ABOUT

THE LAI STORY

LAI is a team of experienced land professionals specializing in all forms of utility easements and property acquisitions.

Founded by Ron Johnson nearly 40 years ago as Johnson Land Service. In 2005 Kenny Cobb purchased and renamed the company Land Acquisition, Inc. as he expanded the team to a nationwide workforce with a prescence all across the US.

The LAI team brings a local flavor to each area we're assigned. Our people - our work ethic, experience and diversity are the number one reason clients use us time and time again.

Headquartered on a roughly 100-acre property in the piney hills country of Northeast Louisiana affectionately referred to as “The Farm”, our workforce has expeanded to work around the country for all areas.

Kenny Cobb
Owner

About Kenny

As LAI’s owner and operator, Kenny brings experience to all aspects of the right of way industry. He uses skills from previous assignments in the construction industry and in the military to make cost-saving decisions for acquisition projects. He works with his crews to eliminate extra costs and minimize delays in project deadlines.

Kenny has a keen attention to detail and uses that perspective to anticipate issues that could impede the acquisition program. Kenny works to oversee projects and solve problems before they
become an issue.

Kenny grew up working on small farms in rural North Louisiana. Upon graduating High School he enlisted in the US Air Force as a heavy equipment operator specializing in dozer and crane operating. During his enlistment Kenny served at Malmstrom AFB, Montana, Kunsan AFB, South Korea, England AFB, Louisiana and finished his Military Career at King Fahd AFB, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Upon his separation from the Air Force, he began working as a civilian on various construction and logging operations. In December of 1995, Kenny met Ron Johnson, owner of Johnson Land Service. Ron recognized Kenny’s ability as a people person and along with his experience with farming, logging and construction felt that he would be a good fit with his company as a negotiating agent for Rights-of-way and OGM Leases.

During his time with Johnson Land Service, Kenny was taught all aspects of the industry, including title research, permitting, due diligence, reporting, mapping and project management. Kenny purchased Johnson Land Service from Ron upon his retirement in 2010 and changed the company name to Land Acquisitions, Inc. (LAI). Kenny stays very involved with the day to day activities of each project and agent working on LAI projects around the country. His hands-on involvement is one of the many reasons LAI has and will continue to be successful.

Kenny’s specialties: Difficult Negotiations, Construction, and Route Planning, Project Budgeting, Survey Management, Project Staff Management

Leslie Cobb
Office Manager

About Leslie

Leslie is the office manager for LAI and brings 15 years of experience with a Fortune 500 company to the LAI team. She oversees accounting functions of LAI and provides assistance to the right of way agents and clients for day to day activities. Leslie is an integral part of LAI, providing encouragement and support to maintain good working relationships with clients, vendors and landowners. Her office motto is “Serving with excellence”.

Leslie is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University and former owner of a floral shop and CenturyLink employee.

Jesse Rabb

About Jesse

Having grown up around landmen and land work, Jesse’s unique perspective has helped LAI to evolve into the land services company we are today. Together with the experience of the old ways of performing land work integrated with the current technology driven services clients now rely on, Jesse has helped progress LAI into the new century with GIS mapping services and cloud-based analytics and reporting. As a native Louisianan, Jesse has spent most of the last 15 years working in Louisiana but has also performed work in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Specialties include any computer related tasks as well as GIS mapping, data management and any project management tasks.

Dewayne Ginn

About Dewayne

Having worked in the pipeline construction industry for many years prior to working with LAI, Dewayne’s unique understanding of construction is critical to all the facets of construction land work activities and allows him to anticipate issues and in some cases prevent problems before they arise. Dewayne began with LAI 7 years ago and in that time has worked primarily on construction related issues for our clients. Dewayne’s own hobbies and personality have positioned him as a “go-to” landman for landowners with cattle operations and/or construction industry owners who operate equipment on their properties daily.

George Kramer

About George

Though George has been with LAI for only 5 years he has proven himself to be a master negotiator that can easily handle any task given to him. George excels in working with other landmen and is always willing to help a fellow landman contact, meet, negotiate, etc. with a difficult landowner as the need may arise. George’s previous experience in business as well as extensive land work experience makes him successful in relating to landowners and clients alike and make him a valued asset for LAI.

Mike Reese

About Mike

After many years working in the public-school system as an administrator, coach and teacher, Mike came on board with LAI with a wealth of experience in dealing with the public. Mike has utilized this experience to engage with landowners and clients alike with a focus on completing tasks in a timely and equitable manner. Mike has shown the ability to lead project teams to success in his 10+ years with LAI.

Kate Duncan

About Kate

Jerry Cook

About Jerry

With over 30 years’ experience as a construction manager/construction company owner, Jerry came to LAI almost 20 years ago. In that time, he has solidified himself as an expert in construction techniques & management. Jerry’s practical experience and exceptional personality have made him indispensable to our clients who often request him personally to lead their right-of-way construction efforts.

Pete Taormino

About Pete

In 2004 Pete began doing work on a part time basis with Johnson Land Services and then in 2007 Pete began his new journey in the oil and gas industry full time. Since that moment the decision was made, he has never looked back. Becoming an independent land agent in 2011 and then working in-house in 2013-2014. Understanding the industry more, in 2014 Pete became incorporated and has worked as an independent land man since. Working on project large and small, from acquisition to construction and final clean up. “Working for and with Land Acquisitions and the team (family) assembled there has been the best time so far in my career.”