Board of Directors

Mary Ellen Stasek, Chair mestasek@bigcreekconnects.org
Garrett Ormiston, Vice-Chair
Roger J. Kalbrunner, Esq., Secretary
David McBean, RLA, Treasurer
Greg Cznadel
Ann M. Kuula
Jeffrey Lennartz
Dale Smith
Stacey Staub, Esq.

Staff

Bob Gardin, Executive Director
bgardin@bigcreekconnects.org
Phone:
216.264.9780 office
216.269.6472 cell

Advisory Committee

Gayle Albers
Conservation Stewardship Specialist · Cleveland Metroparks

Sean Brennan
Ohio House of Representatives · District 14

Donna Friedman
Manager of Community Watershed Coordination · Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

Jane Goodman
Director, Cuyahoga River Restoration / Area of Concern (Ret.)

Jennifer Heard
Chief Civil Engineer · Cleveland Division of Water Pollution Control

James McCall
Chair, Parma Heights Planning Commission

Melissa Miller
Assistant Director and Community Development Director · Jefferson-Puritas West Park CDC

Kathleen Pucci
Brooklyn City Council

Rory Robinson
Outdoor Recreation Planner, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance · National Park Service (Ret.)

Jim Rokakis
Senior Advisor · Ohio Land Bank Association

Janine Rybka,
District Administrator · Cuyahoga Soil and Water
Conservation District (Ret.)

Derek Schafer,
Executive Director · West Creek Conservancy

Jeffrey T. Verespej
Chief of Staff & Operations · Cleveland Neighborhood Progress

Contact / Location

Phone:
216.264.9780 office
216.269.6472 cell

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 609272
Cleveland, Ohio 44109

Office:
4352 Pearl Road, Suite C
(2nd floor, entrance on Brooklyn Ave.)
Cleveland, Ohio 44109

Organization

Friends of Big Creek dba Big Creek Connects Bylaws
Conflict of Interest Policy

EIN: 61-1606049

IRS Tax-Exempt Determination

IRS Filing Tax Year 2022 - Form 990EZ
IRS Filing Tax Year 2021 - Form 990EZ
IRS Filing Tax Year 2020 - Form 990EZ
IRS Filing Tax Year 2019 - Form 990EZ
IRS Filing Tax Year 2018 - Form 990EZ

For more information, contact us at info@bigcreekconects.org

Big Creek Connects / Friends of Big Creek is a greenway advocacy and watershed stewardship non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

 

In 2004 NOACA and agency partners were conducting a Lower Big Creek Valley Study (www.noaca.org/lbcvs.html). This comprehensive planning effort in the City of Cleveland included environmental, land use, transportation, recreational and economic development elements. The missing component was a focused community support group. Also at this time, the Ohio EPA and the Cuyahoga River Remedial Action Plan (RAP) were supporting the creation of Cuyahoga River tributary watershed groups. By November, 2004 efforts to form a Big Creek group were underway. In March, 2005, local, county and regional citizens, public officials, agency and non-profit representatives met to discuss a strategy for building a sustainable Big Creek support group. In April a community meeting seeking public input towards shaping the group’s mission and vision was held and by May a Steering Committee was formed.

 

GreenCityBlue Lake: I Did It: Created a watershed group for Big Creek

 

 

Programs and operations generously supported by members and:

GM Foundation

Green Ribbon Coalition

 

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