Meet Our Team
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Forest Clevenger ┃ Executive Director
Forest is an avid paddler and cyclist dedicated to promoting holistic wellbeing for individuals, communities, and the environment through outdoor adventure. He joined the Ohio River Way team in 2023 after serving on political campaigns, including for Congressman Morgan McGarvey, and leading programming at summer camps serving youth from 41 countries. Moved by the suicide of a family friend, Forest led a volunteer campaign that spurred a now-annual mental health screening for 50,000 teens in Jefferson County Public Schools. He earned a BS in Political Science from the University of Louisville, studied at the University of Oxford, and is completing an MSc in Behavioral Science & Wellbeing at the London School of Economics. Forest is certified as an American Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguard and a NOLS Wilderness First Responder.
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Jessica Baltzersen ┃ Communications Manager
Jessica has over a decade of marketing and writing experience. She graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a Master's in English and is a board member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. She’s a freelance journalist writing on topics about nature, outdoor recreation, and conservation. Jessica loves to hike, and take road trips along the Ohio River Scenic Byway. Her favorite place to sit and enjoy the Ohio River is at Fernbank Park on the west side of Cincinnati.
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Frances Kern Mennone┃ Development Consultant
A seasoned leader with rich experience managing organizational stakeholders, Frances is recognized for strategically building ideas and developments of significance. She has a reputation for solving problems for large-scale projects that are challenging and complex and that involve numerous, often competing interests. She works tirelessly at building relationships and connecting project partners with the right entities to ensure success. Her passion runs deep and defines the way she approaches every project.
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Sophie Ritzenthaler ┃ Administrative Assistant
Sophie is passionate about conservation and adventure along the Ohio River Way and enjoys working behind the scenes to help make that happen. She recently graduated with a Master’s in International Commerce and Diplomacy from the University of Kentucky. She grew up in Louisville, KY boating and swimming in the Ohio River with goals of swimming an open water race on the Ohio one day. While she grew up in Louisville, her favorite spot to sit and watch the Ohio River was along the waterway in Madison, IN.
Our Board Members
Officers
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Brewster Rhoads ┃ Chair
Cincinnati, OH
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Mary Allen ┃ Vice Chair
New Richmond, OH
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Mike Perleberg ┃ Vice Chair
Bright, IN
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Christy Noll ┃ Vice Chair
Burlington, KY
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Jody Robinson ┃ Secretary
Bellevue, KY
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Simon Foster ┃ Treasurer
Cincinnati, OH
Members
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oSha Cowley-Shireman
Owsley Brown II Family Foundation
Louisville, KY
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Rick Greiwe
America’s River Root
Cincinnati, OH
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Susan Griffin Ward
Kentucky Waterways Alliance
Louisville, KY
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Kelly Hess
Paddle Perry Inc.
Cannelton, Indiana
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Brandon James
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Cincinnati, OH
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Prasanthi Prasad
Wilderness Louisville
Louisville, KY
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Nia Rivers
Kentucky Division of Water
Frankfort, KY
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Susan Schneider
River City Paddle Sports
Louisville, KY
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Annette Shumard
Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
Cincinnati, OH
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Joe Stelzer
Ripley, OH
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Noelle Szydlyk
Indiana Destination Development Corporation
Indianapolis, IN
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Paul Tenkotte
Ohio River Innovation Library and Learning Engagement
Covington, KY
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Wendi Waugh
Portsmouth Connex
Portsmouth, OH
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David Wicks
River City Paddle Sports
Louisville, KY
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Kenton Wooden
Meta
Jeffersonville, IN
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Tanner Yess
Groundwork Ohio River Valley
Dayton, KY