DAVID BAKER
Board President
David worked 44 years in Verizon telecommunications, serving in various management roles and in business operations analysis. David and wife Kim have been OSU 4-H leaders for the past 20 years and love working with kids; the fate of our planet depends on how much we invest in them. For years David and Kim nurtured a dream to save the back-forty of their farm dissected by a deep limestone gorge. This desire led them into partnership with the Arc, and today the 100 acre Quiverheart Gorge Preserve is a reality. David currently serves on three different Boards supporting Ohio 4-H and is a Board Advisor for the Arc of Appalachia.
BILL BRUNS
Vice President
Bill is a retired federal employee with a passion for land restoration. He puts this enthusiasm to good use volunteering for Arc of Appalachia, ODNR, Franklin County Metro Parks, and other organizations. Bill and his spouse live in central Ohio and along with a large vegetable and fruit garden, have transformed their suburban one acre lot into an oasis filled with native trees, shrubs and a large prairie garden.
LEXIE STEVENSON
Secretary
Lexie loves to learn, and share, everything she can about nature. Lexie grew up hiking with her dad and camping with her siblings in Iowa. She has a Masters of Environmental Science from Miami University, and worked as Communications Coordinator for the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO). More recently, she became an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist and a Certified Interpretive Guide. She loves volunteering as a land steward and helping with education workshops and special events at the Arc.
TERI GILLIGAN
Treasurer
Teri is a retired financial administrator from Cincinnati who enjoys all aspects of nature and the outdoors. She is a long-term member of the Arc of Appalachia’s supportive community and she is inspired by their important environmental work. She is particularly drawn to events that highlight the beauty and wonder of the eastern biome and the area’s cultural history. She is an active volunteer who is involved with Hamilton County Parks, the Midwest Native Plant Conference and Western Wildlife Corridor.
DAVID ACKERMAN
Board Member
Dave is an avid birder and nature photographer. A graduate of Hocking College he worked as a naturalist in Michigan, Ohio and California before embarking on a degree in Wildlife biology at Humboldt State University. Dave served on the board of the Ohio chapter of The Sierra Club, co-chairing the Forests and Public Lands committee and working to combat the degradation of state and national forest lands in Ohio. In addition to running a family business he finds time to conduct breeding bird surveys for the U.S. Geological Survey, lead birding and photography tours and volunteer with The Arc.
RACHAEL GROVE
Board Member
Rachael grew up in Westerville, Ohio where she would often explore the outdoors with her friends on bikes. She camped with Her Camp Fire Girl leader and her three daughters and spent a week at Camp Wyandot every year. After retiring from the State of Ohio, where she met her husband, they moved to Adams County, OH due to the unique flora and fauna. They both enjoy gardening, tending their fruit trees and wild black raspberry bushes, and hiking. They like to observe the wildlife, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and fungi on our property as well. They have lived in Adams County for over 10 years and nature continues to amaze her everyday.
JENNIFER KLEINRICHERT
Board Member
Jennifer is a Midwest native completely enamored with this planet. She is an avid hiker, an environmental educator, and also, more importantly, a student of this planet. She is a rewilder who lives on 3.5 wild and biodiverse Ohio acres with her husband, a menagerie of rescued pets and abundant wildlife. Her background is in biology and ecology and she worked many years publicly as an environmental educator with the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Dept., Audubon New Mexico, Little River Wetlands Project, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks.
MARY WAHRER
Board Member
Mary is a lifelong resident of Ohio whose passion for helping people reconnect with their bodies led her to careers in physical therapy and pilates instruction. Her interest in the arts drew her to study photography at the University of Dayton, where she deepened her appreciation for beauty, observation, and expression. Now based in Highland County in Southeast Ohio, Mary is surrounded by the landscapes that inspire her. The presence of nature has strengthened her belief in the outdoors’ power to heal, restore, and ground us. She continues to blend movement and nature through hiking, trail stewardship, and community volunteering.
JEFF WHITE
Board Member
Jeff was connected to nature as a child by spending many hours outdoors playing with siblings and friends. He drifted away from nature during his working years as an architectural engineer and software programmer. As he neared retirement he looked for hobbies to pursue and purchased a mirrorless camera that was used to document some of the fauna in his suburban yard in eastern Cincinnati. This rekindled his love of nature and got him back outside. He loves to hike with a camera, capturing and sharing images showing the beauty and diversity of nature. He is a member and supporter of numerous environmental organizations.
SUSAN ZELINSKI
Board Member
Susan is a devoted nature lover who shares her passion through volunteer work. As a founding member of the Arc of Appalachia’s Nature is Neat Committee, she helps families discover the joy of nature through hands-on learning and serves on the Women’s Walk in the Woods committee, connecting women through shared outdoor experiences. During her career in Human Resource Management, she served on several non-profit boards. After retiring, she earned her Ohio Certified Naturalist designation through the Cincinnati Nature Center, where she helps facilitate the summer OCVN program. She and her husband are rewilding their 72-acre Highland County property, restoring habitats for native wildlife. Nurturing nature and inspiring others brings Susan a deep sense of joy, connection, and community.