Ohio EPA Director's Office Staff

To contact any of the Director’s Office staff by e-mail, click on their individual e-mail link. To reach the Director’s Office by phone, call (614) 644-2782. Our mailing address is:

Ohio EPA - Director’s Office
P.O. Box 1049
Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049

Scott Nally, Director  - Ohio EPA Director Scott J. Nally was sworn into office by Governor John Kasich on January 10, 2011, and brings more than 20 years of public and private environmental management experience to the position.  Since Ohio EPA was created in 1972, Director Nally is the 12th director at the organization, leading the cabinet-level agency that is responsible for implementing federal and state regulations to protect human health and the environment while ensuring the environmentally sound operations of business and government activities imperative to economic growth. (email)

Laura Factor, Assistant Director - Laura Factor was reappointed as assistant director by Director Nally in January 2011. Factor assists the director in overseeing key program activities and establishing Agency priorities to protect Ohio's air, land and water resources. Factor also oversees the Agency's legislative efforts and policy anrule development. (email)

Brian Cook, Chief Legal Counsel - Brian Cook was appointed Chief Legal Counsel in January 2011.  He manages Ohio EPA’s legal office and supervises Ohio EPA’s enforcement program.  He is Ohio EPA's designee on the Ohio Water Development Authority and Ohio Power Siting Board. (email)

Chris Abbruzzese, Deputy Director of Communications - Chris Abbruzzese was named Deputy Director for Communications in January 2011.  Abbruzzese coordinates communications planning for the Agency and oversees the Public Interest Center, Office of Environmental Education and the Public Records Manager. (email)

Laurie Stevenson, Deputy Director for Business Relations - Laurie Stevenson serves as the Agency's ombudsman in assisting regulated entities with problem-solving related to permitting and regulatory issues. She also serves as as a primary contact for regulated entities to help coordinate permitting activities within the Agency, particularly for complex projects requiring multiple permits. In addition, she serves as an Agency contact to help coordinate compliance assistance-related education and outreach activities. She also acts as the Agency's ombudsman in assisting regulated entities with problem-solving related to permitting and regulatory issues.(email)

Beth Wolf, Agency Safety Program Coordinator – Beth Wolf is responsible for facility safety, including evacuation plans and coordinating workers’ compensation claims to ensure compliance with all applicable Public Employee Risk Reduction Program requirements. She co-chairs the Statewide Health and Safety Labor/Management Committee, which discusses safety issues affecting the Agency. Wolf oversees the Agency’s Occupational Medical Screening Program, which contracts with local clinics to give field staff routine physical exams. She also oversees the Agency’s OSHA Refresher training to ensure compliance with applicable regulations for the field staff. Wolf started with the Agency in 1978 and has been the safety coordinator since 1996. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University. (email)

John Vlasko, Agency Field Safety Program Coordinator – John Vlasko is responsible for coordinating the Agency-wide field safety and health program to ensure compliance with all applicable OSHA and Public Employee Risk Reduction Program requirements. Vlasko is also the Chemical Hygiene Officer for the Division of Environmental Services and the Safety Officer for the Evidence Response Team (ERT). He is located at the Groveport Field Office. (email)

Cheryl Fields, Executive Assistant to the Director - As the director's executive assistant, Cheryl Fields is responsible for assisting the director in a wide variety of areas including scheduling, correspondence and phone inquiries. She also acts as a liaison to the public, regulated facilities, other government agencies, the Governor's Office and Ohio EPA staff in an effort to address environmental and administrative concerns.  Cheryl is also the contact and responsible for updates to the Agency's Quality Management Plan.  (email)

Tracy Freeman and Penny Seipel, Legislative Liaisons - Ms. Freeman and Ms. Seipel serve as liaisons to the legislature and the Governor's office on environmental issues. They represent the Agency before the Legislature and respond to questions and concerns from legislators.(email Tracy)(email Penny)

Mandi Payton, Rules Coordinator - Provides oversight of Agency rule review and processing. Acts as the primary Agency contact with the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.  Mandi also provides information about environmental compliance for use by other state agencies in grant/loan/tax credit programs.(email)

Rich Bouder, Public Records Manager - Mr. Bouder serves as the primary Central Office contact for public records requests. He also analyzes and evaluates records management programs, procedures and policies throughout the Agency and ensures Agency compliance with State and Federal public records requirements.(email)