H 2Ozarks was initially incorporated as the Upper White River Basin Foundation in 2001. This organization was created by a committed group of individuals who supported regional development, but also understood that this development could put pressure on our environmental and water resources in the Ozarks. These founding members include: John L. Morris, Peter Herschend, Leon Combs, Joe White, John Moore, Martin MacDonald, the late John Lewis and others who sought to preserve the quality of our lakes, streams, and rivers in the Upper White River Watershed.
H 2Ozarks is governed by the Board of Directors. The current members are shown below.
Rob Johns
Chairman of the Board
Rob Johns is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones. He graduated from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma with a degree in Business Administration in 1995, and is a graduate of the South West Graduate School of Banking in Dallas, Texas.
Rob and his wife, Perilyn, have two sons: Christian and Luke. He is an active member of the Taney County Regional Sewer District, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and also the Ozarks Technical Community College’s Advisory Board. In addition, he is an assistant scout master for Boy Scout Troop 226. He has lived in Branson since 1995 and enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking and gardening.
Pat Cox
Vice Chairman
Patrick Cox is Co-owner and President of Starboard Corporation of Branson, MO. He manages a growing multi-faceted marine company with three marinas on Table Rock Lake. He is also Partner/Co-owner of Alterface S.A., an interactive technology company based in Brussels, Belgium, specializing in large-scale media-based attractions. Born and raised in Columbia, MO, Patrick graduated from the University of Missouri, School of Journalism in 1991. He then earned an MBA at the University of Kansas, School of Business in 1993. He has been a resident of Branson, MO for 22 years with wife, Holly. They have three sons, Patrick, Andrew, and James.
Area Involvement:
Martin MacDonald
Secretary, Founding Member
Martin is the Director of Corporate Public Relations, Conservation, and Youth Development for Bass Pro Shops. He coordinates Bass Pro Shops’ conservation and outdoor skill programs, youth conservation education, corporate giving, government and legislative affairs, community relations and public relations.
MacDonald serves on the board of the James River Basin Partnership and is a board member of Wonders of Wildlife National Fish & Wildlife Museum. He works with the National Association of Fish and Wildlife on The Conservation and Reinvestment Act (C.A.R.A.) and is active with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, participating in the Team ‘N Training program and serving as a S.W. Missouri advisory board member.
Lane Crider P.E.
Treasurer
Crider is a registered Professional Engineer in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee with a B. S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas. From 1989 to 2018, he worked for McGoodwin, Williams and Yates, Inc., and MWY, a division of Olsson Associates. In 2019, Crider succeeded Alan Fortenberry as CEO of Beaver Water District following Fortenberry’s retirement.
He began his career with McGoodwin while still a student at the University of Arkansas in the role of intern. His nearly 30 years of experience with MWY includes water and wastewater treatment plant design; water transmission, distribution, and storage; wastewater collection and transmission; sludge application and industrial pre-treatment; street, paving, and storm sewer design; sanitary sewer rehabilitation; municipal utility relocation and reconstruction; and many other areas of design and construction for private and municipal projects.
Peter Herschend
Trustee, Founding Member
Peter Herschend is a co-owner and co-founder of Herschend Family Entertainment Inc., which hosts millions of guests yearly at travel attractions in Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Massachusetts, and Washington.
Herschend is a member of the Missouri State Board of Education, a member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, a committee member of the Travel Industry Association of America, a trustee for Gordon College, and a top fundraiser for the MS-150.
He was a founding member and served as the Chairman of the Board through 2019.
Kevin J. Igli
Trustee
Kevin J. Igli is the Senior Vice President and Chief Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Officer for Tyson Foods, Inc. He leads a team of more than 180 EHS professionals. In sum, Igli oversees the company’s sustainability initiatives and EHS compliance and risk management processes to assess, prioritize and effectively manage all aspects of the company’s EHS stewardship efforts. He coordinates activities with all business operating units as well as with food safety and quality assurance, engineering, legal, and other professionals throughout the company.
Igli has served in the past as the Vice President for Environmental Affairs for Willamette Industries, Inc., a leading forest and paper company based in Portland, Oregon. In addition, Igli was Director of Environment, Health and Safety for Packaging Corporation of America and served as Vice President of Environment, Health and Safety for Chemical Waste Management, Inc. He is a graduate of Malone University in Canton, Ohio, with a BA degree in Biological Sciences.
Tim Maupin
Trustee
Tim Maupin is Vice President of Agriculture Operations, Cargill Value Added Meats – Retail. The CVAM-Retail business unit is comprised of vertically integrated turkey production, primary and further processing, multi-species cooked production and distribution of a complete offering of value-added meat products in nine plant locations.
Prior to his current role, Maupin was Director of Environmental Affairs for Rocco and Cargill Turkey Products in Springdale, AR. Tim joined the CVAM-Retail team as part of the Rocco acquisition in 2001 and has numerous years of production experience with both chicken and turkeys.
Maupin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from West Virginia University in 1984, and later went on to earn an MBA from California State University-Dominguez Hills in 2002.
Maupin has been married to his wife, Mary Anne, for 29 years. Mary Ann in an English teacher and tennis coach at Andover Central High School in Andover, Kansas. Tim and Mary Ann have three children, Ryan, Erin, and Sarah. Tim’s hobbies include golf, history, college football, real estate, and farming.
Eric Alms
Trustee
Eric Alms is Director of Purchasing for Kanakuk Kamps. Kanakuk hosts thousands of kids each summer at their six campuses located near Table Rock Lake in Lampe, MO as well as Lake Taneycomo in Branson. Alms is a lifelong resident of southwest Missouri and graduated from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management. He has been married to his wife, Stacy, for 17 years and they have three wonderful children, Kye, Kloey, and Kaylor. Alms is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting, fishing, and boating in his free time.
John Twitty
Trustee
John Twitty is CEO of Missouri Public Utilities Alliance. He began his utility career in 1983 at Rolla Municipal Utilities and after serving as General Manager moved to City Utilities of Springfield in 1991. He retired as General Manager and CEO of City Utilities in 2011. He served as Chair of the Board of the American Public Power Association and of The Energy Authority. Twitty is also the former Executive Director of the TAPS He is a 1975 graduate of the University of Missouri and received a Professional Degree from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 2006.
John Twitty is President and CEO of the Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA). MPUA provides services to hometown utilities in Missouri. He assumed that role in 2020.
He served as Executive Director of the Transmission Access Policy Study Group (TAPS) from 2011 to 2020. He began his utility career in 1983 at Rolla (MO) Municipal Utilities and served as General Manager. He moved to City Utilities of Springfield (MO) in 1991 and retired as General Manager and CEO in 2011.
Twitty served as Chair of the Board of the American Public Power Association and of The Energy Authority. He served on the Member Representatives Committee of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and is a past Chair. He is a 1975 graduate of the University of Missouri and received a Professional Degree from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 2006.
Tim O’Reilly
Trustee
Tim O’Reilly, the Chief Executive Officer of O’Reilly Hospitality Management, LLC (OHM), has practiced law in Springfield, Missouri since 1995. O’Reilly additionally continues in his capacity as partner in the Law Firm of O’Reilly, Jensen & Preston, LLC, which he helped form in 1999.
O’Reilly is also a hotel and restaurant executive and owner who has been charged with complete oversight and control of OHM properties under the Hilton, Marriott, Choice, IHG, and Wyndham flags, the Yellowstone Valley Lodge in Livingston, Montana, Houlihan’s Restaurants in Springfield and Columbia, Missouri along with several exciting new-build projects such as LEED certified Cambria Suites in Plano, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona, and a LEED certified TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Springfield, Missouri. O’Reilly and the OHM team have won multiple awards in the industry, and they strive for excellence in guest service in all properties under their management.
O’Reilly graduated from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri in 1990 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, and also graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1994. His most important time is spent with his wife Brooke and four wonderful children Alec, Charlie, Liam and Grace.
