Meet/Join the Ohio Region Steering Committee

Educators and business professionals from various fields make up the volunteers who donate time and creativity to the program. The group is energetic, dedicated, and generous while keeping the focus on the young participants.

Meetings are held once a month, more often in December and January. Anyone interested in joining the team should fill out and return the Volunteer form on the title bar above. Current needs include someone to help Joe and Gus with COSI logistics, someone to help Dick H. with sponsorships, someone to help Dan B with the January program, and someone to help with media relations.

Ohio Region Coordinator

Lisa Huelskamp

Teacher and Coordinator of Gifted Education, Westerville City Schools and

Doctoral Candidate and Instructor, Science Education and Middle Childhood Education, The Ohio State University

Responsibilities: Ohio Region Coordinator, Teacher/School Co-coordinator, and Historian

 

Steering Committee

Dan Becker

Architect, URS Corporation

Responsibilities:  Essay/Abstract Judging Coordinator, Program Coordinator

 

Joseph S. Bolzenius, PE, PS

Franklin County Chapter, Vice-President of Ohio Society of Professional Engineers and Dynotec, Inc., Vice-President – Planning

Responsibilities:  School Recruitment Coordinator, School Registration/Database Coordinator

 

Mark Bonifas

Hull & Associates, Inc.

Responsibilities: Logistics Assistant

 

Dick Dieffenderfer         

Technology Education/Environmental Education, Ohio Dept. of Education/Office of Curriculum & Instruction

Responsibilities: Event Team Floor Coordinator and Assistant

 

Mark Farrell      

Project Engineer, TechResources

Responsibilities:  Judge Recruitment Coordinator

 

Dan Fleisch      

Professor for Dept. of Physics, Wittenberg University

Responsibilities:  Map & Model/Presentation, and Final Round Judges Orientation Coordinator and Scoring

 

Robert Foley

Chief Administrative Officer, M-E Companies

Responsibilities: Treasurer and Host Organization Contact

 

Mark Glasper                                                    

Exclusive Agent, Allstate Insurance Co.

Responsibilities:  Mayor Walk-Through Coordinator, Awards Ceremony Coordinator and Videography Coordinator

 

Joe Glinski

Safety Programs Engineer, Federal Highway Administration

Responsibilities: Logistics

 

Dick Henry

Right-of-Way Officer, Federal Highway Administration

Responsibilities: Sponsorship Co-Coordinator

 

Heidi Hetzel-Evans

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Responsibilities: Media Relations Coordinator

 

Paul J. D. Locascio

EWP Designer, Fifth Avenue Lumber

Responsibilities: Logistics Assistant

 

Peter Macrae    

AIA President, AIA Board of Directors, Triad Architects, Inc.

Responsibilities:  Special Awards Coordinator

 

Peggy Panagopoulos

Direct Account Manager, ITT Industries, Inc.

Responsibilities: Teacher/School Co-coordinator

 

Paul 'Gus' Smithhisler, P.E.

ODNR Division of Engineering

Responsibilities: Mentor Liaison and Logistics Assistant

 

Jan Voelker

Research & Program Assistance Program Unit Manager , Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention, Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Responsibilities: Special Awards Assistant

 

Michael von Fahnestock

Sr. Research Scientist and Associate Manager, Battelle Hazardous Waste Research Center, Battelle Memorial Institute

Responsibilities: VIP Judge Coodinator

 

Carolyn Watkins

Chief, Office of Environmental Education, Administrator, Ohio Environmental Education Fund, Ohio EPA

Responsibilities:  Judge Recruitment Coordinator and Model/Presentation Judging Coordinator

 

Ron Yarano (not with committee for 07-08)

Professional Surveyor, Field Operations Coordinator, M-E Companies

Responsibilities:  Map Judging Coordinator & Special Award Judging Assistant

 

 

Supporting Team Members:

 

Dean Sutton

Designer, Battelle Environmental Restoration, Battelle Memorial Institute

Responsibilities: Webmaster

 

Aimée Zerla,

Public Relations specialist, Travel & Tourism Division Ohio Department of Development

Responsibilities: consultant