Staff

Richard M. Cogen

Executive Director

Rich is responsible for the overall direction of ORF, including supervising an amazing group of talented educators.  In addition to working with ORF trustees to strengthen the organization's financial health, program offerings, and fundraising opportunties, he finds time to join the education staff in the field presenting River Explorer to students around the tri-state.  In his spare time Rich also heads up ORF's restoration and advocacy efforts.

A co-founder of Ohio River Foundation, Mr. Cogen was formerly an assistant city solicitor with the City of Cincinnati, specializing in environmental law. Prior to arriving in Cincinnati, Rich worked in NYC in the corporate world handling professional liability cases.  He also served as pro-bono counsel for NYC Audubon Society and Transportation Alternatives.

Mr. Cogen received his J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School and his Masters in Environmental Law (LLM) from Pace University. He has a B.S. in biology from the State University of New York at Albany.

Allison Cone

River Explorer Educator

Allison comes to the Ohio River Foundation with a special interest in Environmental Education.  Allison's previous experiences while traveling to Argentina and Namibia as well as her work in Environmental Education at the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center in Peninsula, Ohio has impacted how she views the world today.  Now back in her native city of Cincinnati, Allison would like to educate others to build a sustainable future.

Allison received her BA in International Studies at the University of Dayton and holds an Environmental Education certification from the Environmental Education Council of Ohio.  In her spare time she enjoys hiking, traveling, and trying new foods.

Gabe Haidle

River Explorer Educator

Ashley Hurt

River Explorer Educator

Julie Haidle Rizzo

Senior Educator

Since joining ORF in 2007 as a River Explorer educator, Julie has become the Lead Educator for the River Explorer education team.  Her devotion to teaching children about the environment is infectious and an inspiration to the whole team.  Julie lives in Cincinnati with husband and two boys.

Sara Luse

River Explorer Educator

Sara joined ORF in 2009 while still attending Northern Kentucky University.  Since graduating from NKU with a Bachelor of Science, Degree in Biology, Sara has been a wonderful addition to the River Explorer education team..  She is a native of Fort Thomas, KY, and is focused on obtaining a PhD in Marine Biology.

Beth Martinson

Administrative Assistant and Bookkeeper

Jana Marshall

River Explorer Educator

Jana joined ORF in 2011 with a degree in Environmental Science from Eastern Kentucky University. During her college career, she took a special interest in Freshwater Biology where weekends were spent wading waist-deep in Kentucky's rivers collecting freshwater invertebrates and mussels. Her last semester was spent snorkeling and diving on a research boat in Ambergris Caye Belize with her Marine Biology class.

After college, Jana worked as a Naturalist for the Cincinnati Park Board and then decided to fly south to St. Simons Island, GA where she taught Marine Science, and Ecology to students ranging in age from grade school to high school. Jana has always had a love for animals, outdoors, and the natural world and believes others should be educated about our important and valuable resources, and take action in conserving our beautiful planet!


Bernie Moller

Senior Educator

Bernie started with ORF in 2008 and is one of our more seasoned educators.  In addition to working as part of the River Explorer Team, he also was the Crew Leader for ORF's first Youth Conservation Team program in 2011.  He is an avid canoist, often leading EcoPods as a part of ORF's Great Ohio River Paddle, as well as paddling streams, rivers, and creeks in the Ohio River Watershed -- and around the country!  He has a Masters in Limnology and a Bachelors of Science from the University of Cincinnati.. 

Laura Taphorn

River Explorer Educator

Program Volunteers

Kiran Sigh

University of Cincinnati, DAAP

Graphic Design Consultant

Mike Miller

Professor of Aquatic Biology, University of Cincinnati

River Explorer Docent

Miriam Kannan

Professor of Aquatic Microbiology, Northern Kentucky University

River Explorer Docent

Melinda Chamberlain

Master Gardener

Rain Garden Consultant