. WLS and BLC share a wealth of knowledge and experience, along with a commitment to building lasting client relationships by delivering best in class land services. WLS looks forward to sharing those benefits with clients for years to come.

25 Years of Networking Success!

Western Land Services is a proud sponsor of NAPE Summit 2018. We are excited to celebrate the conference’s 25^th year of bringing oil and gas professionals together in one location.

Attending NAPE this year? Stop by booth #4139! Our Management Team looks forward to meeting with you and discussing your land related needs for 2018 and beyond!

Western Land Mobilizes & Executes Under Pressure

Some folks were gearing up for the holidays. The Western Land team was focused on getting it done for a client yet again. Under short notice, but for a very important cause, Western Land was tasked with a hefty request the week of Christmas.  Determined, Western rallied the troops and completed a mass mail-out to a whopping 5,500 landowners on a client’s behalf.

Responsive, dedicated, and resourceful, Western Land is your solution for all things land related. Contact us today to learn more about our mass lease signing or mail-out capabilities. You can count on us.

Come see WLS in June at a conference near you!

Western Land Services will be participating in the following June conferences and we hope to see you there:

>   IRWA, Anchorage, AK : June 11-14,  Booth #212

>   AAPL 63rd ANNUAL MEETING, Seattle, WA:  June 21-24

>   DUG EAST, Pittsburgh, PA:  June 20-22

From large-scale leasing projects to one-day title searches, WLS has the expertise to meet any of your land services needs. Coupling full-service land brokerage with best-in-class GIS  services, we pride ourselves in efficiency through innovation. Not just your typical hired brokers, WLS is an Employee Owned Company valuing long-term partnerships with our clients. See our conference representatives this June to learn more about how you can partner with WLS to meet your brokerage needs.

Western Land Services Now Employee-Owned!

Western Land Services is excited to announce that effective January 1, 2017, 49% of the company’s stock has been sold to its employees, through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The Michigan-based brokerage firm’s 300 employees will become beneficial owners through the ESOP.

This transaction gives employees a financial interest in the success of the business, making the positive bonds between Western Land teammates even stronger than they are today. It represents a very tangible way to reward those who have played a critical role in Western’s success since the beginning.

John Wilson, celebrating 25 years of ownership, plans to remain CEO for the long-term and executive management team at Western Land will continue in its current form. “It has always been my desire for Western to continue the tradition of being privately owned, and the ESOP will help us with this goal, “said Wilson, “The ESOP will enable the continuity of leadership and will not change the way the company operates. The management team is confident that the ESOP will make us an even stronger company.”

Wilson and Rich Collins, President of Western Land, view this as a natural step consistent with their recognition of the contributions of each employee in the success of the Company, and their desire to share the rewards of that success. “The reasons for selling the stock are three-fold,” adds Collins. “The ESOP is the best way to provide for future Company stability; ensure a smooth long term leadership transition; and share the financial rewards of ownership to our employees.”

As always, Western Land’s goal is to provide clients with best in-class quality services. We believe an ESOP puts us in the best position to continue that commitment to our valued clients. Data consistently shows that ESOP’s outperform their non-employee owned peers and that company growth accelerates. “We believe this even more closely aligns the goals of our clients with the work of our employees” Collins said. “Being mostly made up of employees was already something that helped set us apart from the traditional land services mold. Having our employees become partners in the end results of our work is another way that we believe will help set us apart from our competition. Combined with our already large stable of services, we expect the ESOP to enhance an even more positive work product to our clients.”

Both Wilson and Collins plan to continue on in their same capacity for the foreseeable future. In light of the challenges facing the industry today, an ESOP is an excellent way in which to assure the continuation of our best in-class services, retain valued employees, and enhance our company’s’ productivity and profitability. “I’m thrilled for our employees; adding this element to our culture where our employees contribute in significant ways every day, and the future couldn’t be brighter,” said Wilson.

Today, Western Land employs over 300 workers and operates from six offices strategically positioned across the country, Western Land maintains active projects in 16 states and has established experience in 36 states and counting. The company’s mission is to bring land, energy, and people together executing every project with enthusiasm, integrity, and expertise it deserves.

Supporting Local Communities in More Ways Than One!

Recently here at Western Land Services, our employees embraced the spirit of giving and embarked on a journey to give back to its local communities. Over the course of 8 weeks, our generous employees pooled together creatively to donate:

• 84,000 pop can tabs to the American Legion for supporting veterans
• 1,900 box tops to local schools
• 1,500 food items to local food pantries
• Funds and 70 toys to local families for the holidays (over the past few years WLS has helped over 27 families.)
• A truckload of dog food, bones, treats and other pet supplies to local animal shelters

Western Land thanks all of its employees for their ongoing charitable efforts and encourages everyone to spread joy and happiness this holiday season!

Join us in Nashville June 12th-15th at Booth #601/602!

Western Land Services (WLS) has attained thousands of miles of right-of-way acreage for its clients across the nation. This includes ROW acquisitions for crude oil, natural gas, NGL, electrical, and water lines of all scopes and sizes. In just the past few years, WLS has managed multiple FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) regulated and non-FERC pipeline projects, encompassing over 1,900 total miles of right-of-way, several of which traverse multiple states. With FERC lines being much more complex in nature, WLS invests heavily into enhancing its FERC education and expertise to ensure all its projects are executed successfully for its clients. Click here to find out more!

The WLS GIS Department’s Leasehold and Unit Product was also recently showcased in an article of the May / June issue of  RIGHT of WAY MAGAZINE, titled, “A Straight Line To Efficiency.” The data presents a wealth of value for the ROW sector when it comes to opportunity assessment and maximizing operational efficiency on existing and proposed routes.

Stop by booth #601/602 to meet our representatives and learn more!

WESTERN LAND SERVICES CONTINUES TO ENHANCE ITS FERC EXPERTISE

Western Land (WLS) has managed multiple FERC pipeline projects in the last several years, including a 108 mile project traversing several states, and recently attended a FERC Conference in California covering all aspects of the FERC process from planning to completion. Staying informed and up to date on all changes to industry guidelines and regulations is critical to helping our clients expedite their projects.

A FERC pipeline project presents unique characteristics, including the need for consistent and informative communication with landowners, project team members, government agencies and entire communities. Our project managers and land agents excel in an acquisition setting where building quality relationships with these project stakeholders is the highest priority.

WLS is committed to preventing any delays or excessive costs to clients that could arise from an unsuccessful negotiation with a landowner. Our agents are charged with, and are successful in conducting negotiations that are fair, open and honest, while keeping the needs of the client in mind at all times.

See below for just some of the many FERC skills WLS can bring to your projects:

• Proven track record of successful landowner communication and negotiations
• Create and maintain strong relationships with all governmental agencies
• Public Outreach and Open House support
• Landowner notification letters, brochures, pamphlets
• Land Valuations
• Access rights tracking
• Eminent Domain support if necessary
• Work closely with various project teams to assist with completion of FERC required permits and paperwork
• Compliance with FERC-mandated reporting requirements
• Keep informed of the most up-to-date changes in FERC regulations
• Sensitivity to endangered and special status species, wildlife and vegetation impact, cultural resources impact, geological hazards.
• Proactive liaison with landowners throughout the negotiation, construction and reclamation stages
• Identification of possible issues and challenges ahead of construction

Please contact our Director of Land & ROW, Mark Kalchik, MARK.KALCHIK@WESTERNLS.COM, to learn more about how our FERC experience can support your existing and future pipeline projects.