Keynote Speakers

Dr. Anna George, Vice President of Conservation Science and Education at the Tennessee Aquarium, discovered early in life that being a biologist provided a good excuse to be outside.  Since joining the Aquarium in 2006, she has led successful research initiatives in freshwater habitat restoration, species reintroduction, and population genetics.  Her enthusiasm for educating scientists and non-scientists alike reflects her passion for collaborative conservation problem-solving.  Anna has taught at Franklin & Marshall College, Mountain Lake Biological Station, the University of the South, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.  She holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University, both in biology.  Whether for work or fun, she can be found snorkeling, paddleboarding, and otherwise enjoying the company of fish.

Dan Rice A native of southern Indiana, Dan attended the University of Missouri (BS Zoology 1973) before earning his master’s degree in the Ohio Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit at OSU in 1976. Hired as a zoologist by The Nature Conservancy in 1976 to document the locations of rare and endangered species for the Ohio Natural Heritage Program, Dan joined the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves (ODNR) in 1978 following the transfer of the Heritage Program to that division.  Dan was introduced to Ohio’s resident fish in 1980 by Dr. George Phinney at Otterbein College when they collaborated on a survey of Ohio glacial lakes to document populations of Iowa Darters and other rare fish found in these habitats. Until his retirement from ODNR in 2002 Dan had the fun and privilege of working with both amateur and professional biologists (and students) throughout Ohio in the pursuit of many of the state’s rarer animals. Dan is a co-author on three books; “The Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas (1991), “Native Fishes of Ohio” (2014), and “A Naturalists Guide to the Fishes of Ohio” (2019). Dan is also a co-author on a number of other papers documenting the occurrence of rare species of fish and bivalves in Ohio. 

Field Trip Leaders

David Ackerman has spent his career immersed in the natural world, working as a naturalist in Michigan, Ohio, and California before earning a degree in Wildlife Biology from Humboldt State University. He later returned to Ohio to start a family and help run the family business while remaining deeply involved in conservation efforts. Dave served on the board of the Ohio chapter of The Sierra Club, co-chairing the Forests and Public Lands Committee, and contributed to ecological research through surveys for the U.S. Geological Survey. In recent years, he has found a new passion for sharing his love of nature with the Arc’s community of staff and volunteers. “There’s nothing better than being in the woods with my fellow ‘Nature Nerds’ and learning from them. It feeds my soul.”

David Baker and his wife, Kim (the Arc’s Outreach Coordinator), have been OSU 4-H leaders for nearly 20 years in Adams County, Ohio. They find joy in mentoring young people and believing that the future of our planet depends on the investments we make in them. For years, they nurtured a dream to protect the back-forty of their farm, a landscape defined by a deep limestone gorge. Their dedication led them into partnership with the Arc, and today, Quiverheart Gorge Preserve stands as a testament to their vision and commitment to conservation. David has called this land home since he was 12 years old, making its preservation especially meaningful.

Brent Charette was trained in forest resource management at Hocking Technical College. His first career was with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, first working as a state-wide naturalist for the Division of Parks and Recreation, and eventually serving as Park Manager at Malabar Farm State Park. Brent now works for the Arc of Appalachia, serving as the Director of Land Stewardship. In his personal time, he relishes caring for one of the Sanctuary’s tracts of land known as Ridgeview Farm, where he cares for the trails, removes invasive plants, and plants a ton of trees! Brent’s greatest passions include nature interpretation, permaculture & forest gardening, native tree propagation, and subsistence gardening. He loves anything to do with trees, including growing his own edible mushrooms, carpentry, and studying mycorrhizal associations.

Elijah Crabtree is Land Manager for the Arc’s Tremper Mound Preserve in Scioto County. Elijah was born and raised in Ross County – the epicenter of Hopewell architecture – where he developed a passion for local cultural history, natural sciences, and conservation work. He has a special interest in connecting people to the natural world and promoting historically significant sites as protected public domains for education and inspiration. Elijah is an excellent all-around naturalist and has a special passion, particularly for geology.

Ann Geise is a Cincinnati-area artist, who has been drawing and studying nature her entire life. Her artistry leans toward the ecological – how local plants, animals, and geology are all deeply interconnected. After working in pharmaceutical research for several years, Ann’s love of both nature and art converged and blossomed into full expression when she took a job at the Cincinnati Nature Center as Artist & Exhibits Manager where she worked for 19 years. She continues creating artwork that helps connect people and nature.

John Howard possesses the best of all the qualities associated with a “naturalist.” He has an insatiable curiosity and a perennial sense of wonder. Studying the backroads of Adams County his entire life, he knows nearly all -if not all- of the dragonflies, butterflies, vascular plants, birds, amphibians, and reptiles, and is working on a good understanding of everything else. Taking a nature walk with John is a rare privilege for even his close friends, who don’t think twice about driving halfway across the state for an opportunity to watch fireflies, catch salamanders heading for the vernal pools, photograph the first spring flowers in bloom even if they are only 1/2 inch tall and tomorrow’s forecast calls for snow, or look for a new-to-science moth or caterpillar on an obscure plant.

Andrea Jaeger Andrea began working for the Arc in 2016 after moving back to Ohio from Chattanooga, TN where she first gained experience in nonprofit administration. She works alongside Arc director Nancy Stranahan on land acquisition, grant writing, and donor cultivation, and supports the Arc office team in providing educational opportunities and visitor services. In addition to their regular work responsibilities, Andrea and her husband Brit are caretakers of the Arc’s Tobacco Barn Hollow Preserve region.

John Jaeger is a field naturalist and outdoor educator and has been a consultant in wetland preservation conducting bird and flora surveys. He retired as Director of Natural Resources for the Metropolitan Park District of the Toledo Area in June 2008. During his career, he served as a Park Manager, Ranger and Naturalist. He helped develop land management plans for the Metroparks and Fallen Timbers Ft. Miamis National Park, and directed a land management crew that conducted stewardship projects in the Metroparks. He was a State of Ohio Certified Fire Manager and was awarded Naturalist of the Year by the Ohio Biological Survey in 2020.

Ethan King is a Regional Land Manager at the Arc of Appalachia, based out of Fort Hill. He is a native of Cincinnati and has developed a passion for the outdoors, which stemmed from his Grandmother’s modeling and encouragement. Ethan graduated from Hocking College with a degree in Wildlife Management. Earlier in time, he worked for Wayne National Forest where he used topographic maps to locate Tree of Heaven infestations and schedule them for removal. Later he found a job in Colorado where he engaged in ecological field studies for a company called NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network). Shortly after that position had come to an end he knew his roots were in Ohio. He found the Arc of Appalachia’s posting, and the rest is history!

Paul & Cathy Knoop. Paul is retired from the National Audubon Society, where he served as the Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm Education Director for 35 years. He is presently involved in several land preservation efforts and serves as a Board Advisor for the Arc of Appalachia. Cathy is a retired environmental science teacher and worked as the development director for Camp Oty’Okwa. As a team, they teach graduate Natural History classes for Ashland University but have always had a devotion to teaching and inspiring children to love the natural world, using the outdoors as their classroom. The Knoops are patient, kind, and supportive educators who have inspired burgeoning naturalists for generations. In 2016, they were the recipients of the Ohio Environmental Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Austin Newton is the Quiverheart Land Stewardship Manager with the Arc of Appalachia and is dedicated to preserving natural spaces and fostering sustainable practices. Raised in southern Ohio, his connection to the land drives both his work and personal life. Before this role, Austin served as a naturalist, connecting people to nature through education and exploration. A published poet and filmmaker, he uses art to share his love for the natural world in creative and offbeat ways. Austin’s approach to land stewardship combines practical care with a sense of wonder, making him both a protector and explorer of the landscapes he cherishes.

Tim Pohlar is a Regional Land Manager with the Arc of Appalachia and resides in the larger Sanctuary region on private land with his wife, Miriam, and two daughters, Rose and Quinn. Tim has been with the Arc since 2004, where he started as an intern, learning his trees and nature studies from the many great naturalists who were happy to mentor him. Tim took leave from the Arc for many years, when he moved with Miriam, her parents’ organic dairy farm in Wisconsin, where he learned a boatload of practical skills. We are thrilled to have him back here with the Arc. Tim has a passion for sharing the beauty of nature with others and stewarding our natural lands.

Vicki Solomon has loved the forests and wildlands of Ohio for as long as she can remember, She was that kid hanging around naturalists whenever and wherever she could.  With a degree in Environmental Interpretation from The Ohio State University, Vicki has helped people discover their own love of nature working for the US Forest Service, Ohio State Park, Cleveland, and Lake Metroparks.  Vicki trains and works oxen, mentoring others in the US and Africa.   She manages her acreage at the headwaters of the Cuyahoga River as a small farm and nature sanctuary.  She and her husband, Mark, operate a seasonal local foods concession and argue about which areas of the property Mark is allowed to mow.

Nora Steele is an artist and naturalist in the Hocking Hills area of Ohio. Her childhood curiosity about mythology led her to explore the outdoors, hoping to encounter the magical fairy folk. Instead, she discovered the captivating magic of nature itself, which she now brings to life through her digital illustrations. Nora's goal is to create art that educates and inspires others to appreciate the beauty of nature, emphasizing the importance of preserving our natural resources for future generations. Her work celebrates the region's flora and fauna, promoting both education and preservation while connecting people with nature through the power of Art.

Doug Stevenson. Doug Stevenson is the Highfield Discovery Garden Manager at Glenwood Gardens, one of the Great Parks of Hamilton County. He graduated from Hocking College with a Recreation and Wildlife Management degree, majoring in Interpretive Services, and received an Americorps Vista Certification while interning at the National Center for the Preservation of Medicinal Herbs. Doug has been interested in plants since childhood, received The Science and Art of Herbalism Course Certification from Rosemary Gladstar, and started teaching medicinal plant classes in 2001. He loves music, birding, ocean fishing, and horticulture, and is an active member of Gardens of Greater Cincinnati.

Nancy Stranahan is the Director of the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System and was one of the non-profit’s founders back in 1995. Since that time, Nancy has organized the Arc’s expansion from zero acres to over 10,000, founding over 28 new preserve regions in southern Ohio. Nancy previously worked for ODNR for ten years with Ohio State Parks as Chief Naturalist, and twenty years running a bakery, a lunch cafe, and an international gift store in downtown Columbus known as Benevolence, promoting healthy and intentional food choices. Nancy not only loves preserving land, she has a passion for habitat restoration, and native plant propagation and reintroduction. She is passionate about education and is devoted to keeping the Arc’s offerings vital and sustained.

Dave Todt Dave is retired as a Professor of Natural Science at Shawnee State University. There he has served in various capacities. including Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dave has helped many science teachers and environmental educators learn how to incorporate natural history into their curriculums. Earlier Dave worked for ODNR as manager of the Youth Conservation Corps. Dave has served on the state’s Natural Areas Council and is currently serving the Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association.

Brit Wood Brit grew up on the west side of Cincinnati constantly playing in nature. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the Ohio State University in the field of Astronomy. After college, he worked various jobs in Columbus and a wood shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 2016, Brit and his wife Andrea returned to Ohio and began working together at the Arc. He has used the opportunity to live and work in South Central Ohio to learn and love the diverse flora and fauna of its unique biome.

Rebecca Wood is a retired professor of Natural Resource Management from Hocking College where she taught Dendrology, Field Ecology, Wetland Management, Herbal Studies, Soils, and many other field-based courses. She currently owns and operates Hopewood Holistic Health & Holistic Journeys providing education and assessment in holistic wellness strategies and offers International Eco-wellness journeys to explore other's Backyards and Beyond, unique cultures and incredible Nature. She was honored recently as one of Ohio's 7 Herbal Elders by United Plant Savers and loves storytelling and igniting the 'green spark' in others to ensure, understanding, appreciation and sustainable use of Nature's diverse gifts.