Board of Trustees and Staff
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
James Bates is a resident of Guernsey County and former camper at Seneca Lake Park. Mr. Bates also served as a member and former chairman of the MWCD Development Advisory Committee. He is a Vietnam Veteran serving with the 4th Infantry Division, 4th Engineers. Mr. Bates is a retired captain with the Delaware Valley Joint Fire District after 30 years of service and former Assistant Scout Master with Troop 629 in Port Washington, Ohio. Mr. Bates is Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Bates Metal Products, Inc. in Port Washington and spends the bulk of his time running the day-to-day production operations.
John Davis is a resident of Carroll County. Mr. Davis has a Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Science Degree in Agriculture Education from The Ohio State University. While at The Ohio State University, he had the opportunity to be a football manager for four years under Coach Woody Hayes. He is a retired agricultural educator, was the State Agriculture Education Supervisor for 20 years, and was the State Director of Agriculture Education for five years. After retirement, Mr. Davis was elected and served four years as a Carroll County Commissioner and served as an executive board member of the former Crossroads Resource Conservation and Development Council. Mr. Davis was also the director of Ohio FFA Camp Muskingum at Leesville Lake for 28 years.
Belle Everett is a resident of Tuscarawas County and former Tuscarawas County Commissioner. As Commissioner Ms. Everett served on numerous county and regional boards and commissions, including the Harcatus Board, Community Improvement Corporation, Community Corrections, Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Solid Waste Management District Board, and the Jobs Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee for the County Commissioners Association of Ohio. Ms. Everett was also elected and served three terms as a Warwick Township Trustee. While a Trustee, Ms. Everett was appointed by Governors Strickland and Kasich to the state of Ohio Solid Waste Advisory Council and was the Secretary of the Tuscarawas County Health Advisory Board, President of the Tuscarawas County Township Association, and an Ohio Township Association Board Director. Ms. Everett also served as an executive board member of the former Crossroads Resource Conservation and Development Council. Ms. Everett is currently the President of the Mud Run Watershed Stream Keepers and Secretary of the Huff Run Watershed Restoration Partnership.
Faye Heston, Secretary/Treasurer, is a resident of Stark County who has served on the boards of various community service organizations. Ms. Heston also is a former member of the MWCD Development Advisory Committee.
John Hoopingarner is a resident of Tuscarawas County. Mr. Hoopingarner is the Executive Director of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District. Appointed as Executive Director in 1989, Mr. Hoopingarner is only the agency's third chief executive, following Bryce C. Browning and Raymond Eichel. Prior to serving as Executive Director, he worked in private law practice for 10 years. He served as chief counsel to the MWCD from 1986-89 and associate legal counsel from 1979-86. He also served as instructor of real estate law at Kent State University from 1985-89. Mr. Hoopingarner has a Bachelor's Degree from Muskingum College and a Juris Doctor Degree from the Ohio Northern University College of Law. He is a member of numerous professional and civic boards, associations, and organizations.
Harry Horstman, Vice Chairman, is a lifelong resident of Harrison County. Mr. Horstman earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education from The Ohio State University and received a Vocational Director's Certification from Kent State University. Mr. Horstman is a retired educator, serving 34 years as a teacher and administrator in the Carroll County School System and at the Buckeye Career Center. Mr. Horstman is also a 13-year member of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District Board of Directors, and has served as a member and former chairman of the MWCD Development Advisory Committee. Mr. Horstman managed Camp Aldersgate, located on Leesville Lake for 34 years. Mr. Horstman is one of the founding members and current chairman of the Conotton Creek Bike Trail, and is a committee member of Harrison County's Tappan-Moravian Trail Scenic Byway.
Gary Lenhart is a lifelong resident of Stark County. He served six years in the 350th Evac Hospital Unit of the US Army Reserves. During a 42-year career in the steel industry he managed multiple plants, served on the Board of Directors, and was one of the founders of Gerdau Bright Bar in Orrville, Ohio. The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy DIstrict has always been a large part of Mr. Lenhart's family. He and his wife of 44 years have been camping, sailing, boating, and fishing on the lakes since the day they met. They now enjoy seeing their children and grandchildren doing the same things. Since his retirement, Mr. Lenhart spends a great deal of time organizing volunteers, maintaining equipment, setting up camp, teaching students, and raising funds for the Atwood Yacht Club Junior Sailing Program.
Gordon Maupin is a resident of Wayne County. Mr. Maupin is currently the President of the Muskingum Watershd Conservancy District Board of Directors. Mr. Maupin retired after 32 years of leading the Wilderness Center, located near Wilmot in Stork County. He is a former member of the MWCD Development Advisory Committee. Mr. Maupin has a Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in biology from Missouri State University. He previously served as the naturalist program coordinator for the Missouri Department of Conservation, was an information specialist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, a graduate assistant in forestry for the University of Missori-Columbia, and an interpretive aide for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Maupin has served on the Association of Nature Center Administrators Board of Trustees, including as its president from 2001-03. He has also served with the Land Truste Alliance, American Association of Museums, Coalition of Ohio Land Trusts, The Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, and local chapters of the Audubon Society.
DuWayne Porter is a long time resident of Plain Township in Stark County. He and his wife Kathy enjoy hiking, kayaking and canoeing the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District lakes, streams, and trails. Mr. Porter received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Kent State University in Zoology and completed his Master's Degree at the University of Minnesota in Public Health. Mr. Porter retired as the Portage County Health Commissioner and has nearly 40 years of professional experience in environmental health. He has also co-authored two textbooks in environmental science.
James Schoch, Chairman, is a resident of Tuscarawas County. Mr. Schoch is the Executive Director of the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance (EODA), an independent, nonprofit economic development organization consisting of sixteen counties in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio. Mr. Schoch has served as an executive board member and treasurer at EODA since 1998. Mr. Schoch is a retired area bank president. Mr. Schoch is a former Board member of the Atwood Yacht Club. Mr. Schoch is also a member of the MWCD Development Advisory Committee. He is a business advisor and serves on the advisory board for the Small Business Development Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas, which represents ten counties. Mr. Schoch received his Bachelor's Degree in Business and Economics from Malone College in Canton, Ohio. He is a graduate of the Ohio School of Banking at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin.
