Dani Harton
Austin,TX
Summary
Senior Land and Business Development leader with a proven record of securing and advancing strategic sites for utility-scale energy projects. Known for building trusted landowner and client relationships while driving disciplined execution across complex acquisition campaigns. Combines high-level negotiation strategy with operational leadership to deliver predictable, scalable project outcomes.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Manager Land and Business Development
Volta Group Global
10.2025 - Current
- Lead land acquisition strategy and client-facing operations across renewable and traditional energy markets, serving as primary liaison between land teams, developer clients, and landowners.
- Cultivate and steward long-term landowner relationships built on transparency, integrity, and proactive communication, resulting in sustained cooperation and reduced project friction throughout the development lifecycle.
- Direct and mentor land agents across active campaigns, ensuring alignment on acquisition targets, negotiation strategy, timelines, and client deliverables.
- Manage client onboarding, expectation-setting, and long-term relationship stewardship to ensure disciplined execution and contractual performance.
- Build and maintain strategic landowner relationships grounded in trust, integrity, and proactive communication—minimizing conflict and strengthening long-term stakeholder alignment.
- Oversee and negotiate complex landowner agreements, including lease options, purchase agreements, surface use agreements, and easements.
- Drive business development initiatives through industry networking, proposal development, and tailored service presentations, securing new clients and expanding into emerging markets.
- Coordinate cross-functional collaboration across land, title, permitting, GIS, and regulatory teams to ensure seamless intake, due diligence, and project delivery.
- Identify operational efficiencies and implement performance-driven processes to increase scalability and execution certainty across campaigns.
Renewable Land Acquisition Agent
Lightning Land LLC
10.2023 - Current
- Assist with land acquisition initiatives across major ISOs, including ERCOT, WECC, MISO, ISO-NE, and NYISO, securing strategic sites for utility-scale solar, BESS and micro-grid projects through data-driven analysis
- Secure expansions into new states with clients through compelling stakeholder presentations, driving growth in both greenfield and brownfield development opportunities
- Research land ownership via all outlets available
- Conducted field visits in tandem with newly generated AOIs and to further negotiations
- Execute comprehensive site evaluations using Transect reports and GIS mapping, ensuring optimal project viability
- Collect and analyze data on land value and market trends to inform decision-making and negotiate favorable terms for land acquisition
- Foster strategic partnerships with landowners while negotiating renewable energy lease agreements in client focused markets
- Assist in conducting due diligence on potential land acquisition opportunities, including lease checks, CAD and County Recorder checks for competitors
- Develop and implement strategies to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the land acquisition process, including streamlining workflows
- Collaborate with the renewable energy project development team to identify and assess potential sites for renewable energy projects based on technical and market criteria
Field Support Engineer
Service Corporation International
01.2021 - 11.2023
- Developed productive relationships with Market Directors, General Managers and Location Managers to alleviate any issues and concerns throughout SCI locations
- Oversaw network and IT upgrades to provide standardization throughout SCI locations
- Trained over 1,000 SCI employees on Cisco phone systems and engaged Q&A to ensure successful transition to new systems
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and implement innovative solutions to improve system performance and efficiency
- Collaborate with the IT team to implement new technologies and improve existing infrastructure to optimize efficiency and productivity throughout SCI locations
- Collaborate with Market Directors, General Managers, and Location Managers to develop and implement strategies to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty at SCI locations
- Create and maintain documentation for system installations, modifications, and maintenance to ensure accurate and up-to-date records
- Conduct regular training sessions for SCI employees on the latest system updates and software enhancements to ensure effective utilization and maximize productivity
Project Development Associate
AP Solar Holdings
03.2019 - 04.2020
- Drafted Memorandums, Solar Site and Lease Agreements, Easement Agreements
- Spearheaded solar development initiatives through comprehensive land research, title analysis, and strategic site control, while managing critical Chapter 313 agreements
- Aggressively prospected for new business by cold calls and pursuing leads to ensure pipeline sufficiency
- Developed relationships with county ISD, economic development chairs, judges and commissioners
- Spearheaded contract negotiation in tandem with outside counsel and Director of BD
- Lead weekly client/vendor meetings to foster open communication and ensure ongoing success of the projects
- Collaborated with Directors to design effective presentations
- Monthly Competitive Landscape and Economic Analysis
- Attended all landowner, TSP, Vendor meetings
- Google Earth, Dropbox, OneDrive, Smartsheet, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams
- Maintained office services by organizing and drafting office operations and procedures
- Designed filing systems, reviewed and approved supply requisitions, and assigned and monitored clerical functions
- Managed onboarding, created and ran bi-weekly payroll, payroll reports/journals, employee files and benefits
- Managed vendor files including drafting/reviewing Non-Disclosure Agreements
- Prepared and scheduled all landowner, vendor, TSP payments, documentation
- Coordinated with Outside Council on each stage of project
- Created and managed all filing systems
- Requested and reviewed documents relating to full industry title commitments (T-19 Title Commitment)
Land Specialist
Occidental Petroleum Corporation
05.2018 - 03.2019
- Prepared AFE documentation to be sent to all WIOs regarding lease acquisitions, trades, op well workovers, etc
- Worked with counterpart in Land Admin, JV Accounting, JIB, Land Negotiators to reconcile Oxy and partner interest in operated wells
- Managed tracking spreadsheets that monitor proposals, leasing activities, AFEs and departmental costs
- Created and maintained well files: paper and electronic
- Maintained basic knowledge and understanding of Operating Agreements and other Land related agreements
- Sent out recording fees, check requests, invoices, etc
- QLS utilization, analyze and understand all agreement provisions, etc
- Drafted JOA Agreements, Memorandums, SEL Increases
- Prepared exhibits for documents including assignments, JOAs, Communization Agreements Regulatory body hearings, etc
- Input all acquisitions into OXY LAMA Land Portal
- Collaborate with legal team to review and negotiate lease agreements, ensuring compliance with local regulations.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Houston
Certification
AAPL Renewable Energy Certificate, 2024
Timeline
Senior Manager Land and Business Development
Volta Group Global
10.2025 - Current
Renewable Land Acquisition Agent
Lightning Land LLC
10.2023 - Current
Field Support Engineer
Service Corporation International
01.2021 - 11.2023
Project Development Associate
AP Solar Holdings
03.2019 - 04.2020
Land Specialist
Occidental Petroleum Corporation
05.2018 - 03.2019
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Houston