STAFF & BOARD
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CHAIRMAN – Jim Neill
VICE CHAIRMAN – Frank Hill
SECRETARY – Tom Krumwiede
TREASURER – Tom Wensink
PUBLIC RELATIONS – Kurt Heyman
PRESENT & PAST BOARD MEMBERS (click to view)
Robert Schlessman * 1953 – 1958
George Johannsen * 1953 – 1958
William Gammie, Sr * 1953 – 1957
William Kaiser * 1953 – 1957
William Oetzell * 1953 – 1958
Robert Deehr * 1958 – 1963
John Schaeffer * 1958 – 1972; 1978 – 1989
Fred Gasteier * 1959 – 1961
John Rockwell * 1959 – 1967
Donald Trinter * 1959 – 1964
Edward Close * 1962 – 1967
Clifton Nottke * 1964 – 1969
Howard Will * 1965 – 1970
Robert Bertsch 1968 – 1970
Wayne Schlessman * 1968 – 1979
Jennings Hibbard* 1970 – 1978
John Fleming * 1971 – 1979
Victor Benziger * 1971 – 1974
Robert Maurer * 1973 – 1979
Wayne Bunting * 1975 – 1977
Dennis Mesenburg 1979 – 1987
Donald Kishman * 1979 – 1981
Ted Gastier 1980 – 1982
Roger Rowland 1980 – 2018
Daryl Deering 1982 – 1993
Steve Kuhl 1983 – 1988
Neill Welch 1988 – 1990; 1994 – 2005
Kurt Heyman 1989 – Present
Steve Deehr 1990 – 2019
John Krumwiede 1991 – 2005
John Nuhn 2006 – 2020
Russell Critelli 2006 – 2008
Eric Schuster 2009 – 2014
Tom Wensink 2015 – Present
Jim Neill 2019 – Present
Frank Hill 2020 – Present
Tom Krumwiede 2021 – Present
*deceased
The Erie Conservation District Board of Supervisors will conduct their regular monthly board meetings according to the schedule to the right, starting at 8:00 p.m. at the Erie County Services Center, 2900 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky, Ohio. All meetings are open to the public. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month except those indicated by asterisks.
*These meetings will be held on the third Tuesday of the month.
2025 MEETING DATES & LOCATIONS
- January 8 Conference Room 117
- February 12 Conference Room 117
- March 12 Conference Room 117
- April 9 Conference Room 118
- *May 20 Conference Room 117
- *June 17 Conference Room 117
- *July 15 Conference Room 118
- *August 19 Conference Room 117
- *September 16 Conference Room 117
- October 8 Conference Room 118
- November 12 Conference Room 117
- December 10 Conference Room 117
STAFF
Breann Hohman has been with the District for 18 years, beginning as a Watershed Coordinator then serving as an Assistant Director before becoming the current District Director. She is a Sandusky native who received a Master of Science in Biological Sciences from Wright State University. In her various roles with the District, she has coordinated volunteer monitoring efforts, lead watershed planning, written and managed grants for water quality improvement projects, and serves as a technical resource for both residential and agricultural land users. Her passion for people, partnerships, and our natural community has fostered a greater awareness of stewardship and innovation for managing our local resources. She is also active in the local community as a board member of Back to the Wild, Sandusky Bay Cycles, and as a member of the Sandusky Tree Commission. Bre is an avid boater and all around nature enthusiast: “any day outside is going to be awesome!”
Contact Breann:
bhohman@eriecounty.oh.gov
Tim White is the Wildlife Specialist and has been with the District since 1996. As the Wildlife Specialist, he has assisted landowners throughout the county with regard to nuisance wildlife issues, crop damage site investigations, Deer Damage Control Permits, wildlife habitat evaluation/enhancement recommendations, and numerous school and adult education programs.
Tim provides assistance and training for the National Archery in the School Program (NASP) and the Ohio Hunter Education Course, as well as maintaining a partnership with numerous conservation agencies and organizations such as National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry.
Spending time in the outdoors, riding the scenic back roads on his Harley, and sharing memorable moments with his family are among life’s experiences Tim enjoys the most.
Contact Tim:
twhite@eriecounty.oh.gov
Valerie Sasak started as an AmeriCorps Member serving at Erie Conservation District in 2019. At the completion of her service year, she was hired as the Conservation Program Assistant and has since assumed the role of Stormwater Program Coordinator. Valerie is a proud graduate of Cleveland State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science with a biological focus.
As the Stormwater Program Coordinator, Valerie assists the communities in Erie County through public education and outreach, implementing Ohio EPA permit requirements and providing technical assistance for local stormwater management projects. Valerie enjoys spending her free time doing anything outside and caring for her growing collection of houseplants.
Contact Valerie:
vsasak@eriecounty.oh.gov
Emma Farahay began her service to the district as an AmeriCorps member in 2020. She was then hired as the District Technician at the completion of her service year in 2021. Emma graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Environmental Science with a GIS Certificate.
As the District Technician, she assists with GIS data collection, project management, education programs, volunteer stream monitoring, and more! In her free time, Emma enjoys playing hockey, playing her tuba, and exploring the outdoors.
Contact Emma:
efarahay@eriecounty.oh.gov
Cody Benesh is the new stormwater technician and started working for the district in 2024. He graduated from Heidelberg University in May of 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, with a focus in watershed management.
As the stormwater technician, Cody helps with implementing Ohio EPA permit requirements, providing technical assistance for local stormwater management projects, public outreach and communication, and anything else the office needs. In his spare time Cody likes hunting, fishing, and spending time in the outdoors.
Contact Cody:
cbenesh@eriecounty.oh.gov