Kevin Dalton

 As a Utilities Project Manager at ORC, I manage the delivery of right-of-way services for utility infrastructure projects. I coordinate with clients, internal teams, consultants, landowners, and other stakeholders; manage project scope, service requests and change orders; oversee acquisition, appraisal and construction-support activities; track schedules, deliverables and outstanding issues; and support project financials, invoicing, reporting and documentation from initiation through completion. 

 I would recommend ORC because I've personally had the opportunity to grow here. I came to the company with a strong background in land, right-of-way and project management, but ORC gave me the opportunity to expand that experience into the electric utility industry. I started as a Right of Way Agent and have been able to progress into project management and leadership while working on a wide variety of transmission, distribution and fiber projects. I've been trusted with increasing levels of responsibility, had the opportunity to work directly with clients and talented project teams, and continued developing both my technical and leadership skills. For someone who is willing to learn, take ownership of their work and grow professionally, I think ORC can provide a lot of opportunity. 

Before joining ORC, I spent more than 20 years in the land and right-of-way industry, primarily supporting oil and gas and midstream development. I started on the mineral title side and progressively moved into acquisition, right-of-way and project management. That experience eventually included managing large teams of agents and multi-state projects involving hundreds of miles of ROW, while working directly with clients throughout the acquisition and development process.

I joined ORC in 2022 and transitioned that background into the electric utility industry, initially working as a Right of Way Agent on AEP projects. That gave me the opportunity to learn transmission, distribution and construction support from the ground level. I progressed into a Lead Agent/Assistant PM role and ultimately into project management, where I now oversee budgets, schedules, risk, ROW strategy, agents and client relationships across transmission, distribution and fiber projects.

My advice to someone applying at ORC would be to come in ready to learn and be willing to take ownership of your work. You don't have to know every aspect of the utility or right-of-way industry on day one, but you need to be willing to ask questions, learn from the people around you, and understand the projects you're supporting.

I'd also tell someone not to be afraid of taking on additional responsibility. My own experience at ORC has shown me that there are opportunities to grow if you're dependable, willing to learn and willing to step up when the opportunity presents itself. I started as a Right of Way Agent and progressed into project management and leadership, so I've experienced that growth firsthand