Audubon Ohio Staff

Jerry Tinianow, Executive Director

Jerry has served as the Executive Director of Audubon Ohio since 2003. As the Executive Director he is responsible for the state office along with all Audubon programs in Ohio. Jerry has been an active conservationist for years beginning his involvement with the Sierra Club while in law school. He was selected as one of 100 national "Environmental Heroes" by the Sierra Club in connection with its Centennial Celebration. A graduate from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Jerry obtained a degree in International Affairs and continued his education at GWU to receive a law degree. Jerry is a sincere environmentalist and a great resource to have on the Audubon Ohio staff. Jerry is married to Sharon Tinianow and a proud father of two sons.

Ellen Armstrong, Office Manager

Ellen, an Audubon Ohio employee since 2003, serves as the Office Manager. Ellen is a graduate of The Ohio State University and has her degree in Classical Humanities. She is now working towards a Masters in Library Science.

Bridget McDaniel, Grassroots Coordinator

Marnie Urso, Grassroots Coordinator

Marnie joined Audubon Ohio in 2005 as its first Grassroots Coordinator. She works from her home in a Cleveland suburb to recruit, train and guide volunteers who support Audubon Ohio’s advocacy work on a variety of conservation issues. Marnie is an experienced organizer, having served for five years as the Ohio State Director of the National League of Conservation Voters. While with LCV she operated the Sustainable Ohio Action Partnership, an electronic advocacy network that generated thousands of messages to public officials in support of numerous conservation policy initiatives. When she is not marshalling the forces of good for conservation, Marnie enjoys hiking and camping with her husband, David Kriska, and her two daughters.

Heather Starck, Grange Insurance Audubon Center Director

Heather, a member of the Audubon Ohio staff since 2004, has a variety of duties in the Audubon Ohio office. Officially titled the Grange Insurance Audubon Center Director, she heads all programs relating to the new center including fundraising, working with the development and design of the center, planning and implementing education programs, building and maintaining community partnerships, and serving as a liaison between Audubon Ohio, Metro Parks and the City of Columbus. Heather loves to travel and has lived all over the world including Australia, Costa Rica and New Zealand. She also enjoys hiking, scuba diving, and spending time with her daughter.

Doreen Whitley, School Programs Coordinator / Educator for the Grange Insurance Audubon Center

As a former program manager and educator for Audubon in Brooklyn, NY and in Miami, FL she has a history of and enjoys working with urban youth. She has also worked with children suffering from severe emotional disturbance as a middle school science teacher in the Bedford Styvesant area of Brooklyn, NY.

After graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL, Doreen’s passion and knowledge of the Florida Everglades led her to the Big Cypress Swamp in Ochopee, FL, where she worked as an interpretive park ranger through the Student Conservation Association. She loves the great outdoors but finds the subtleties and challenges of teaching urban ecology particularly rewarding.