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.
Brittany Barton, Project Manager -
A St. Louis transplant, Brittany was raised in Memphis and received a BA from the University of Missouri- Columbia in 2006 and an MA in Historic Preservation from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2007. Brittany has served as Project Manager of The Open Space Council since 2007. She is also currently serving as chair-person for the Missouri Land Trust Coalition and on the Planning, Zoning, and Land Use committee of the City of St. Louis Mayor's Vangaurd Cabinet.
Amy Butz, Administrative and Program Manager -
Born and raised in St. Louis, Amy has a life-long love of the city and surrounding countryside. Growing up an avid Girl Scout, she has also had a love of nature and the outdoors from an early age. Amy earned a BA in Environmental Studies from Maryville University, St. Louis. Her other interests include reading, camping and backpacking, attending the theatre, and a lively discussion over a good meal.
Board
Robert Rubright, 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."
Steve Nagle, Vice President -
Steve is Director of Planning, East-West Gateway Coordinating Council. Steve has been involved with planning and resource issues for the last 23 years. He holds a masters degree in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has worked as a policy and planning specialist and legislative liaison of Mo DNR. From 1997-2000, Steve served as Director of Environmental Resources for the Coachella Valley Association of Governments. Prior to that position he served five years with the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, as Urban Interface Specialist. Concurrently, since 1993, he taught at the college of The Desert. Steve has been a member of The Open Space Council since 2001.
Dennis Wilhelm, 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.
Linda Fenton, Secretary -
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.
Bradley Brown, Marketing and Membership Secretary -
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.
View a full list of the Board of Directors here.
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