Leadership

Alliance Governance
The Indiana Parks Alliance is governed by a board of directors. Board members agree to board expectations that include contributing financially to the organization, active participation in board meetings and projects and operating with ethical standards.

Thomas Hohman
President
Retired as Director of Indiana Department of Natural Resources(IDNR) Division of Engineering; Former President of Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society; Former President of Association of Conservation Engineers

Mark Young
Vice President for Development
Principal at Parks Forever Consulting; former administrator at Columbus Parks and Recreation (OH); Bloomington Parks and Recreation, and Indianapolis Parks and Recreation; former NRPA Board of Directors and Public Policy Chair.

John Goss
Vice President for Advocacy
Former member of Indiana Natural Resources Commission (1989-2001) and served as Director of Department of Natural Resources (2002-2005).

Milt Grissom
Secretary
Owner and CEO of Grissom Commercial Real Estate.  Previously worked for REI Real Estate Services.  Prior to entering the real estate business he was employed by the Indiana State Parks for six and a half years, serving as an assistant manager and rehab specialist.

Sonok Deutscher
Treasurer
Sonok has a BS in International Business from College of Idaho and an MA in Education from Boise State University.  She has held management positions for several companies during her career, including Ore-Ida Foods in Oregon, Agro Sales in Idaho, and Melaleuca, Inc. in Idaho.  She is retired and living in Indianapolis and currently serving as treasurer for the Central Chapter of Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society (INPAWS).  She has family in both Idaho and Indiana.


John Bacone
Board Member
Retired as Director of Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Nature Preserves; Board member of several land trust and conservation organizations.

Steve Barker
Board Member
Environmental Principal at Northern Indiana Public Service Company with over 20 years of professional natural resource experience. Former board member of several land trust and environmental organizations.

John Bergman
Board Member
Retired as Deputy Director of Indiana State Parks. Former Park Manager at Brown County, Tippecanoe River and Shades State Parks.

Thomas Burkhart
Board Member
Owner of WindChime Alpacas; Retired as Property Manager at Prophetstown State Park and Huntington Lake; Co-Founder and Former President of Indiana Resource Managers Association; Former President of Huntington County Board of Aviation Commissioners; Former President of Huntington County Humane Society

Layne Elliott
Board Member
Project manager with Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands; Assistant Director of the Great Lakes Park Training Institute; Former Interpretive Ranger with National Park Service.

Lori Kaplan
Board Member
Former Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources Chief Legal Counsel/Deputy Director; Former Commissioner of the Indiana Dept. of Environmental Management; Former business development manager for JFNew; Current board member and executive committee member of Central Indiana Land Trust.

Troy McCormick
Board Member
Owner, Natural Concepts, Inc.; Former Property Manager at Falls of the Ohio State Park; Past President and Board Member of Hoosier Outdoor Writers; Host/Producer of an outdoor hunting and fishing show called Bootprints.TV.

Sarah Nichter
Board Member
Former Manager of Information and Development with Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department, where she previously worked as a spokesperson, public information officer, and grant writer. Sarah has worked in the communication field for over 40 years.

Clare Oskay
Board Member
Retired as a partner with Henry K Engel & Co., an Indianapolis CPA firm.  She has served on the Boards of Central Indiana Land Trust (Past President), Indiana Native Plant & Wildflower Society (Treasurer) and Indiana Audubon Society (Treasurer). 

Jerry Pagac
Board member
Retired as Executive Director of the Champaign County (IL) Forest Preserve District; Former Director of IDNR Division of Outdoor Recreation and Division of State Parks

Jeff Seidenstein
Board Member
Finance Manager, Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA); retired as Budget Manager, City of Indianapolis; formerly, Assistant Director, Indiana State Parks (IDNR).

Stephanie Shuck
Board Member
Executive Director of the State of Indiana Cooperative Invasive Management (SICIM). She formerly served as restoration ecologist and land manager for the Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab property on Marian University’s campus. Stephanie is also serving as the Board President for the Environmental Education Association of Indiana and as a member of the Tree Board of Indianapolis, the Green Ribbon Schools committee for the Indiana Department of Education, and the Invasive Plant Advisory Committee for the Indiana Invasive Species Council.

Brittany Davis Swinford
Board Member
Senior Park Manager for Eagle Creek Park (Indianapolis).  She is a Certified Park & Recreation Professional (CPRP) and has served on the boards of Indiana Park & Recreation Association, and multiple conservation organizations.

Joe Wynns
Board Member
Joseph Wynns is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) with 35 years of experience in the field.  He is a former director of Indy Parks and Recreation, past president of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, and former board member of the National Parks and Recreation Association.  He currently serves on the Indianapolis Board of Parks and Recreation, the Executive Committee of the Circle City Classic, and the Board of Trustees for IU’s Executive Development Program.


The Executive Director of the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation and the Directors of the IDNR  Division of State Parks and the Division of Nature Preserves (or their designees), are ex-officio members, serving in an advisory capacity only.

Ginger Murphy
Non voting advisor
Deputy Director for Stewardship of IDNR  Division of State Parks; Former Chief of Interpretation for IDNR Division of State Parks, Former Interpretive Naturalist at Upper Wabash Reservoirs.

Ron Hellmich
Non voting advisor
Director of IDNR  Division of Nature Preserves.

Jody Kress
Non voting advisor
Jody is the Executive Director of the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation.

If you are interested in getting involved in the Indiana Parks Alliance, contact IPA.