Meet Our Team
Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Board of Directors
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Tajinder Singh, PresidentTajinder Singh (TJ) a resident of Sylvania, Ohio has been in Healthcare IT for the past 20+ years. Photographing the wildlife, especially birds, became a hobby to de-stress after long hours at work and he discovered ONWR in 2020. TJ immediately fell in love with the natural beauty, diverse wildlife and outdoor opportunities that the Refuge provides to its inhabitants and visitors. Through his photography and his tenure as a board member of Friends of ONWR, his goal is to promote the Refuge to the communities in areas beyond the immediate vicinity of the Refuge properties. TJ also serves as a Secretary for the Sylvania STEM Center, a non-profit organization that runs an after-school, K-12, robotics program benefiting more than 1500 students per year in the greater Sylvania area.
Jacob Price, Vice PresidentJacob Price owns and operates Sandusky River Valley Power Washing LLC. Jacob joined the Friends of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge to help raise awareness of this great natural area, help grow membership and raise funds to use throughout the refuge. He also volunteers as a board member of the Seneca County Park District and participates in the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist program. Jacob currently lives in Tiffin, Ohio and grew up in the Alvada, Ohio area. He received his MBA from Tiffin University, Bachelor Degree from University of Northwestern Ohio and Associate Degree from Brown Mackie College – Findlay. During his free time, he enjoys boating on the Sandusky River, camping, photography, hiking animal observing and taking scenic drives. He looks forward to serving all the current and future members of the Friends of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.
Pete Schwager, TreasurerPete Schwager is the Senior Vice President and Chief Process and Innovation Officer for First National Bank of Bellevue. Pete brings financial expertise to the boardroom and his goal is to help create a strong financial base to ensure long term viability for Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge for future generations of birders and nature enthusiasts. Outside of work and the Friends, he enjoys traveling, antiquing, and flea markets with wife Jan and three adult kids Michael, Chris, and Emily.
Tara Bostater, SecretaryTara Bostater is the Executive Director of the Wilbur Wright Birthplace Museum in Henry County, Indiana. She has previously been involved with the National Park Service at First Ladies National Historic Site, James A. Garfield National Historic Site and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Tara graduated with a B.A in Anthropology and History from Kent State University and a Master's degree in History, Museum Studies, and Historic Preservation from Cleveland State University. Her passion is studying and preserving history so the next generation can enjoy it. Tara grew up on the refuge, helping her parents from a young age, those experiences formed her love for preservation and conservation. She hopes to continue her parents' passion for and dedication to conservation by being a part of the Friends of Ottawa NWR group. Outside of work, you can find her spending time with family, hiking, and spending time with her animals.
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Ron OvermyerRon Overmyer worked as an Ohio State University Extension Agent for 37 years, retiring in 2004. His focus now is private agricultural business development consulting. Ron has completed several volunteer consulting jobs in east and southern Africa, though he resides in Oak Harbor. Ron plans to bring his expertise in organizational development to the Friends, helping to grow and preserve this unique wildlife refuge in Ottawa County. He enjoys traveling, camping, biking, and the outdoors in his spare time.
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Sara SherickSara has been a frequent visitor of wildlife areas on Lake Erie since childhood. She majored in biology at
Bowling Green State University and taught in a variety of schools in Northwest Ohio. As a science teacher, her emphasis was on the outdoors and conservation. In between teaching and coaching, Sara found time to go on to law school at the University of Toledo. Currently, she is a practicing attorney in Fremont and continues to teach a variety of courses at Terra State. She owns a farm and tends to her chickens, cats, goats, sheep, a horse and a dog. In her spare time, she is a birder, a naturalist, an organic gardener and an avid recycler. She continues to learn about nature and the outdoors and hopes to make use of these skills as a board member. |
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Mike O'TooleMichael (Mike) O’Toole, Ph.D. is a retired Occupational Safety & Health Professional with over 40 years of experience in both the private and academic sectors. Mike and his wife relocated to Marblehead from Florida after his retirement from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is an amateur photographer and hopes to show off the Refuge through pictures of wildlife and the wetlands. He is actively seeking to identify new and recurring grants opportunities to aid in the ongoing mission of FONWR.
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Kendra FoustKendra Foust was born and raised in Northwest Ohio, with the privilege of having Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in walking distance from the backdoor of her childhood home. Kendra relocated to Southeast Ohio, where she received her Associates Degree in Wildlife Management from Hocking College, and then a Bachelor’s Degree in Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Management from The University of Rio Grande. She currently works for the Ottawa County Auditor's Office and is a longtime volunteer at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. Kendra’s goals as a board member of Friends of Ottawa NWR is to increase awareness about the refuge, along with making sure our future generations are able to experience what our natural world has to offer. Kendra and her husband Jonathan enjoy
outdoor activities, gardening, and canning. They reside in Oak Harbor, Ohio with their dog Ava. |
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Carol FingerhutBorn and raised in Northwest Ohio, Carol Fingerhut has long appreciated the unique beauty of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and the surrounding area. She hopes her involvement on the Board of Directors will encourage others to become members and get involved in habitat conservation efforts. A retired Human Resources professional, Carol now takes time to enjoy the outdoors, whether working in her yard, walking in her neighborhood, or traveling . She enjoys watching the birds and other ‘critters’ who visit her property, which has been designated a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Carol lives in Genoa, Ohio, with her Golden Retriever (Echo) and her two cats (Ziggy and Pyewacket).
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Kenda LentzKenda Lentz, PhD, is a business practitioner, strategist, and educator dedicated to helping leadership teams achieve sustainable growth and effective governance. With a PhD in Organizational Leadership and an MA in Organizational Management, she serves as a trusted advisor to executives and boards across the non-profit and for-profit sectors. She brings a deep knowledge of strategic planning to the refuge. Kenda is also a professional photographer with more than 25 years of experience in numerous genres of photography, including wildlife photography. She
combines her technical and creative knowledge of photography with her understanding of wildlife behaviors to teach wildlife photography and photo editing classes through private mentoring and continuing education classes. |
In Loving Memory
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Kathy Booher
September 5, 1961 - October 19, 2018 |
Mike House
November 26, 1952 - May 7, 2024 |
