Great Parks of Hamilton County (formerly Hamilton County Park District) was created in 1930 with the mission to protect local natural resources and to provide outdoor recreation and education for area residents. Great Parks of Hamilton County is a separate political subdivision of the State of Ohio, governed by a Board of Park Commissioners. Board members are appointed by the Judge of Hamilton County Probate Court, the Honorable Ralph Winkler.
The Board is comprised of five individuals who serve without compensation for terms of three years. The Board sets governance policies, approves land acquisitions and annual budgets. The Board appoints a Chief Executive Officer who is responsible for the implementation of park policies and leads the overall operation of Great Parks of Hamilton County.
DeVere E. Burt was first appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2013 and most recently reappointed effective January 1, 2016. Mr. Burt is a founding trustee of the Susan Kathleen Black Foundation. Mr. Burt also served as a trustee of the Cincinnati Nature Center where he served as Vice President for Development, and Chairman of their Capital Campaign. Mr. Burt served as President and CEO of the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History until 1996, before becoming founder of Masterworks for Nature in 2000. Mr. Burt has also served as regional Vice President for the Nature Conservancy and was a field biologist for the United States Antarctic Research Program.
William J. Burwinkel was first appointed to the Board effective January 11, 2016 and most recently reappointed effective January 1, 2017. Mr. Burwinkel is the founder and Chairman of the Board of National Marketshare Group, Inc. He is also the founder of Adopt A Class Foundation and is active throughout the Greater Cincinnati community serving on the Cincinnati Public Services Quality of Life Board, Cincinnati Police Chief Advisory Board, the Queensgate Business Alliance and the Westside Summit.
HC Buck Niehoff was first appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2014 and most recently reappointed effective January 1, 2018. Mr. Niehoff is retired from the law firm of Peck, Shaffer & Williams LLC. He has served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Cincinnati as well as on the boards of many local organizations, including the Cincinnati Museum Center, Mercantile Library and Ohio Cancer Research Associates.
Joseph C. Seta was first appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2011 and most recently reappointed effective January 1, 2017. He served as the President and CEO of Seta, Appleman & Showell, an advertising and graphic design firm, for 22 years and as Managing Director of Cincinnati Landor Associates Design Group. He has served on the advisory board for the College of Mount Saint Joseph and was a board member for the Central Academy of Commercial Art. He attended Xavier University and the Central Academy of Commercial Art.
Geraldine “Ginger” Warner was first appointed to the Board effective May 2, 2012 and most recently reappointed effective January 1, 2018. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Cincinnati, serves as Vice Chair of the Ohio Arts Council, is Secretary for the National First Ladies Library, is a board member of Greenacres Foundation, and board member of both The Cleveland Orchestra and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Warner is a retired attorney and a graduate of New York University Law School.
Jack Sutton, Chief Executive Officer, Great Parks of Hamilton County
Jack Sutton has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Great Parks of Hamilton County since September 2002. Since joining the park district in 1989, Mr. Sutton has served in several positions including Park Planner, Planning Director and Deputy Director. He currently serves as Chairman of the Hamilton County Natural Resource Assistance Council and is a member of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Alumni Network.
Individuals interested in being considered for a future appointment to the Board of Park Commissioners of Great Parks of Hamilton County may submit a letter of interest to the Probate Court of Hamilton County, c/o Honorable Judge Ralph Winkler, William Howard Taft Law Center, 230 East Ninth Street, 10th Floor, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Park Commissioners must be Hamilton County residents with demonstrated skills in organizational, business and/or academic leadership and a genuine passion for public parks and the conservation of natural resources.
The Board is comprised of five individuals who serve without compensation for terms of three years. The Board sets governance policies, approves land acquisitions and annual budgets. The Board appoints a Chief Executive Officer who is responsible for the implementation of park policies and leads the overall operation of Great Parks of Hamilton County.
DeVere E. Burt was first appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2013 and most recently reappointed effective January 1, 2016. Mr. Burt is a founding trustee of the Susan Kathleen Black Foundation. Mr. Burt also served as a trustee of the Cincinnati Nature Center where he served as Vice President for Development, and Chairman of their Capital Campaign. Mr. Burt served as President and CEO of the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History until 1996, before becoming founder of Masterworks for Nature in 2000. Mr. Burt has also served as regional Vice President for the Nature Conservancy and was a field biologist for the United States Antarctic Research Program.
William J. Burwinkel was first appointed to the Board effective January 11, 2016 and most recently reappointed effective January 1, 2017. Mr. Burwinkel is the founder and Chairman of the Board of National Marketshare Group, Inc. He is also the founder of Adopt A Class Foundation and is active throughout the Greater Cincinnati community serving on the Cincinnati Public Services Quality of Life Board, Cincinnati Police Chief Advisory Board, the Queensgate Business Alliance and the Westside Summit.
HC Buck Niehoff was first appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2014 and most recently reappointed effective January 1, 2018. Mr. Niehoff is retired from the law firm of Peck, Shaffer & Williams LLC. He has served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Cincinnati as well as on the boards of many local organizations, including the Cincinnati Museum Center, Mercantile Library and Ohio Cancer Research Associates.
Joseph C. Seta was first appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2011 and most recently reappointed effective January 1, 2017. He served as the President and CEO of Seta, Appleman & Showell, an advertising and graphic design firm, for 22 years and as Managing Director of Cincinnati Landor Associates Design Group. He has served on the advisory board for the College of Mount Saint Joseph and was a board member for the Central Academy of Commercial Art. He attended Xavier University and the Central Academy of Commercial Art.
Geraldine “Ginger” Warner was first appointed to the Board effective May 2, 2012 and most recently reappointed effective January 1, 2018. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Cincinnati, serves as Vice Chair of the Ohio Arts Council, is Secretary for the National First Ladies Library, is a board member of Greenacres Foundation, and board member of both The Cleveland Orchestra and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Warner is a retired attorney and a graduate of New York University Law School.
Jack Sutton, Chief Executive Officer, Great Parks of Hamilton County
Jack Sutton has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Great Parks of Hamilton County since September 2002. Since joining the park district in 1989, Mr. Sutton has served in several positions including Park Planner, Planning Director and Deputy Director. He currently serves as Chairman of the Hamilton County Natural Resource Assistance Council and is a member of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Alumni Network.
Individuals interested in being considered for a future appointment to the Board of Park Commissioners of Great Parks of Hamilton County may submit a letter of interest to the Probate Court of Hamilton County, c/o Honorable Judge Ralph Winkler, William Howard Taft Law Center, 230 East Ninth Street, 10th Floor, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Park Commissioners must be Hamilton County residents with demonstrated skills in organizational, business and/or academic leadership and a genuine passion for public parks and the conservation of natural resources.
