Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced today appointments to several state boards and commissions.
The Ohio Parks and Recreation Council advises the chief of the Division of Parks and Recreation on park development, formulation and implementation of park policy, planning, park acquisitions, programming, and finance.
Hans Landefeld, of Springboro, has been appointed to the Ohio Parks and Recreation Council. Landefeld has worked for the Miami Conservancy District, a nine-county conservancy district that promotes flood protection, preservation, and recreational use of the Great Miami River Watershed. Landefeld has worked as a finance administrator and support services administrator and currently works as the manager of the River Corridor Improvement Subdistrict, working to develop recreational amenities in the Miami River corridor.
The Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee is charged with assisting the Ohio Department of Development and the Housing Finance Agency in identifying the housing needs and priorities of the state. The committee also reports on how programs like the Low-and-Moderate Income Housing Trust Fund can more effectively benefit low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The committee advises the director of the Department of Development as to when and how money within the Housing Trust Fund should be allocated.
Eugenia C. Atkinson, of Youngstown, has been reappointed to the Ohio Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee. Atkinson is currently the executive director of the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority, an organization that provides housing for low- and moderate-income families with more than 1,500 rental units. Atkinson also serves as the director of the Home Savings and Loan Company. She is a graduate of Hiram College and received her Public Housing Management Certification from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment.
The Ohio Water Advisory Council advises the chief of the Division of Water on water management and conservation. The council also acts as a liaison and recommends ways to enhance cooperation between government agencies that have an interest in water consumption and conservation.
John M. Hoopingarner, of Dover, has been appointed to the Ohio Water Advisory Council. Hoopingarner is currently the executive director and secretary of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, a district promoting flood protection, conservation, and recreational use of the area drained by the Muskingum River. Prior to his appointment as the executive director in 1989, Hoopingarner served as legal counsel for the Conservancy District and as chief counsel from 1986 to 1989.
The Edison State Community College Board of Trustees shall hire, fix compensation of, and remove employees of the college as deemed necessary. It shall do all else necessary to ensure the successful and continuous operation of Edison State Community College.
Edward Curry, of Greenville, has been appointed to the Edison State Community College Board of Trustees. Curry is currently retired after more than 40 years in the tire and rubber industry. He has served on the Darke County YMCA Board of Directors, the Board of Directors of the Darke County Chamber of Commerce, and is currently serving on the Board of Trustees for the Darke County Economic Foundation.
Joan Lukey, of Sidney, has been appointed to the Edison State Community College Board of Trustees. Prior to retirement, Lukey worked for the Miami-Shelby Consortium as a healthy lifestyle consultant and program designer, and for the Upper Valley Joint Vocational School as a faculty programmer, student counselor and health educator. Lukey holds a master’s degree in social agency counseling.
The Forestry Advisory Council advises the chief of the Division of Forestry and Reclamation on issues concerning forestry programs throughout the state. The council will assist the Division of Forestry in promoting cooperation on forestry practices, rules and regulations, and programs with other agencies, political subdivisions and private interests.
Glenn Matlack, of Athens, has been appointed to the Forestry Advisory Council. Matlack is a professor at Ohio University in the Department of Environmental and Plant Biology. Matlack was previously an associate professor of biology at the University of Southern Mississippi and has taught courses on and written extensively about forest science and ecology.
The Agricultural Financing Commission is charged with considering and improving the issue of low-interest agricultural revenue loans. The commission will decide eligibility requirements, feasibility, number and location of projects to be financed, and the terms of low-interest agricultural revenue loans.
Joseph P. Logan, of Kinsman, has been named to the Agricultural Financing Commission. Logan is an active farmer and is the current president of the Ohio Farmers Union and member of the National Farmer’s Union Board of Directors.
The Ohio Arts Council was established to foster and encourage the development of the arts in Ohio and to preserve Ohio’s cultural heritage. The council operates various grant funding programs to provide support to artists and broaden the availability of arts activities in Ohio.
Barbara Gould, of Cincinnati, has been appointed to the Ohio Arts Council. Gould has worked in fashion, interior design and music. She is currently retired and serves on numerous cultural arts boards in the Cincinnati area, including the Cincinnati Opera, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Arts Association, the Cincinnati Ballet and the Arts Consortium of Cincinnati.
The 9-1-1 Council is charged with establishing uniform technical and operational standards by examining industry standards as well as federal law relative to 9-1-1 systems. The council conducts research and makes recommendations to the General Assembly regarding wireline and wireless 9-1-1 systems and any necessary improvements that must be made, as well as advising on any legislation concerning 9-1-1 systems across the state of Ohio.
Kathy Hobbs, of Dublin, has been named to the 9-1-1 Council. Hobbs is currently the vice president of government affairs for Windstream Communications, specializing in public utility legislation and regulation. Hobbs received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and her master’s degree in public administration from the Ohio State University. Hobbs currently serves as a board member for the Ohio Telecom Association and is the chair of the legislative committee.
The State Dental Board sets the standards for all licensing exams and issuance and revocation of licenses. The State Dental Board also must approve the curriculum of all of Ohio’s dentistry schools.
Clifford Jones, of Cincinnati, has been appointed to the Ohio State Dental Board. Jones has been a registered dental hygienist in public and private practice since 1985. Jones has worked for the Greater Cincinnati Oral Health Council, providing dental care to the homeless. Jones has a master’s degree in health administration from Central Michigan University.
The Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board assists the Ohio Historical Society in the society’s site preservation program, suggests legislation necessary to the society’s preservation program including location, designation, restoration, preservation, and maintenance of historic and archaeological sites and artifacts. The advisory board advises the Ohio Historical Society on the state historic preservation plan as well as encourages the designation of suitable sites on the National Register of Historic Places.
John Fleming, of Yellow Springs, has been appointed to the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board. Fleming is currently the vice president of museums at the Cincinnati Museum Center, including the Cincinnati History Museum, the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History and Science, Cinergy Children’s Museum, Cincinnati Historical Society Library, and Edge of Appalachia Nature Preserve. Fleming is also an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati.
David Greene, of Columbus, has been appointed to the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board. Greene is a city planner and landscape architect currently employed by Gregory Carr and Associates of Columbus. Greene worked for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission from 1998-2000; he previously worked for Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government in Lexington, Ky., on urban and neighborhood planning, land use issues, mapping, and environmental planning.
The Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board regulates the licensure and certification process of chemical dependency counselors and specialists, approves educational coursework, investigates ethical complaints against licensees, and regulates the prices of chemical dependency counseling and alcohol and other drug prevention services.
Craig Comedy, of Columbus, has been appointed to the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board. Comedy is a certified level II prevention specialist specializing in drug prevention, conflict resolution and research. Comedy has worked as a prevention specialist for the Urban Minority Alcoholism Outreach Program of Columbus and is currently the executive director of Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program of Franklin County.
The Technical Advisory Council on Oil and Gas will advise the chief of the Division of Oil and Gas on technical matters which may arise concerning oil and gas production, drilling, and exploration.
David R. Hill, of Senecaville, has been reappointed to the Technical Advisory Council on Oil and Gas. Hill is the owner and operator of David R. Hill, Inc., which operates approximately 200 wells in Ohio and West Virginia. Hill is also part owner of Professional Oilfield Services, Inc., a company that provides oilfield service and also owns oil and gas producing wells. Hill is a 24-year member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and a current trustee of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association.
John G. Corp, of Norton, has been reappointed to the Technical Advisory Council on Oil and Gas. Corp is currently a partner with AB Resource LLC specializing in oil and gas operations. Previously, Corp was vice president of Oil and Gas operations for Belden and Blake, an energy company that acquires properties and explores for oil and gas reserves in the Appalachian basin area.
The North Central State College Board of Trustees has the power to build, own and operate a technical college in their designated district. The board shall hire and fix compensation of all of the college’s employees and do all else necessary to ensure the successful operation of the college.
Ronald Walker, of Ashland, has been reappointed to the North Central State College Board of Trustees. Walker has worked in many capacities for Ashland University since becoming an assistant professor in 1978. He has served as the director of graduate studies in education, associate dean for professional development, and as a professor of education until his retirement in 2005.
The National Museum of Afro-American History and Culture Planning Council meets with and advises the Ohio Historical Society in the course of establishment and maintenance of the National Museum of Afro-American History and Culture near Wilberforce University.
Beverly McCoy, of Lima, has been appointed to the National Museum of Afro-American History and Culture Planning Council. McCoy was a teacher in the Lima City School District from 1978 until her retirement in 2000. She has served on the Allen County Board of Elections since 1984.
The Ohio Tuition Trust Authority administers the state’s 529 college savings plan, CollegeAdvantage. The Ohio Tuition Trust Authority makes the final determination on the price of a tuition credit or tuition unit, the designation of bonds as college saving bonds, and the selection and approval of investment agents for the authority’s various college savings programs.
Tom Conlan, of Cincinnati, has been appointed to the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority. In 1981, Conlan founded and served as CEO of the Student Loan Funding Corporation, an organization that provided financial assistance and support services to students. Conlan later founded and served as president and CEO of the Thomas L. Conlan Education foundation, now KnowledgeWorks, which was named after his father.