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Board of Park Commissioners
Left to right: Marcus Thompson, Caren Laverty, Melissa Wegman, Scott Schuster, and William Burwinkel.
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.
William J. Burwinkel was first appointed to the Board in January 2016 and was reappointed for a third term in January 2023. Mr. Burwinkel is the founder and Chairman of the Board of National Marketshare Group, Inc. He is also the founder of the Adopt A Class Foundation and is active throughout the Greater Cincinnati community bringing together Businesses and Community Groups to serve as Mentors and Role Models for urban children. He was a 2011 Cincinnati Business Courier Second Act award recipient. In recognition of his years of service and dedication, the Dan Beard Council of Boy Scouts of America awarded him their highest non-scout honor, the Silver Beaver Award. Burwinkel is a member of Leadership Cincinnati USA Class 31.
Caren Laverty was first appointed to the Board in January 2021 and was reappointed for a second term in January 2024. She has over 13 years in investment business focused on teaching women the fundamentals of financial investing. Mrs. Laverty is the author of the book "A Woman's Place is in the Market" and is the founder of her financial blog, carenlaverty.com. She is active in the Greater Cincinnati community and volunteers at St. Joseph Orphanage working with young adults in the Independent Living program. Mrs. Laverty is a graduate of Miami University.
Marcus L. Thompson was first appointed to the Board in January 2019 and was reappointed for a second term in January 2022. He is a graduate of Seton Hill University and serves as Director of Corporate Development for Triversity Construction. Marcus is an active community leader and serves on several other boards including the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky African American Chamber and Cincinnati Youth Collaborative. In 2024, Marcus was recognized as one of the inaugural “513 Serves” Honorees. In 2023, he was recognized as a Making Black History honoree by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. In addition, Marcus has been honored as a Distinguished Alumni by the Forest Hills Local School District and a Distinguished Alumni by Seton Hill University. In 2018, he was recognized as a Forty Under 40 Award Recipient by the Cincinnati Business Courier. In his free time, Marcus can be found in the parks with his wife, Ashley, and their two children Zechariah and Zoe.
Melissa Wegman was first appointed to the Board in January 2023. She is the Vice President of her family's owned and operated business, the Wegman Company. Ms. Wegman is a strong believer in giving back to the community. She has been active in community engagement for 35 years, particularly in East Price Hill, Queensgate, the West End, and throughout Cincinnati. She has been an active member of various local business and economic associations. She is a graduate of Lynn University (formerly the College of Boca Raton) in Florida.
Scott Schuster was first appointed to the Board in February 2024. Mr. Schuster is the President of the Cincinnati Museums Foundation and Vice President of Philanthropy at Cincinnati Museum Center within the historic Union Terminal. He was recognized as a Forty Under 40 award recipient in 2023 by the Cincinnati Business Courier and is a member of Leadership Cincinnati Class 47 through the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. He teaches as an Adjunct Instructor within the Marketing Department at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati. Scott is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and supports his alma mater as a member of the Lindner Alumni Council.
Todd Palmeter, Chief Executive Officer, Great Parks of Hamilton County
Todd Palmeter has been the Chief Executive Officer for Great Parks since May 2019. Mr. Palmeter began his career with the park district in 2003 as a Park Planner and played an instrumental role in the development of many of the park district’s most popular destinations. In 2011, he managed the agency’s five-year strategic plan and over the next several years provided leadership for numerous key park district initiatives including the agency’s first Comprehensive Master Plan from 2017 to 2019. With the support of Hamilton County voters and through his leadership, Great Parks passed a second levy in 2021 to support critical infrastructure needs and master plan priorities as identified by the community.
Mr. Palmeter currently serves as Board President for Green Umbrella and also serves on the board for Tri-State Trails and the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials. He also serves on the Natural Resource Assistance Council and CROWN Steering Committee and is actively involved with the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association. He is an alumnus of Leadership Cincinnati Class 43 and the National Recreation and Parks Association Director’s School and Green School.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.
Previous Park Commissioners
William H. Albers 7/17/1930–6/6/1954 Ralph Rogan 7/17/1930–4/1/1955 L. Alvin Kreis 7/17/1930–9/19/1936 Alfred K. Nippert 11/7/1936–6/4/1953 Louis Nippert 6/4/1953–12/31/1977 Justin A. Rollman 6/14/1954–10/20/1970 Louis Richter 4/6/1955–12/31/1957 Sam Benedict 1/1/1958–12/1/1980 Richard H. Durrell 10/20/1970–8/14/1987 Nolan Carson 1/1/1978–12/31/1995 Paul W. Christensen, Jr. 12/1/1980–12/31/1993 James A.D. Geier 8/19/1987–8/1/2001 Robert A. Goering, Sr. 1/1/1994–12/31/2012 Nancy R. Hamant 2/1/1996–12/31/2010 James E. Bushman 11/21/2001–12/31/2009 John T. Reis 1/1/2010–12/31/2013 Donald S. LaRosa 6/7/2012–12/31/2015 DeVere Burt 1/1/2013–12/31/2018 Geraldine Warner 5/2/2012–12/31/2020 HC Buck Niehoff 1/1/2014–12/31/2020 Joseph C. Seta 1/1/2011–12/31/2022 Stacey DeGraffenreid 1/14/2021–12/31/2022 Douglas Abrams 1/5/2023–1/9/2024 William Burwinkel 1/1/2016–present Marcus L. Thompson 1/3/2019–present Caren Laverty 1/12/2021–present Melissa Wegman 1/5/2023–present Scott Schuster 2/9/2024-present -
2025 Board Meeting Schedule
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Board Meeting Rules
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Board Meeting Minutes
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Great Parks Leadership Team
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Great Parks Forever Board