PRESIDENT

Rebeca grew up swimming, camping and boating on the lower Current River in Van Buren and Doniphan.

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Her family roots go back to the 1800’s in Carter County and her grand parents purchased river front property on Current River near Van Buren in 1970, which remains in the family today. Rebeca is an avid paddler and enjoys canoeing year around in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways as well as hiking and camping.

Rebeca is an executive director for a non-profit organization in Poplar Bluff that serves children, youth and families in the region. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Business Administration.

SECRETARY

Through my involvement with the Ozark Riverways Foundation, I hope to be able to preserve the history and the legacy of the families that came before us and settled in this part of the Ozarks, now known as the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

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I hope to share my passion and love for the rivers with visitors seeing them for the first time as well as with people who have ancestral ties to the Ozarks and are interested in their proud heritage.

TREASURER

David received a B.S. in Agriculture and Masters in Vo-Tech Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has taught high school and college level classes in agronomy, horticulture, forestry and mechanics.

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He has operated a commercial equestrian facility and farm for over thirty years as well as been a consultant for wildlife habitat evaluation/improvement and surface mined coal reclamation. Having served as the assessor in one of the fastest growing counties in Missouri taught him valuable skills in GIS mapping and land valuation as well as the critical importance of fair valuation for the tax paying public and public entities such as schools that depend on the revenue. He most recently served as the District Director for a US Senator in a nonpartisan role in listening to constituent issues with a broad range of Federal agencies and striving to ensure that citizen concerns were addressed in an appropriate and efficient manner.

Judy operates Riverside Motel and Cabins, Horseshoe Holler Horse Camp and RV Park, and Stewart’s Landing Western Town in Eminence, Missouri.

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Preserving the history of Shannon County is dear to Judy’s heart. She is passionate about preserving the Ozark mountain culture and way of life. The heritage of the past, the traditions and the structures are a priority for her, especially Mount Zion Church, which still stands on the hill above Akers. Judy is president of the Shannon County Museum Association, secretary of the BEST board for Eminence schools, secretary of the Akers Cemetery Association, and coordinator of the Friends of Mt Zion group at Akers. Under her leadership, the museum partners with the Ozark National Scenic Riverways for annual community reunions at Akers and Round Spring. She hopes to add Cedar Grove reunions in the future. She enjoys spending time at her new home below Round Spring on the Current River, and still enjoys all the river activities she did as a child.

Regina has 32 years in the formal classroom as a science and environmental education teacher. She lives along the Current River on a small homestead in Shannon County, Missouri.

Dave Tobey, retired NPS Interpretive Ranger, School Teacher and Coach.

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In 1982, Dave earned his first Flat Hat serving as an Interpretive Ranger at Alley Spring. Later that same year Dave began a long career in education that lasted until 2008. Upon his retirement from education he dusted off his Flat Hat and once again served at Alley Spring and Round Spring as an Interpretive Ranger for the park from 2008 through 2012. In 2013-2014 Dave worked as an Outreach and Education Ranger at Big Cypress National Preserve before moving to Washington to work for the U.S. Forest Service in the Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest in 2014-2015. Dreams do come true and in January of 2016 Dave returned to the upper Current River to once again wear his Flat Hat and serve visitors and the community as the District Interpretive Supervisor at Round Spring. While serving at Round Spring he focused on river safety, trail issues, environmental education, and increasing community involvement. Dave retired from the NPS in November of 2019. It was Dave’s vision that brought the Ozark Riveryways Foundation to fruition.

Marty Koch is a retired park ranger from St Louis, MO. During his 27 years as a park ranger he led many groups on their first paddling experience on the Current River.

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Marty started his love affair with the Ozark National Scenic Riverways when his father took him on his first canoe trip on the Current River in 1967. He is a dedicated conservationist, experienced paddler, avid angler, and a professional nature photographer. He is a sought after speaker on outdoor topics at sport and outdoor shows across the country.

I'm Mark Nettles, and I'm thrilled to be joining the Ozark Riverways Foundation team.  I grew up in southeast Missouri and, after a lengthy career in the telecommunications industry, I now enjoy the ONSR more than ever before! 

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I'm an ACA certified kayaking instructor with a passion for introducing visitors to the culture and history along the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers. 

Trails are also a big draw in the Riverways and, as a full length Ozark Trail hiker, I know a few spots you'll love.

I also enjoy featuring the Ozark National Scenic Riverways as a contributing photographer and writer for Terrain Magazine.

Come see us!  Adventure awaits!

Diana Blakemore lives overlooking the current river in Van Buren. She is a retired educator, teaching Kindergarten in the Southern Reynolds county school district for the last ten years of her career.

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She takes the opportunity to give back to her community through her participation in Queen Ann Civic Club, Extension Council board and other groups helping with community betterment. She and her husband enjoy live music performances, traveling around the country, hiking, camping and especially the Current River.

Diana is a Master Gardener and spends much of her time in her garden where she passionately supports biodiversity, growing mostly native plants.

Dan Drees is a Winona resident who fell in love with the Riverways as a child while camping and floating near Alley's swimming hole and campground. In Dan's career, he spent 25 years as a park naturalist, regional naturalist and state-wide park scientist for Missouri State Parks.

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He then spent 5 years with the Missouri Department of Conservation working as an Ozark Region natural history and wildlife management biologist. His next 14 years were spent working as a fire ecologist for the Ozark Highlands of Missouri and Arkansas. Having retired in March, he currently is a realtor with United Country Real Estate in Eminence.

Dr. Hugh Gibson, is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Recreation, Sport and Park Administration program at Missouri State University. He has been in recreation for over 30 years and teaching for the past 20 years. He enjoys sharing his passion with others.

Leigh Ann Price has a long history with the Current River from it's headwaters at the Seven Springs of Montauk down to Pulltite.

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Her 3X great grandparents were settlers to the Montauk area. Her early education coupled with her intellectual curiosity springboarded her to a lifelong learning adventure in medicine and surgery. After a career as a trauma/burn surgeon focusing on traumatic facial and hand injuries, she has returned to her Current River roots for retirement in Salem, Mo. Leigh Ann returned frequently during her career to stand in the cold waters of the Current River to stay grounded and "not lose sight of things that were important in life".

Samantha Riley is a Salem native and has deep roots along the Current River.

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Her great grandfather, Ozro Riley, was a prominent farmer of the Cedar Grove area, owning the farm below the mouth of the Big Creek down river of Cedar Grove. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in marketing and communications. Along with running her own marketing and photography businesses, she also works for the Salem News.