The Buckeye Hills Regional Council Executive Search Committee has named Chasity Schmelzenbach as Executive Director, effective August 1, 2022.
Schmelzenbach has been the Director of the Noble County Emergency Management Agency and the office of Homeland Security (EMA&HS) since October 1999. During her tenure, her responsibilities also included operating the centralized 9-1-1 dispatch center, administering the flood damage prevention program, and many special projects for the Board of County Commissioners. These included 9-1-1 implementation, the purchase and demolition of flood-prone structures, infrastructure improvements including water line and broadband expansions, community development projects such as the acquisition of the Ball-Caldwell Homestead historical property, and the construction of two large playgrounds.
Schmelzenbach is a graduate of Ohio University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Technical and Applied Studies and also holds a Master’s in Business Administration. She attended the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where she completed the National Emergency Management Executive Academy and Advanced Academy. She is a Certified Emergency Manager as designated by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) and the Emergency Management Association of Ohio (EMAO). She has held many leadership positions in both organizations, including EMAO President from 2012-2013, the Ohio State Liaison to IAEM Region V for 2020-2022, and Vice-Chair of the IAEM Mitigation, Climate Adaptation and Resilience Caucus. In addition, she has served as an Assessor and an Assessment Team Lead for the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) since 2016 and contributes further to the profession by mentoring, instructing, and assisting on localized deployments. Schmelzenbach is also involved with a variety of local organizations.
“Chasity brings a high level of professionalism, community leadership, and expertise to this important role,” said BHRC Executive Committee and Search Committee President Ron Moore. “We believe her skillset, experience, and track record of leadership in our region will help Buckeye Hills Regional Council continue to serve our communities well and fulfill our mission to improve the quality of life in Southeast Ohio.”
“I am looking forward to working with the great team at Buckeye Hills Regional Council to continue the success of improving the lives of citizens in the eight counties and building strong partnerships within our communities across the region,” said Schmelzenbach. “I hope to use my skills to lead the organization and encourage our communities to have vision and build a brighter tomorrow during this unprecedented time in our region’s history.”
Buckeye Hills Regional Council is a council of governments dedicated to improving the lives of residents in Southeast Ohio. By working collaboratively with elected officials across Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, and Washington counties, Buckeye Hills connects local, state, and federal resources to communities with their Aging & Disability, Community Development, Planning, Population Health, and Transportation divisions. To learn more about Buckeye Hills Regional Council, visit www.buckeyehills.org, call 740-374-9436 or 1-800-331-2644 (toll-free), or email info@buckeyehills.org.