We could not be more excited to introduce the Sierra Club Ohio Chapter's Water Chair Ric Queen. Ric brings a wealth of knowledge, an extensive professional career, and a passion to preserve Ohio wetlands and forests. We are excited to have Ric join our team and advocate for protection and preservaiton in Ohio.
A graduate of Ohio State University's School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ric worked for 10 years at the Ohio Department of Natural resources, both as Regional and Statewide Naturalist Supervisor at Hocking Hills State Park and Central Office respectively. During this period, Ric bought and preserved, through 11 purchases, 312 acres in the Hocking Hills with cliffs, caves, waterfalls and Hemlock gorges that was slated for clearcutting. He then spent 22 years at the Ohio EPA as Senior Environmental Manager over Ohio's 401 Water Quality Certification, isolated wetland, mitigation, and wetland ecology programs, during which time the programs expanded and grew to National prominence. He retired at the end of 2015.
Ric sits on the Executive Committee of the Ohio State University School of Environment & Natural Resources Alumni Society, the Board of Directors of Columbus Landmarks Foundation, the Board of Directors of the Ohio Wetland Association, and is currently the Executive Director of Scenic Ohio.
Ric spends his time enjoying his fur kids, restoring four 1800's houses, staying at his cabin at High Rock in the Hocking Hills, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, bicycling, naturalizing, and playing music professionally. Ric lives on 6 acres near Big Darby Creek, where he restored a vernal pool complex on the back 3 acres.