About MAPL

Immediate Past President -
Cliff Roberts

Cliff is the Land Manager of Muskegon Development Company, an operator and producer of oil and gas wells across the State of Michigan.  Cliff graduated in 2011 from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and immediately started with Muskegon as an Analyst.  His experience includes abstracting, title curative, lease and other contract negotiation, division order analysis, and acquisitions.  Cliff has been an active member of MOGA and MAPL since the beginning of his career, and he is grateful to have the opportunity to serve on the MAPL Board.

President -  Joseph M. Crowther

Joe is currently employed as Land Manager for Riverside Energy Michigan, LLC, and has worked professionally as a landman in the State of Michigan since 2006, co-founding Great Lakes Land Company, L.L.C. in 2009. Enthusiastically accepting new challenges has been a steppingstone for Joe's professional advancement and versatile abilities. Equipped with a positive attitude, aptitude for problem solving, adaptability, and strong communication skills, Joe has established himself as a dynamic and competent Land professional. Joe has been dedicated to practicing land work with the utmost emphasis placed on prompt results, honest and mutually beneficial dealings with the public, and practices in alignment with the code of ethics of the American Association of Professional Landmen. Joe is humbled to serve on the board of the Michigan Association of Professional Landmen, and is eager to represent our members, organization and the industry to the highest standard of professionalism and fairness.

Vice President -  Joshua Crowther

Josh began working as an independent landman in 2008. Throughout his career Josh has had the opportunity to work for multiple land service brokerages in the State of Michigan. He has extensive experience working in the field examining title, determining mineral ownership, reviewing title opinions, resolving title curative requirements and negotiating oil and gas business contracts with private landowners and businesses. Josh Graduated from the University of Michigan in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Video Studies and has developed a wide range of skills and expertise as a result of his various professional endeavors. He is a member of the Michigan Oil and Gas Association and the American Association of Professional Landmen and is also a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in the State of Michigan. Josh is enthusiastic to have the opportunity to serve on the MAPL Board of Directors and give back to the association that has provided the networking opportunities that helped build his career as a land professional. 

Secretary - Mark Fuller

Treasurer - Willard Susan

Will spent 10 years growing up in South America where his dad worked for the YMCA. Will's college majors were Business Administration and Psychology, with minors in Computer Science and Spanish. After spending 23 years in banking and mortgage closings he has now been in oil and gas exploration work for 16 years, starting with an attorney completing drilling title opinions. Since 2010 he has spent most of his time as an Independent Landman, focusing on title examination, whether it is an Ownership Report, Abstract, curative or easements. He enjoys following the ownership of surface and minerals to make sure the right people are paid on the right property. Accuracy, efficiency and timeliness are the top goals in his reporting. Will looks forward to serving his fellow MAPL members as well as continuing to attend the many seminars offered through MAPL and AAPL, learning all that he can about the energy industry.

Membership Chair - Mark Isanhart

Mark began working in the energy industry in the spring of 1996 as a Right of Way agent closing out open items from the installation of a sour gas pipeline in Western Michigan. Since that time, Mark has worked extensively in oil, gas, and mineral leasing and/or pipeline right of way acquisition, operation, and maintenance.  In 2020 Mark accepted a position at Wolverine Pipe Line Company as their Right of Way and Claims Specialist, a role which he still fills today.  Mark has spent a growing portion of his time since 2022, traveling and speaking at industry events for the IRWA, the MAPL, and in governmental meetings on behalf of Wolverine Pipe Line Company. 

 

Region II AAPL Director -
Russell Shinevar, CPL

Russell is a Certified Professional Landman with over forty years of continuous landwork experience and over 500 hours of documented AAPL Certified Continuing Education. He takes pride in providing a quality land service to aggressive companies interested in exploring for oil and gas and working in renewable energies. Russell is an expert title examiner and negotiator having worked in multiple Counties and States negotiating both Oil and Gas Leases and Renewable Energy Contracts. He has a tremendous amount of experience working with title opinions in oil and gas, title commitments in renewable energy, curing title defects and division of interests.  Russell is a Past President of MAPL and has maintained a leadership positions with AAPL for many years including serving on the AAPL Executive Committee as Third Vice President 2011-2012 and Certification Chairman 2014-2015. He has received several awards through AAPL including a Distinguished Service Award in 2014 and the Presidential Award for Meritorious Service in 2021.  Russell returns to the AAPL Region II Director’s position having held prior from 2006 through 2010.  It is the love of the land business, dealing with people, significant challenge, satisfaction of success and joy of teaching others that makes Russell anxious to start each new day of landwork.