OUR TEAM
Board of Directors
The ORCA Board of Directors consists of representatives from member jurisdictions and operates under a council of governments (COG) framework to guide governance, set policy, and support regional collaboration.
The ORCA Board of Directors consists of representatives from member jurisdictions and operates under a council of governments (COG) framework to guide governance, set policy, and support regional collaboration.
Advisory Committee
Formed in 2019, the ORCA Advisory Committee brings together public and private leaders from across sectors—including economic development, tourism, land management, recreation, business, conservation, education, workforce, health, and regional planning—to support collaboration in Athens and surrounding counties.
Since 2023, ORCA has expanded to include 17 partner counties, along with the Cities of Jackson and Wellston and the Vinton County Parks District, joining founding member Athens County. Each partner county may appoint three representatives to the Advisory Committee.
Adams County: Paul Worley, (Commissioner Representative)
Athens County: Joel Prince and Boone Troyer, (Visit Athens County)
Brown County: Jennifer Patrick
Clermont County: Scott Gafvert, (Clermont County Department
of Community & Economic Development)
Gallia: Jay Stapleton, (Commissioner Representative)
Highland County: Jamie Wheeler, (Visitors Bureau of Highland
County); Brad Roades, (Commissioner Representative)
Jackson County: Sam Brady & John Stabler, (Jackson County Economic Development); Stacy Camp & Anthony Brenner, (City of Wellston); David Swackhammer & Randy Evans, (City of Jackson); Kay Howe, (Jackson County Convention and Visitors Bureau)
Lawrence County: Rick Jansen, (Lawrence County Solid Waste); Ralph Kline, (Ironton Lawrence Community Action Organization); Marty Conley, (Lawrence County Convention & Visitors Bureau); DeAnna Holliday, (Commissioner Representative)
Meigs County: Susan Leopold, (United Plant Savers); Maureen Burns, (President Village Council); Scott Hill, (Village of Racine)
Monroe County: Casey Bott, James Peters, Mick Schumacher, (Commissioner Representative)
Morgan County: Matthew Hupp; Clint Foreman, (Village of McConnelsville); Tracy Simons, (Morgan County Tourism); Adam Shriver, (Commissioner Representative)
Noble County: Jeff Minosky, (Noble County Convention &Visitors Bureau); Dawn Schultheis & Gwynn Stewart, (Ohio State University Extension Office); Gary Saling, (Commissioner Representative)
Pike County: Jennifer Chandler, (Village of Piketon); Shelly Anderson, (Village of Waverly); Chandler Grooms, (Pike County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism); April Elliot, (Commissioner Representative)
Perry County:
Ross County: Melody Young, (Ross Chillicothe Convention& Visitor's Bureau); Mike Lafreniere, (Ohio University Chillicothe); Ty McBee, (Chillicothe-Ross Trail Partnership); Dwight Garrett, (Commissioner Representative)
Scioto County: Nathan Welch, (Commissioner Representative)
Vinton County: Terri Fetherolf, (Vinton County Development Department); Brandi Betts, Caleb Appleman, (Vinton County Park District); William W. Wellman, (Commissioner Representative)
Washington County: Deana Clark, (Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau); Rob Grant, (Washington County Grants); Charlie Schilling, (Commissioner Representative)
Our Nonprofit Wing
The Athens-Wayne Outdoor Asset Development Corporation (AWOADC), a 501(c)(3) formed in 2019, supports ORCA’s mission by developing revenue-generating social enterprises. Operated by ORCA staff, AWOADC helps sustain world-class recreation assets like the Baileys Trail System through initiatives such as bike rentals, locally made merchandise, and the annual Baileys Dirt Fondo.
