She has spoken at many environmental symposiums, including River Watch in Pittsburgh and General Motors Green’s Next Step Institute.

Kathi was the 2012 winner of the GM Chevrolet Green Educator Award for North America and Canada. She was an ATHENA Award nominee in 2011.

Kathi is a member of the State Envirothon Board and serves on the Urban Networking Committee with other soil and water districts across Ohio. She is also an active volunteer for non-profit agencies including the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley Women and Children’s Fund, Healthy Community Partnership Mahoning Valley Parks and Green Spaces committee and St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen.  Kathi previously served on the Jubilee Gardens Board, Goodwill’s Junior Group, Youngstown Symphony Society and Stambaugh Pillars and assisted in service groups that travel to underserved areas. Kathi is dedicated to her community and the people within it.

She studied Environmental Sciences and Chemical Engineering and received her bachelor of science degree from Youngstown State University.

Prior to her role as district administrator, Kathi was an account executive for the United Parcel Service. She also developed Source Water Assistance Protection Plans for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Division of Drinking and Ground Waters and interned with the Ohio EPA Division of Air Pollution Control.

Kathi Vrable-Bryan can be contacted via email at kvrable-bryan@mahoningcountyoh.gov.

show less

Some of his duties include assisting landowners in best management practices, conducting site and soil investigations, preliminary engineering surveys, and soil reconnaissance, as well as reviewing Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWP3) for construction sites. In addition to Sean’s construction responsibilities, he also assists in the establishment of recreation land use by advising and assisting landowners with fish pond management and the protection and development of wildlife areas, as well as the planting of adequate wildlife feed. He works with local, state, and federal agencies and the public to accomplish mutual goals.

Sean is a Certified Professional in Municipal Stormwater Management (CPMSM) and Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC). He has been with Mahoning Soil and Water since October, 2008.

Sean studied Environmental Sciences and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Kent State University.

Prior to his role at Mahoning Soil and Water, Sean was a lab chemist-2 at Clean Harbors in Ashtabula. His responsibilities included analyzing different types of media such as oil, solvents, soil and metals by Gas Chromatography to determine PCB concentrations. With his findings he would then recommend avenues for proper treatment and disposal procedures. Sean was also a field technician for PSI in Girard, Ohio, and provided environmental and engineering testing and inspection services.

Sean McGuire can be contacted via email at smcguire@mahoningcountyoh.gov.

show less

Some of his duties include overseeing and managing agricultural rental equipment, handling agricultural pollution abatement calls, performing site visits for timber- and pond or lake-related concerns, as well as completing inspections of agricultural properties.

Each year, Blaine works with the Mahoning County Auditor’s Office to perform agricultural inspections of properties enrolled in the Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) Program, which is a conservation program that brings tax relief to landowners who qualify.

Prior to his role at SWCD, Blaine was a ranch manager and assistant ranch manager on cattle operations throughout Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma. Blaine was also a cattle buyer for various states located East of the Mississippi River for a large agricultural cooperative firm. With ranch management experience comes stewardship of the land.  As Blaine says, “Ranchers must take care of the land that takes care of them and their cattle. That holds true whether you’re running 25 or 2500 head.”

Blaine has conducted various wildlife seminars on behalf of the district, many focusing on wildlife food plots.

He recently completed his USDA/NRCS training to receive credentials as a Certified Natural Resource Conservation Planner.

He has an Associate of Applied Business in accounting and a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis on bovine endocrinology and reproduction from the University of Florida’s College of Agriculture, Food and Animal Sciences.

Blaine Winger can be contacted via email at bwinger@mahoningcountyoh.gov.

show less

Zack brings a wealth of knowledge related to environmental conservation and education.

Some of his work will focus on programs to prevent or reduce pollutant runoff from municipal operations while encouraging public involvement and volunteerism to enhance water and soil quality in our region.

Prior to his role at SWCD, Zack previously served as an Educator and Naturalist at Mill Creek MetroParks and as a Naturalist Intern for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources at Pymatuning State Park. His academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Youngstown State University.

Zack Felger can be contacted via email at zachary.felger@mahoningcountyoh.gov.

show less