Colorado West Estate Planning Council Fall Meeting
We will have Joe Higgins speak about the Mesa Scholarship Initiative and how they are supporting middle income families with post-secondary education.
We also will have Rob Pierce speak on the complexities of water law in Western Colorado.
Rob Pierce:
As a partner with Dufford Waldeck since 2005, Rob’s practice focuses on water-rights law and related issues. He enjoys the process of identifying the hurdles a project might face and finding the most cost-effective solution. Water law is an unusual area of the law because it frequently raises both legal and engineering issues. For that reason, Rob believes that an effective water attorney must go beyond possessing an in-depth knowledge of water law and must also be able to identify issues or opportunities in the engineering.
In the West they say that whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting. While technical knowledge is critical, Rob believes that cost-effective problem solving when water is involved requires the ability diffuse tensions so that parties can work toward practical solutions. Sometimes step one is simply convincing the opposing party to put down the shovel. His clients count on him to help them secure or retain the all-important water rights they need for their land.
Rob’s work-life balance is inspiring as he makes family a priority when he is outside of the office. Rob, his wife, and three children spend quality time enjoying all the outdoors have to offer including camping, skiing, and mountain biking.
Joe Higgins:
Education: Graduated College from St. Thomas Seminary in Denver in 1971. Masters Degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University 1982.
Employment over the past 45 years has included the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Arizona State Justice Planning Agency and the Denver and Mesa Co. Partners.
I was the director of the Mesa Co Partners Program that provides mentors for at risk youth, restorative justice and community serviced work program for juvenile offenders and the Western Co. Youth Conservation Corps for 34 years.
Past Community and Professional Involvements include:
Colorado State Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Council 1984-2013
Mesa Co. Community Corrections Board 1991-2015
Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class Committee 1991-2015
Mesa Co Meth Task Force 2004-2010
United Way of Mesa County
21st Judicial Districts Judicial Performance Review Commission
Present Affiliations include:
Brownson Memorial Fund, Western Co. Community Foundation
Colorado Mesa University Foundation Board
Division of Youth Services Community Board-Western Region
