Ohio Wetlands Association

Matt Cochran has over 24 years of experience specializing in all aspects of wetland and stream restoration, including feasibility studies, conceptual design, detailed design, construction oversight and compliance monitoring. Matt’s experience is U.S. based as well as international with 19 years of experience in Denmark, where he held the role of Nature Restoration Area Manager at his company. Matt also has extensive experience in wetland delineation, stream evaluations, and threatened and endangered species surveys.  Matt is a lifetime member of the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) and member of the Society of Ecological Restoration. He is active with the SWS European Chapter and has served on the Board of Directors as Treasurer since 2017. Matt is also a Professional Wetland Scientist (Society of Wetland Scientists) and a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (Society for Ecological Restoration).

Gabi Valerius holds a BA in Pre-professional Zoology from Ohio Wesleyan University and an MPH in Veterinary Public Health from The Ohio State University. As a volunteer with the Ohio Wildlife Center and the co-owner of a veterinary hospital in Grove City with her husband, Gabi’s commitment to animal welfare and conservation runs deep. An avid nature lover, Gabi believes Ohio’s wetlands are worth preserving and restoring and she is passionate about raising awareness and taking action to protect these vital ecosystems. She began serving on the OWA Board in Spring of 2024, where she has taken the lead role on OWA’s newsletter. Gabi joined the OWA board in 2024.

Joyce Marzano has over 20 years of professional experience working in wetlands throughout the Midwest. Currently, Joyce manages wetland and stream restoration projects throughout Ohio, where she loves to see the landscape transform and talk to stakeholders about the value of healthy wetlands. She holds an M.S. in Natural Resources from OSU, where her research focused on the effect of streamside vegetation on soil carbon sequestration dynamics. Joyce is a Professional Wetland Scientist (Society of Wetland Scientists) and a Certified Arborist (International Society of Arboriculture). Joyce joined the OWA board in 2022.

Kurt Keljo was a watershed coordinator and then watershed resource specialist at Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District from 2011 until his retirement in 2021. Prior to joining Franklin Soil and Water, Kurt was the watershed coordinator for Blacklick Creek at Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. His educational background includes a BS in zoology from the University of Michigan, and an MS in environmental science from The Ohio State University where his studies focused on wetlands. He has had a special interest in macroinvertebrates and volunteer monitoring. Kurt joined the OWA board in 2024.

Laura Manns is both a formal 7-12 Integrated Science & EECO Certified Environmental Educator who is committed to engaging youth in authentic, place-based learning opportunities. Laura’s focus is to ensure conceptual understanding, while fostering critical thinking skills. She has a BS in Biology from Xavier University, Master's of Environmental Management from Duke University, and certificate in GIS from the University of Washington.  Her background allow her to integrate relevant, timely issues into instruction, while simultaneously helping students develop their visual, spatial, and analytic skills.  At OWA, Laura has been critical in securing multiple grants, including three OEEF mini grants, two of which were awarded Outstanding Project Awards by the Ohio EPA.  She has a deep appreciation for the natural world & every summer her family visits a new National Park.  Laura joined the OWA board in 2022.

Wendy Baker is the education/ outreach coordinator for Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District. She provides environmental education programs and support for all grade levels of the schools in Defiance County- public, parochial, and private. She collaborates with multiple organizations such as Black Swamp Nature Conservancy, ODNR, Ohio Bat Working Group, US Army Corps of Engineers, YFC at JDC, GLOBE, Clean Streams and H2Ohio and others to provide educator trainings and promote public education and awareness of wetlands throughout northwest Ohio. Wendy joined the OWA board in 2023.

Dr. Stephen Jacquemin has held a lifelong interest in nature and environmental conservation. He holds a BS in Biology from Ohio Northern University as well as a MS and PhD in Environmental Science from Ball State University. He is currently a Professor of Biology at Wright State University Lake Campus where he researches and teaches about freshwater ecosystems, especially wetlands, as well as restoration of natural spaces. Stephen joined the OWA board in 2024.

Theresa Dirksen is the Agriculture & Natural Resources Director for Mercer County and the Mercer SWCD Engineer. She has been with Mercer County for over 18 years in various roles working on conservation projects, with a heavy focus on creating wetlands around Grand Lake St. Marys State Park. Over the last 8 years, she has garnered nearly $15 million in grant dollars for various projects in the region. Theresa joined the OWA board in 2024.

Alex Anderson is a full stack developer with experience in higher education Information Technology (IT) and a consultant at private companies developing IT solutions for infrastructure, operational security, inventory management, and system integrations. Alex holds a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering from OSU. At OWA, Alex combines his professional experience with his interest in the environment to help streamline existing IT solutions and website development. Alex joined the OWA board in 2025.

Dr. Robert Verb currently serves as a professor of Environmental and Field Biology at Ohio Northern University where he teaches classes in botany, freshwater ecology, natural history, geology, and biogeography. In addition, he is the Ohio Northern University Natural Areas Director overseeing the university’s Tidd-Oakes Farm and Metzger Nature Center. Bob joined the OWA board in 2025.

Chelsea Keefer, MS is a professional wetland restoration biologist. During her formal education, she conducted a rigorous research study in native species revegetation and seed ecology. She published her findings as the primary author of a peer reviewed research paper that appeared in the Journal of Rangeland Ecology and Management. Chelsea is passionate about environmental conservation and enjoys public outreach and education. Outside of her professional work, Chelsea enjoys hiking, reading, and spending quality time with her husband and three daughters. These personal passions provide a balanced perspective and enhance her dedication to preserving the natural environment for future generations.

Mark Dilley serves as Chief Scientist at MAD Scientist Associates, bringing over 30 years of expertise in wetland science, field biology, ecology, and environmental studies. Mark is a Senior Professional Wetland Scientist (Society of Wetland Scientists), Certified Senior Ecologist (Ecological Society of America), and Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (Society for Ecological Restoration). Educated at The Ohio State University, Mark holds a B.S. in Natural Resources in Fisheries Management and an M.S. in Environmental Science, focusing on wetlands. Mark maintains his connection with OSU as a Lecturer for the Wetland Ecology and Restoration course since 2012, imparting his knowledge to the next generation of environmental professionals. In addition to his other responsibilities, Mark is also a co-owner of the Scioto Gardens native plant nursery, further demonstrating his dedication to environmental preservation and sustainable practices. Mark joined the OWA board in 2015 and served as President for nine years.

Mick Micacchion is retired from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, where he played a pivotal role protecting wetlands in his home state of Ohio. He was part of the team that developed the rules that comprise Ohio’s Wetland Water Quality Standards and helped developed assessment tools for more effective wetland reviews. Mick was the lead in development of the Amphibian Index of Biotic Integrity (AmphIBI) and has monitored hundreds of vernal pool wetlands across Ohio in its development. He was also a co-founder of the Ohio Vernal Pool Network, which has been instrumental for the last 20 years in increasing the awareness and protection of vernal pools in Ohio. Mick has also served on the Ohio Interagency Wetlands Review Team and the National Wetland Condition Assessment Technical Committee and has worked as a restoration ecologist for the Ohio Chapter of The Nature Conservancy’s In-lieu Fee Program. Mick joined the OWA board in 2011 and served as Vice President for nine years.

Ray Stewart was a founding member of the group Friends of Wetlands in 1991. In 2011 Ray became President, establishing the group as a formal non-profit under the name Ohio Wetlands Association. Ray’s leadership continued for nearly a decade, when he transitioned his role to Wetland Ambassador, where he remains engaged as a representative of OWA at meetings and conferences. Ray earned a M.S. in Teaching and Biology/Biological Sciences (Miami University) and is a retired high school science teacher. Ray is a Certified Master Rain Gardener and Certified Interpretive Guide. He continues to put his experience and his B.S. in Botany (Kent State University) into action as Lead Designer at Webbedfoot Designs, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation that promotes the use of rain gardens at both residential and commercial scales.