Summit leads discussion on housing and Marcellus Shale

Time is running out to register for a major conference in Pittsburgh about Marcellus Shale and its impact on the real estate industry.

The Shale Gas Summit takes place April 24 and 25 at the Omni William Penn Hotel. The state’s top shale gas experts will address some of the most common issues Realtors® face including, community development, leases, titles, land management, valuation, housing and economic impact.

This week’s featured speakers are Stephanie Catarino Wissman, executive director, Associated Petroleum Industries of PA; Jeffrey R. Kern, senior appraiser, Resource Technologies Corporation; and Robert Burnett, Director, Houston Harbaugh Attorneys at Law.

Stephanie Catarino Wissman
Executive Director, Associated Petroleum Industries of PA, A Division of API
“The State of Energy: A Federal and State Perspective”

Wissman represents API-PA and its members before state and local government, congressional representatives, the media, and more. API-PA is the only national trade association that represents all aspects of America’s technology-driven oil and natural gas industry. Prior to API-PA, she was the director of government affairs for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the largest broad based business advocacy association in Pennsylvania. In this capacity, she lobbied on energy and environmental issues, and general business issues. Wissman is a graduate of Penn State University.

Jeffrey R. Kern
Senior Appraiser, Resource Technologies Corporation
“Land and Property Valuations With Shale Development”

Kern, a member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and a certified general appraiser, has taught appraisal and assessment continuing education courses to professionals across the country. He is a member of the American Institute of Mineral Appraisers, the International Association of Assessing Officers, a member of the Board of the International Mineral Economics and Management Society, and the National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers. Kern is also certified in Pennsylvania as an ad valorem property tax evaluator.

Robert Burnett
Director, Houston Harbaugh Attorneys at Law
“Emerging Issues in Pennsylvania Oil & Gas”

Attorney Robert J. Burnett represents landowners and royalty owners throughout Pennsylvania in an array of oil and gas matters including lease negotiations, overriding royalties and participation agreements; the implied covenants to develop and market oil/gas; surface access and pipeline right-of-way; and lease preservation, maintenance, and development—including the impact of delay rental and shut-in royalty clauses. As a member of the Pennsylvania National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO) Legislative Committee, Burnett crafts well-reasoned and pragmatic legislation that benefits both landowners and industry. He has been recognized as a “Who’s Who in Energy” by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

It is estimated that more than one-quarter of the 28,000 members of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors®  are impacted by transactions stemming from development of the Marcellus Shale formation. Realtors® practicing in shale gas producing areas face the daunting task of managing and responding to a multitude of issues stemming from these transactions.