Leslie Finnigan, SR/WA, has over 33 years of right of way experience. She is Vice President, Western Region Universal Field Services, responsible for business development and project management for southwest Washington, the states of Oregon, Idaho, and California. She is the principal real estate broker for Universal in Oregon and California.
Leslie attended Western Oregon University, majoring in early childhood education. She trained as a mediator and received an Oregon Mediation Certificate. In addition, she has attended many technical and management training programs in property acquisition, appraisal, and leadership.
Leslie has been active in the IRWA since 1987, serving as Chapter 3’s Education Chair for three years and then working her way through the officer positions to become Chapter President. She served Region 7 as the Vice Chair for two years and the Region Chair from 2001-2003. Leslie was actively involved in the International Public Agency Committee from 2004-2014, holding the position of Vice Chair for two years and Chair the past three years. She was the IRWA Chapter 3 Professional of the Year in 1992 and 2011 and Region 7 Professional of the Year in 2011 and a finalist for the Balfour Award in 2014. Leslie was awarded the Balfour Award in 2019 at the IRWA Annual Conference in Portland where she was also the Co-Chair of the Conference.
Leslie has been a Trustee on the International Right of Way Education Foundation since 2015.