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Meet our new Board Members

These five board members began serving on the Board in the spring of 2025.

Let's welcome our new group of leaders!

Visit the Main Board Page to view the full list. Board of Directors



Danielle Fricke

Danielle Fricke

Danielle rode the OTET solo for the first time in 2024 and frequently rides on the nearby Olentangy Trail. She found bikepacking after trying thru-hiking with her brother and learning she didn’t like carrying her gear on her back, but enjoyed going places and camping. 


After moving back to Ohio in 2019, Danielle joined the Junior League of Columbus (2020-2025) where she focused her efforts on DEI initiatives, membership growth, marketing, and process creation. She served as a Vice President on the JLC Board from 2024 to 2025. 


Danielle works at Klarna where she is a Project Manager focused on consumer communications. Outside of work she enjoys cooking new recipes, traveling, her vegetable garden, and camping. She lives in Clintonville with her husband, two dogs, and cat.


Matt Kretchmar

Matt lives near the Ohio to Erie Trail and cycles on it regularly as a highly active cyclist and former runner.  He uses the local trail system almost daily and is involved in active transportation planning.  He has enjoyed using the OTET for many years and is happy to be in a position where he can help improve and advocate for this valuable resource in our state. He works as a Computer Science Professor at Denison University.

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Matt Kretchmar


Jerry Rampelt

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Jerry Rampelt

Jerry taught school for ten years followed by 20 years with the Ohio Education Association. In 1998, he established a performance improvement consulting practice and created a 501(c)(4) called Support Ohio Schools.  He consulted with over 300 school district levy campaigns and authored a book about school levy campaigns.  He served as Executive Director of the Ohio to Erie Trail Fund from 2004-2014 and served on the board 2014-2022.  He is an active volunteer with Columbus Outdoor Pursuits serving as a Board member (2016-2025) and Board President (2018-2024) and the Ohio Crime Victims Justice Center (2016-2025). Board President (2018-2023). Jerry was inducted into the State of Ohio Senior Citizen Hall of Fame in 2022.


Maureen Tobin

Maureen and her husband spend quite a bit of time on the Kokosing Gap Trail which is the section of OTET in Knox County and have ridden the full Ohio to Erie trail in both directions.   She is looking forward to encouraging the use of the trail and connecting communities to this wonderful resource.   She works for Kenyon College as Senior Associate Director of the Career Development Office.

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Maureen Tobin


Gary Yelenosky



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Gary Yelenosky

Gary is an avid user of the Ohio to Erie Trail.  As a licensed Professional Engineer and Township Administrator, he offers over a decade of leadership in public service, infrastructure, and community development.  The Ohio to Erie Trail—especially the towpath through the national park—has deeply influenced his life and fuels his passion for regional trail connectivity, sustainability, and public spaces that enhance quality of life and foster strong community relationships.


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