OFFICERS & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Joe Munsey, RPL
LAAPL PRESIDENT & PUBLISHING & NEWSLETTER CO-CHAIR
Southern California Gas Company, Senior Land Advisor - Anaheim, California
Responsible for managing land rights issues affecting our underground gas storage facilities: title research (surface/oil and gas), acquisition of storage rights, oil and gas leases, other oil/gas/surface related matters; supervisions of outside land consultants.
Prior to joining Southern California Gas Company, held various land management positions with land (oil/gas/geothermal and right of way) consulting firms, with over 30 years of experience in the energy industry.
Jeffrey Martinez
LAAPL VICE PRESIDENT
Pacific Energy Group, Senior Landman
Update coming
Casey Crissman
Immediate past LAAPL PRESIDENT
Monument ROW, Senior Project Manager
Casey Crissman began his land career in East Texas, researching title in Rusk and Panola counties during the Cotton Valley and early Haynesville activity before moving west to lease mineral rights in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Having spent plenty of time in courthouses and across kitchen tables, he now works in land and project development throughout California’s energy and infrastructure sectors. As LAAPL President, he’s focused on helping the chapter stay connected to its land roots while embracing where the industry is headed.
Brett Brown
Secretary
Paragon Partners Consultants, Inc., Project Manager
Brett Brown began his career in the title industry, spending eight years focused on title and abstracting work. He later transitioned into right of way, where he has spent over 12 years with Paragon Partners supporting energy projects across California.
With experience in both title and land services, he works on right of way acquisition, landowner coordination, and project support for pipeline and related energy developments.
As an incoming board member, Brett is eager to support the chapter through organization, communication, and maintaining accurate records, helping ensure effective coordination and continuity in chapter activities.
Jason Downs, CPL
Treasurer / Nominations Chair
Chevron U.S.A., Lead Land Representative
Mr. Downs was raised in Seattle, Washington, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from San Diego State University. Following graduation, he worked as an independent landman on projects across Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas before returning to California in 2009. In 2010, he founded Downchez Energy, a land services company.
In 2013, Mr. Downs transitioned in-house with Breitburn Operating LP, where he served as the California and South Florida Landman and supported the Senior Vice President on special real estate initiatives. He remained with Breitburn through its bankruptcy exit and relocation in 2018.
Later that year, Mr. Downs joined Chevron U.S.A. Inc., where he supports the Central and Southern California Downstream, Midstream, and Chemicals business units.
Marcia Carlisle
AAPL Regional Director
The Termo Company, Senior Landman
Marcia's strong background in the Oil and Gas Industry includes working in various capacities with many majors, including Shell Oil company in her early career, Apache, ConocoPhillips, and California Resources. Marcia has assisted with the Business Development and Land Departments. She now has settled in Long Beach with The Termo Company and is enjoying living in Los Angeles near her three sons. Marcia is also an experienced Sales Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the marketing and advertising industry. Other aspects of her career include Digital Advertising Sales, Real Estate Sales, Client Development and Account Management. She is also an artist.
John R. “JR” Billeaud
EDUCATION CHAIR
California Natural Resources Group, LLC (CalNRG), Land Manager - Ventura, CA
John “JR” Billeaud is currently the Land Manager for CalNRG and has been working as a landman since 2010. Mr. Billeaud has worked several basins across the Lower 48, with extensive experience in California and additional experience attributed to Utah, Colorado, Louisiana, Texas and Illinois. Prior to joining CalNRG, Mr. Billeaud held positions at Freeport-McMoran Oil & Gas (formerly PXP), Sentinel Peak Resources, and Berry Corporation.
Mr. Billeaud was born and raised in Lafayette, LA and earned degrees in Finance and Professional Land & Resource Management from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He is an active member of the American Association of Professional Landmen, Los Angeles Association of Professional Landmen, Bakersfield Association of Professional Landmen, and Dallas Association of Professional Landmen. He enjoys spending his time with his family, playing golf, bird hunting and fishing.
John J. Harris, ESQ.
LEGISLATIVE CHAIR
Cassio, Sparks, Partner
John J. Harris is a Partner at Casso & Sparks LLP and brings over 45 years of experience representing oil producers, working interest owners, land and mineral owners, financial institutions and public agencies on oil and gas, energy and environmental matters. Mr. Harris has extensive experience in all aspects of oil and gas and energy law, including the wide range of operational problems faced by energy producers doing business in California and in other states. He also has significant experience representing oil and gas, industrial and local government clients in oil and gas and environmental litigation, as well as transactional and regulatory matters.
In addition to being a member of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Association of Petroleum Landmen and an Associate Member of the American Association of Petroleum Landmen, John is a Member of the California Independent Petroleum Association and a Member of the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section of the American Bar Association.
John was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1980 and has a J.D. degree from University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) and a B.A. degree from University of California, Santa Barbara.
Randall Taylor, RPL
PuBLISHING & NEWSLETTER CO-CHAIR
Taylor Land Service, Inc., President
Randall Taylor, RPL, President of Taylor Land Service, Inc. was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and grew up in Wichita, Kansas, where he started his Oil & Gas career in 1978 as an independent petroleum landman.
After several years working as an independent petroleum landman in California he formed Taylor Land Service, Inc. in 2007.
Mr. Taylor has been a member of the Los Angeles Association of Professional Landmen (LAAPL) since 2002, where he has also served as President for the 2020-2021 term and has been a Director for most of his membership, and Newsletter Co-Chair since 2006. He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL), Region VIII for two, two-year terms, and served for three years as a member of the Ethics Committee.
He has also been a member of the Bakersfield Association of Professional Landmen (BAPL) since 2012.
Lara Boyko, J.D., RWP/GN
Director
Lara is a Principal Consultant with 16+ years of experience in a wide variety of real property transactions including sales, leases, and right-of-way for both residential and commercial transactions. She has a legal background with a focus on real estate and business transactions; she also has expertise in right-of-way acquisitions and relocations for municipalities. Specific areas of expertise include managing end-to-end transactions, ESAs, surveys, appraisals, and due diligence analysis. Lara has worked extensively with commercial real estate renewals, public and private agencies, corporate alliances, and all stakeholders. ate alliances, and all stakeholders.
Paul A. Langland, ESQ.
Director
Paul Langland is an attorney and professional landman with more than 40 years of experience in oil and gas, real estate, title, acquisitions and divestitures, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder relations. He has managed land operations in California, Wyoming, Kansas, Texas and Louisiana and has extensive experience negotiating oil and gas leases, commercial agreements, surface use agreements, and complex business transactions.
Paul is recognized for his expertise in mineral and surface title analysis, particularly in town-lot title and ownership matters. Throughout his career, he has worked on major energy projects, acquisitions and divestitures exceeding $500 million, and permitting efforts for projects valued at up to $1 billion.
He holds a Juris Doctor from Washburn University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Kansas University. Paul is a member of the State Bar of California, the American Association of Professional Landmen, the Los Angeles Association of Professional Landmen, and the Bakersfield Association of Professional Landmen. He served as President of the Los Angeles Association of Professional Landmen from 2013 to 2014.