William L. Wermund, SR/WA
Founder, William (Bill) Wermund, SR/WA, boasts more than 50 years of extensive experience in right of way. He began his career with Indiana Bell in January 1969 and continued until his retirement in December 1996. Following this, he established a successful right of way acquisition company that primarily caters to utility companies.
Bill is passionate about his work and takes pleasure in educating others about the industry. Throughout his career, he has held various roles within the Indiana Chapter of the International Right of Way Association (IRWA), including President, International Director, and Membership Chair. He has been honored as Indiana Chapter 10's Professional of the Year on two occasions and has been a dedicated member of the IRWA for over 50 years, receiving special recognition for this milestone in 2019.
When he isn’t working, Bill enjoys spending quality time with his dog, Lola, and helping his grandsons with their go-kart racing endeavors!
Laura W. Santos, SR/WA
Laura Wermund Santos is a Senior Right of Way Acquisition Agent at Negotiations, Inc., where she has been a dedicated team member since 2007. Before joining her father in the right of way field, Laura gained valuable experience working in the land department for a residential builder.
Upon joining Negotiations, Inc., Laura pursued her SR/WA and Broker's License, earning respect as a professional within the industry. In 2017, she became a part-owner and President of Negotiations, Inc., a company specializing in utility acquisitions.
Laura has engaged in multiple roles within the International Right of Way Association, such as Chapter 10 President, International Director, Education Committee Chair, and Newsletter Editor. Currently, she holds the position of Assistant Newsletter Editor and is a member of both the Education Committee and the Nominations and Elections Committee. In recognition of her contributions, Laura was honored with the Professional of the Year award in 2021.
Outside of her professional commitments, Laura treasures moments spent with her husband, Mike, their sons, and their puppy, Rust-eze. When she's not busy securing easements, she enjoys watching her sons do what they love, racing go-karts.
Ron Barker, SR/WA
Ron Barker, SRWA, recently retired in March 2022 after a remarkable 48-year career as the Lead Right of Way Agent at CenterPoint Energy Company Indiana North, a natural gas and electric distribution company serving six states.
Throughout his career, Ron dedicated over 40 years to the right of way profession, focusing on project management, right of way acquisition, and railroad permitting since 1979. He worked extensively within the Indiana and Ohio service territories of CenterPoint Energy.
Ron has been an engaged member of the International Right of Way Association since 1979. He is actively involved with the Crossroads of America, Indiana Chapter 10, where he has held all leadership positions and participated in various chapter committees. In addition to his chapter contributions, Ron has served Region 5 in multiple roles, including Regional Secretary, Vice Chair, and Chair. He has also held the positions of Vice Chair and Chair on the International Nominations and Election Committee. Moreover, he is a long-time member of the IRWA International Pipeline Committee.
Currently, Ron serves as a trustee on the Right of Way International Education Foundation and holds the position of Assistant Treasurer.
Christi Warren
Christi joined Negotiations, Inc. as a right-of-way acquisition agent in 2021, following her retirement from IBM in 2019, where she enjoyed a distinguished career in various Sales and Marketing roles. Her experience included overseeing both regional industry-based territories and local geographic sales for Fortune 100 companies.
With over 30 years of experience, Christi holds an Indiana Real Estate License and is a commissioned Notary Public. She has successfully acquired right-of-way for the Hendricks County Surveyor's office and other utility companies in Indiana. Additionally, she is an active member of the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) Indiana chapter.
Christi is happily married and relishes spending time with her family and grandchildren. She actively participates in their lives, contributing to school, church activities, and enjoys playing Pickleball!
Bruce Warren
Before joining Negotiations, Inc. in 2023, Bruce accumulated extensive experience in the Information Technology sector across various roles. He began his IT career at IBM, where he held several technical positions, advancing from Customer Engineer to Service Delivery Manager and ultimately to Professional Development Manager. He also dedicated several years to AT&T as a Service Delivery Manager.
In addition to his corporate experience, Bruce launched his own IT consulting services company, offering hardware, software, and project management solutions, alongside three years of field survey work. He officially retired from the IT industry in 2021.
In 2023, Bruce obtained his Real Estate Broker's license and Notary Commission and is currently gaining experience in the Right of Way industry.
Outside of work, Bruce cherishes time with his family, particularly his seven grandchildren. He enjoys the outdoors and spends his leisure time playing golf and dreaming of acquiring easements!
Samuel Robinson
Samuel Robinson is a Right of Way Agent with a strong foundation in client relations, land acquisition, and land development. As a second-generation Landman and third-generation utility professional, Samuel brings a lifelong appreciation for the industry and the relationships that are at the heart of successful right-of-way projects.
He began developing his communication and negotiation skills through direct sales before transitioning into the energy industry as a Landman. In 2025, Samuel contributed to the development of a utility-scale solar project for Leeward Renewable Energy, gaining valuable experience in renewable energy and utility-scale land acquisition.
Samuel holds an Indiana Real Estate Broker's License and is a commissioned Notary Public. He is an active member of the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) Chapter 10 and is committed to continually expanding his expertise while providing exceptional service to clients, landowners, and project stakeholders.
Outside of work, Samuel enjoys spending time outdoors, especially hiking and fishing. He is actively involved in his local church, enjoys playing pickleball with friends, and looks forward to spirited Monopoly competitions with his family.
E. Stanley Ryland
Stan retired from his position at Negotiations, Inc., where he excelled for 16 years. We are profoundly thankful for his hard work and steadfast commitment!
Prior to his tenure at Negotiations Inc. in 2006, Stan successfully owned and operated an excavation and drainage business. From 1994 to 2024, he was a member of the Board of Directors for Hendricks Power Cooperative, an electric utility, where he held various roles, including President and Secretary, and chaired multiple committees. In 2006, he was appointed to the Hendricks County Drainage Board by county commissioners, serving until 2024.
Additionally, Stan worked as a Project Engineer at Duke within the electric utility sector, where he designed numerous high-voltage transmission lines with multimillion-dollar budgets. His extensive background proved to be an invaluable asset!
Stan loved spending time with his wife, Sharen, as well as his two sons, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter, before being called home on September 8, 2024.