Board of Supervisors
Laura Boyd
Laura Boyd was elected in 2020 and is currently serving out her first term with the District. She has been a resident of Hamilton County for 15 years and has over ten years of experience working on environmental compliance issues for the public and private sectors. Her professional experience provides her with an in-depth knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental rules and regulations. Laura was selected for the 2022 cohort of the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI), a national program championed by the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) and is committed to using her leadership skills to further the mission of the district.
She is actively involved with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful and regularly participates in community-wide cleanups and outreach programs. Laura is passionate about the environment, conservation, and her community.
Laura serves as the Environmental Manager for the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSDGC). She earned a Master of Science in Business Analytics and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. Laura is also a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC).
She is actively involved with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful and regularly participates in community-wide cleanups and outreach programs. Laura is passionate about the environment, conservation, and her community.
Laura serves as the Environmental Manager for the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSDGC). She earned a Master of Science in Business Analytics and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. Laura is also a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC).
Ken Petren
Ken is a lifelong ecologist and conservation scientist who believes that society will benefit from scientists who take the time to fully understand community issues and challenges. Ken has been a professor at the University of Cincinnati since 2000 and served as Dean of Arts and Sciences from 2015 to 2019. He was recently appointed Director of the UC Field Center, which emphasizes public engagement with environmental research, education, and outreach. Ken received his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of California, San Diego, and holds a bachelor's degree from Princeton University. Ken sees his role with the Conservation District as an opportunity to help bring conservation, development, and public perspectives closer together to create a better, more sustainable future for the citizens of Hamilton County.
Jane Wittke
Jane Wittke managed planning projects for water quality, groundwater protection, stormwater impacts and other environmental issues in the greater Cincinnati area for more than 37 years before retiring in 2016 from OKI, the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments. She has frequently collaborated with soil and water conservation districts, health departments, community groups, drinking water and wastewater treatment providers, and with environmental managers and elected officials at the local and state levels. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech and communications from Miami University and Northern Illinois University, which have helped her work with groups ranging in size from 3 to 300 to get things done. The American Society for Public Administration honored Jane with one of its first regional public service awards in 1998 and repeated the honor in 2015, and the National Ground Water Association awarded her a life-time membership in 2012 for her work in ground water protection.
Amanda Nurre
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Amanda is passionate about local conservation efforts and has dedicated her career to the responsible stewardship of our water resources. In her role as Watershed Specialist for Great Parks of Hamilton County, she coordinates research and water quality sampling, manages stormwater regulations, undertakes environmental reviews, and assesses stream habitat. She has experience working on environmental compliance for municipal wastewater systems and with drinking water treatment operations. Amanda attended the University of Cincinnati where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and later went to Indiana University Bloomington where she earned dual master's degrees in water management and public affairs. She is also a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC).
Lauren Wulker
Lauren, a Hamilton County native, is a seasoned educator, farmer, and small business owner with strong community connections. Lauren has been in step with our region’s local food initiatives since 2008 and has been involved with the inception of various gardens from idea to harvest in and around the Ohio River Valley. Lauren completed her Master’s degree in Biology where she focused her research on sustainable agriculture and a role for community engagement and education. Subsequently, Lauren combined her teaching experience and passion for agriculture to help Miami University launch the Institute for Food and Farm and has since taught agriculture-related courses at various local non-profit organizations. Water quality, soil conservation, ecological resilience, and resource management have been at the heart of Lauren’s work both as a farmer and educator. As a high school Biology and Chemistry teacher, Lauren emphasized hands-on, place-based learning that engages students directly with our region’s conservation stakeholders. Through citizen science and by directly connecting learning opportunities with organizations like ORSANCO, The Little Miami Conservancy, La Soupe, Civic Garden Center, and our region’s local food producers, Lauren continues to connect people to place while encouraging the sustainable stewardship of natural resources.