SIX APPOINTED TO OHIO COASTAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COUNCIL
Five current members are reappointed to the council
SANDUSKY, OH - Six Ohio residents of the Lake Erie Watershed were recently appointed to the state's Coastal Resources Advisory Council. Another five residents were reappointed to the board.
The new members on the 19-member board include: Jason Boyd (Lake County), Cindy Brookes (Sandusky County), Daniel Clemons (Ottawa County), Dan Donaldson (Lake County), Rachel Tatter (Cuyahoga County) and Douglas Wright (Lucas County).
Members reappointed were: Rodney Althaus (Ottawa County), James Kastelic (Cuyahoga County), George Goudreau, Jr. (Cuyahoga County), Dr. Robert Heath (Portage County) and Vince Urbanski (Lake County).
Advisory council members are appointed by the Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to provide advice on Lake Erie coastal management issues. The mission of the council is to advise the director of ODNR on the Ohio Coastal Management Program and to promote, protect, enhance and encourage the wise use of Lake Erie's resources and watershed.
The council meets quarterly at locations along the lake, offering an opportunity for the public to see and hear about important lake-related topics, as well as offer their ideas and concerns relative to lake issues.
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EDITORS NOTE: Brief bios of new CRAC appointees follow.
For Additional Information, Contact:
Liz Everhard, Office of Coastal Management
(419) 626-7980
New members
Jason Boyd - Lake County
As a senior planner of the Lake County Planning Commission, Mr. Boyd examines land development patterns and trends, assists the general public with GIS requests, floodplain determinations, topographic data and zoning/subdivision inquires. He has worked closely with the Leroy and Painesville Township Comprehensive Plans and is the project manager of the Lake County Coastal Development Plan and chairman of the Lake County Coastal Plan Committee. Mr. Boyd is a member of the Ohio Planning Conference, the American Planning Association, the Ohio State University Extension Board and the Ohio State University Sea Grant Committee. In 2005, Mr. Boyd was appointed to the Laketran Board of Trustees, where he continues to serve.
Cindy Brookes - Sandusky County
Ms. Brookes is the Sandusky River Watershed Coordinator and is employed by the Wood, Sandusky, Ottawa and Seneca Community Action Commission, Inc. As coordinator Ms. Brookes works with federal, state and local agencies, and citizen's to improve and protect the water quality of the Sandusky River. Ms. Brookes is also a member of the Ohio Lake Management Society.
Dan Clemons - Ottawa County
Mr. Clemons is co-owner of Clemons Boats, Inc. with his brother and has 35 years of experience in the Marine Industry on Sandusky Bay. The business was started by his father in 1966 and is one of the founding members of the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association. Mr. Clemons is also involved with the United States Power Squadron.
Dan Donaldson - Lake County
Mr. Donaldson is the District Administrator of the Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District and his worked with the district for over 10 years. As District Administrator Mr. Donaldson is responsible for district programming that includes activities in both the urban and agricultural areas of Lake County. Mr. Donaldson is also a member of the Ohio Association of Conservation District Employees, Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control, Audubon Society.
Rachel Tatter - Cuyahoga County
Ms. Tatter is an attorney with Thompson Hine, LLP in Cleveland and focuses her practice on commercial real estate. Ms. Tatter received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2001. She is also a member of the Art House, Inc. Board of Trustees and volunteers at Harvey Rice Elementary School in Cleveland.
Douglas Wright - Lucas County
Mr. Wright is a Senior Investment Advisor with Sperry Van Ness InvesTek Realty, LLC. Mr. Wright has over 15 years experience in Commercial Real Estate Sales in Lucas County and is a member of the Toledo Board of Realtors where he serves on the Governmental and Legislative committee. Additionally Mr. Wright is a member the Ohio Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, CCIM Institutes, Ohio CCIM Chapter, and Property Rights Coalition. Previously Mr. Wright has served as President of the Toledo Board of Realtors and was named the Toledo Board of Realtors 2007 Realtor of the Year.
Re-appointed members
Rodney Althaus - Ottawa County
Mr. Althaus is the Owner and Operator of New Wave Dive Center in Port Clinton. The New Wave Snorkel and Scuba Center is a complete professional dive center and is entering its 18th year of serving Northwestern Ohio. Mr. Althaus is also a member of the Bay Area Divers and is a Professional Member of The Ohio Council of Skin and Scuba Divers.
James Kastelic - Cuyahoga County
Mr. Kastelic is a Senior Park Planner with the Cleveland Metroparks and former Deputy Director of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. Mr. Kastelic has over 36 years of experience in city planning, land use regulation, public management, environmental resource assessment and site analysis. In addition, he is a member of the Cuyahoga Valley Communities Council, Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, Ohio Coastal Resource Management Project, Cleveland Lakefront Advisory Council, Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail Partnership and Dike 14 Environmental Education Collaborative. Mr. Kastelic's professional memberships include the American Planning Association and the Ohio Planning Conference.
George Goudreau Jr. - Cuyahoga County
Mr. Goudreau is President and CEO of The Goudreau Companies, a group of companies founded in 1926, specializing in real estate development, construction and property management. In addition Mr. Goudreau serves as Life Director & Executive Committee member of the Ohio Home Builders Association; Life Director of the National association of Home Builders where he currently is serving as Land Development Committee Chair, Member of the Executive Committee, and has previously served as Chair of both the National Commercial Builders Council and the Land Use Policy Committee; he is also a member Cleveland Area Board of Realtors, Life Director and Past President of the Northeast Ohio Apartment Association, and a Full Member of Urban Land Institute.
Dr. Robert Heath - Portage County
Dr. Heath is a Professor of Biological Sciences and Director of the Water Resources Research Institute at Kent State University. For 38 years Dr. Heath has conducted research on the ecosystem ecology of Lake Erie, Old Woman Creek, the Cuyahoga River and other freshwater ecosystems. Dr. Heath serves on many committees including the Ohio EPA-Source Water Advisory Group, the Great Lakes Aquatic Ecosystem Research Consortium and the Old Woman Creek Advisory Panel. He is a past-president of the Ohio Academy of Science, and a member of the International Association for Great Lakes Research and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Vince Urbanski - Lake County
Mr. Urbanski has been an Environmental Planner with Lake Metroparks since 1996. As a planner Mr. Urbanski oversees the Department of Environmental Planning and Stewardship, the park district's GIS Specialist and Biologist and is responsible for writing grant and land acquisition. Mr. Urbanski is a member of the Grand River Partnership, Chagrin River Watershed Partners and the Lake County Coastal Planning Committee.