Staff
Ron Coleman, Executive Director-
Ron has over 40 years experience in conservation, environmental projects, parks and recreation, public art, and trails in Missouri. He has worked as an administrator, planner and park and recreation professional throughout his years of service as a leader in the field of public and private parks, recreation, conservation and trails development. He now serves as president of the Coleman Group, Inc. (20 years) and executive director of The Open Space Council for the St. Louis Region (11 years). During his career Mr. Coleman has served as a parks & recreation executive in five cities. He has worked diligently to conserve thousands of acres of parks and open space in the St. Louis region and Southwest Missouri. He has helped to acquire many rights of ways and develop hundreds of miles of hiking /biking trails including the second longest rails- to- trails conversion in the state of Missouri, the Frisco Highline Trail which runs from Springfield, Missouri to Bolivar near Stockton Lake. He has been a leader in the restoration of the Meramec River for 32 years in his work with Clean Water and the Annual Operation Clean Stream project. Missouri Stream Team number five.
Katherine "Kat" Dockery, Director of Development and Programs -
A passionate conservationist, Kat has spent years working with non-profits focused on encouraging every generation to get outdoors and explore careers in conservation. Raised in rural Clarksville, Missouri, a small town on the Mississippi River, Kat was exposed to the great out-of-doors at an early age and quickly became interested in conservation of land and waterways. While pursuing a BA in Communication and photography, Kat traveled to SouthEast Asia, Western Europe, and Mexico and then returned to St. Louis to receive her MA in Media Communication from Webster University in St. Louis. She is an active volunteer and committee member with several local, state, and international organizations including the Conservation Federation of Missouri, the Young Non-Profit Network, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and UrbanHarvestSTL. Kat is currently serving as Director of Development and Programs for The Open Space Council.
Board
Bradley Brown, 1st Vice President -
Bradley manages governmental affairs activities for Missouri American Water Company. Brown has worked in the water utility business for a period of 29 years, having spent 19 of those years with Missouri American Water Company. Just prior to this position, Bradley served as Coordinator, Environmental Programs, a role that allowed him to gain experience in administration and coordinating the company's environmental compliance programs.
He possesses a B.A. from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is a proud 2003 Leadership Missouri graduate. In addition to his role at The Open Space Council, Bradley also serves on the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry board.
Linda Fenton, 2nd Vice President -
Linda spent 25+ years in the travel industry with the last 20 years as a member of the senior management team at Meridian Enterprises. She attended Lindbergh High School, Webster University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. In March 2000, Linda retired and became actively involved in preserving a historic quarry & greenspace from development in Kirkwood, Mo. Through this endeavor; she came to work closely with The Open Space Council. Two years later, the City of Kirkwood officially acquired the Old Meramec Highlands Quarry and Watson Cave. Linda became a board member of OSC and believes they are one of the premier organizations that can truly have a positive impact on preserving open space for future generations.
Kim Cuddeback, Secretary -
Kim is a self-employed small business owner, running her own catering company and café, Extra Thyme. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture with a minor in Community Planning from Kansas State University. Kim is the co-founder and organizer of the Maryland Heights Residents for Responsible Growth. Kim joined the board of directors in June 2009, and was elected Secretary in May 2010.
Dennis Wilhelmi, Treasurer -
Dennis is a Certified Public Accountant with 25 years of financial management experience. In 1997, Dennis started his own consulting business, Dennis D. Wilhelmi, Financial Management Consulting, providing "CFO Consulting" services to startup, emerging growth and troubled companies. Before starting his business, Dennis held various CFO and financial management positions for various marketing service companies. Before his career in marketing communications, Dennis was a Senior Auditor with Deloitte & Touche. Dennis has served on the OSC board since 2002.
Robert Rubright, Immediate Past-President -
President of the OSC for over 10 years, Robert (Bob) is a cultural, historical and humor researcher. He was born in Detroit Michigan. Robert earned degrees from Westminster College in Missouri and the University of Wisconsin. He was a feature writer of the Minneapolis Star and the Marketer/Public Relations Director for the Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Since 1966, Robert has provided marketing and management counsel to non-profit groups.
Robert has written two books on marketing and hospital-MD relationships. He has also authored two St. Louis Area walking-hiking guides from historical, cultural perspective. Robert's most recent book is "Breakfast, Lunch and Diner."
View a full list of the Board of Directors here.
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