COLUMBUS, OH - Jim O’Brien, manager of Mohican State Park in Ashland County, has been named Northern Regional Administrator for Ohio State Parks, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
O’Brien assumed his new duties on May 29 and will continue to serve as the manager for the Mohican/Malabar/Findley state park region while assisting with operations for the Ohio State Parks in the northern half of the state.
“Jim possesses a wealth of overall park management knowledge and experience that is extremely valuable to the success of our state park system,” said Ohio State Parks Chief Dan West. I know he will be very instrumental in furthering the development of our park system in northern Ohio.”
O’Brien joined Ohio State Parks in 1977 as a ranger at Punderson State Park in Geauga County and within a year became assistant manager of Findley State Park in Lorain County. In 1982, he was named assistant district park coordinator for 13 parks in central Ohio. He later accepted the manager’s position at Mohican State Park, which eventually led to the job of manager for the Mohican/Malabar/Findley region.
He is active in the local community, working with area businesses and organization to promote tourism in the Mohican area.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement administration from Youngstown State University and a master’s degree in parks and recreation administration from Eastern Kentucky University.