Staff

Ellie Ewing
Executive Director

Ellie Ewing has served as Executive Director of Captina Conservancy since October 2019. Before coming to the Conservancy, she worked for seven years as an Assistant Attorney General in the Environmental Enforcement Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Ellie grew up on a small dairy farm in northeast Ohio, and has since lived in Chicago, Pittsburgh, San Diego, and parts between. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and hanging out with her greyhound, Henry.

Ellie can be reached at ellie@captina.org.

Board of Directors

Rich Sidwell
Board Member

Rich is the former Head of School, Olney Friends School (2003-2011); Business Manager, Olney Friends School (1999-2003); Self-employed co-owner of Sidwell Division, Raven Rocks Concrete, Beallsville OH (1975-1999), and co-Founder and Treasurer of Raven Rocks, Inc. a 1,250 acre wilderness preserve and alternative energy demonstration center near Beallsville, OH (1970-Present).  He is also the founding and current President of the Barnesville Area Rails to Trails Committee; Past President and member of the Barnesville Rotary Club and has served on the boards of: Ohio Association of Independent Schools; Friends Council on Education; Barnesville Blue Ribbon Economic Development Committee. Rich is the former Executive Director of Captina Conservancy Land Trust and a 1968 B.A. (History and Secondary Education) graduate of Wilmington College.

Ron Preston
Board Member

Ron is an aquatic biologist who retired from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III. He earned his bachelor's of science in Biological Science, from Marshall University 1958 and his graduate studies in aquatic zoology from The Ohio State University 1958-59 & 1970-71. He has a multitude of experience as a Fisheries Biologist, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources 1959-64; Aquatic Biologist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1964-97; and Science Advisor, Canaan Valley Institute 1997-2007. His professional expertise includes aquatic ecology, stream assessment and sampling design, stream restoration, and organizing aquatic environment workshops and conferences. Ron was a founding member of the Captina Conservancy Board.

Bev Shull
Board Member

Bev is a retired adult nurse practitioner and school business manager; she is also a watershed resident. Bev has been with the Conservancy since 2010.

Chad Kinney
Board Member

Chad is a lifelong resident of the Captina Creek watershed who grew up hunting, fishing and exploring all the special places the watershed has to offer. While doing so, Chad developed an appreciation for the beauty, biology and culture of the area. After graduating from Beallsville High School in 1998, he received a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Ohio University in 2003 and a M.S of Environmental Studies from Ohio University in 2006. Chad worked as a biologist/consultant for BHE Environmental Inc. in Cincinnati from 2006 to 2009 doing endangered species work all over the U.S. From 2009 to the present, he has worked as an Environmental Specialist 2/Biologist with ODNR Division of Mineral Resources Management AMD Program studying the impacts of acid mine drainage on the biological water quality of Ohio’s streams.

Dr. Mary Lenczewski
Board Member

Dr. Mary Lenczewski joined the Board of the Captina Conservancy in the Fall of 2015.  She is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Ohio University Eastern, specializing in Organic Chemistry.  She has begun a research project, in conjunction with the Belmont County Soil and Water Conservation District, looking at the water quality of the Captina Watershed.

Mike Tarter
Board Member

A lifelong resident of Bridgeport, Ohio, Mike is a retired Steel Worker who enjoys canoeing and fishing on the Captina Creek. Mike has been a member of the board since the summer of 2011.

Gary Wershing
Board Member

Gary was born and raised in rural Hinckley Township in northern Ohio. In 1980, Gary and his wife Ann moved to southwest Belmont County where they raised a family. Gary has been a self-employed carpenter, contractor, and modern day blacksmith for over 40 years. He has worked throughout the local area and across northern Ohio. As a youth, he developed an appreciation and respect for the land and nature that exists everywhere. Gary is pleased to be a part of the Captina Conservancy and the important work they are doing.

Ted Cope
Board Member

Ted became a permanent resident of Belmont County in 1972. For 30 years, he was involved with operation and management of Raven Rocks Concrete, which delivered redi-mix concrete to five counties in Ohio and five counties in West Virginia. Ted's years managing a small beef herd taught him much about the importance of sod cover.  As he learns more about how to farm and produce food in sod utilizing no-till practices, he believes our soil will sustain us.

Leslie Vassilaros
Board Member

Leslie has over 28 years leading non-profits. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Community Health Administration and Wellness Promotion. Leslie currently is retired and spends time volunteering to make our communities the best they can be. She has lived most of her life in Belmont County and has always enjoyed the beauty of our local watersheds and lands.

Greg Lipps
Honorary Board Member

Greg is the past Co-Chair of Ohio Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation and the Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Coordinator at Ohio State University’s Ohio Biodiversity Conservation Partnership.  His career has focused on developing and implementing plans to ensure the conservation of Ohio’s herp species.  Recent projects have included recovery of the Eastern Hellbender and Massasauga.  While his work often includes research to investigate life history requirements or to determine the most effective surveying and monitoring techniques, it just as often is about building relationships with partners and landowners that he believes are necessary for conservation to be successful.  Greg’s work has taken him to every corner of the state, with projects focused on Green Salamanders, Cave Salamanders, Four-toed Salamanders, Spotted Turtles, and Blanding’s Turtles.  He routinely collaborates with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and staff of Ohio’s zoos, land trusts, park districts, soil and water conservation districts, and nature centers.  Greg is originally from Cincinnati and worked as a zookeeper at the Toledo Zoo.

Art Mengon
Board Member

Art is a graduate of Ohio University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He recently retired from a career in project and process engineering, and project, engineering, and plant management.  Art led projects to improve capacity, productivity, safety and environmental sustainability in various countries. Art has always had an affinity for nature and wildlife, and, growing up in Belmont County, has fond memories of time spent in the woods, biking, hiking or just sitting watching the woodland life unfold. Because of this, Art wants to ensure future generations have the same opportunity to enjoy time in the natural beauty of our woodlands. 

Bryce Allen
Board Member

Bryce grew up in Barnesville, Ohio, and has always appreciated the beauty of Captina Creek. He attended Muskingum University, where he graduated with a degree in Education. He currently teaches sixth grade social studies at Barnesville Middle School and is an Assistant Coach for the Barnesville High School baseball and football teams. Bryce lives in Barnesville with his wife and daughter. 

Chad Hammond
Board Member

Chad grew up in Columbiana County outside Lisbon, Ohio, where he learned to love being out on the land. He has an Associate Degree in Fish & Wildlife Management and a second Associate Degree in Forest Management, both from Hocking College. He has worked as a Wildlife/Forestry Specialist for Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District and as a Soil Conservationist for USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. He's currently self-employed consulting forester with Old Appalachia Forestry, working with landowners to manage their forests. Chad and his wife live on a forested property in southern Monroe County and look forward to continuing management efforts and making improvements where possible. 

Colton Riley
Board Member

Colton is an Environmental Manager with American Consolidated Resources, Inc. where he leads, conducts, and manages all of the ACR biology work in PA, WV, OH, and IL. This includes stream delineations, wetland delineations, mitigation monitoring and more. Colton graduated from California University Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Wildlife Biology, concentration in fisheries. He has served on the Captina Conservancy board since 2016. He lives in Chestnut Ridge, PA.

rose grear
Board member

A longtime Conservancy member and volunteer, Rose joined the board in 2022. She is a lifelong resident of Warren Township in Belmont County, graduating from Barnesville Schools and Belmont College. Her concern for protecting our community dates to elementary school; performing litter cleanups as part of 4-H service projects. She appreciates the work of Captina Conservancy and the opportunities for family
and community participation in educational events. Rose is recently retired after a career with South Central Power Company.