Joe McCue (Augusta County)
Joe grew up on a farm in Verona, VA (now protected with a conservation easement), and graduated from Randolph-Macon College where he majored in mathematics and played football and baseball. His adventures over the next 12 years included the U.S. Marine Corps, graduate school, working on the loading dock at Smith’s Transfer in Verona, and climbing Denali in Alaska. After involvement in multiple businesses, Joe found his niche in the conservation arena. In 2000, he started Conservation Services, a business specializing in planting hardwood trees and creating riparian buffers. In 2012, Joe retired from active tree planting and became involved with the Friends of the Middle River, where he was chairman for six years.
Favorite View: “As you’re leaving Bridgewater heading south on Route 42 in Rockingham County, on the left is a road called Centerville Rd (Rt. 699). Centerville Rd. has a long straight stretch where there’s a beautiful, inspiring view of Shenandoah Mountain and Shenandoah Valley farmland to the west. It’s almost impossible for me not to stop and take in the view, especially if it’s sunrise or sunset.”
Seth Coffman (Shenandoah County)
A lifelong resident of Shenandoah County, Seth was one of the founding directors for the Alliance and served on the board of the Shenandoah Forum prior to the formation of the Alliance. Professionally, Seth has been leading Trout Unlimited’s restoration and brook trout conservation work in the Shenandoah Valley for the past 16 years. He considers himself blessed to be able to live and work in the Shenandoah Valley where he grew up and developed his passion for the outdoors and conservation. He has been active in the Shenandoah County community, contributing to the Shenandoah 2045 Comprehensive Plan and serving on both the Citizen Advisory and the Water Resource Advisory committees. Seth and his wife Liza, an elementary school principal, have two teenage children.
Favorite Season: “My favorite season in the Valley is spring. The seasonal rebirth coming out of winter and warmer (but not humid!) weather is always invigorating. It is one of my favorite times to be outdoors. I love floating the river with friends and family, fishing for brook trout in the mountains and smallmouth bass on the North Fork, and hearing turkeys gobble and ruffed grouse drumming. Plus all the flora showing off makes it the best. Bluebells along the river, and in the mountains, flaming azalea, rhododendron, mountain laurel, pink lady slippers and fire pink to name a few. Baseball season kicking off in the spring is icing on the cake for it being the best season.”
George Ohrstrom II (At-Large)
George founded Opequon Woodworks—a firm specializing in high-end cabinetry— in 1983. In the following decades, George shifted his focus toward conservation, initiated by concerns over a local road project. By 2005, George had fully committed to a career in natural resource protection. He currently holds several leadership roles, including chair of the Clarke County planning commission, contributing to the Clarke County Easement Authority, serving on the board of the Piedmont Environmental Council and the Virginia Working Landscapes steering committee. An avid fly-fisherman, George’s concern for water quality led him to form The Downstream Project to promote natural resource conservation through visual arts and the web and help other small regional non-profits all over the Shenandoah Valley and Chesapeake Bay watersheds with their website needs.
Favorite Season and View: “My favorite season in the Valley is fall because of the incredible colors. I think the Fort Valley area is especially gorgeous during that time of year!”
Dwayne Jones (Augusta County)
Dwayne has been a driving force in Waynesboro for more than 30 years, helping guide the city’s transformation from an industrial town into a vibrant, outdoor-oriented community centered on hospitality and recreation. A graduate of North Carolina State University, Dwayne is director of Waynesboro Parks & Recreation Department where he oversees sports programming, special events, construction projects, park master planning, budget administration, and green-space management. Dwayne has championed countless improvements to Waynesboro’s parks, trails, and public spaces, and his passion for community enhancement extends beyond the department. He also serves as vice president of the Blue Ridge Tunnel Foundation, where he continues to be a passionate advocate for this historic regional treasure.
Favorite View and Local Food: “When friends or family visit from out of town, my favorite way to show off the Valley is to bring visitors to see Humpback Rocks or the Blue Ridge Tunnel. Then, they must try Route 11 Potato Chips – my favorite, hands down!”