About Us

In January 2006, the Board of Park Commissioners passed a resolution to establish Hamilton County Parks Foundation to operate for the benefit of and to support the purposes of the park district. The five Park Commissioners appointed the first Board of Directors on November 1, 2007. In 2016, the Board and staff completed the first three-year strategic plan. In 2017, a branding effort resulted in renaming the organization Great Parks Forever (GPF). In 2023, Tom Carleton became Executive Director of GPF and Chief of Philanthropy for Great Parks.  

Mission

To inspire generosity that advances Great Parks and enriches lives and communities through nature.

Board of Directors

• Jeff Yund, President – trak group, Executive Recruiter
• Tony Keckeis, Treasurer – Foxhole Equity, Vice President, Finance & Accounting
• TJ Norris, Secretary – Lithko Contracting, Director of Technology Transformation
• Eric Mueller – Montgomery Cyclery and Benchmark Outfitters, President
• Erica O’Brien –Cintas, Deputy General Counsel, Labor, Employment Practices, Environmental
• Bettina (Tina) Ross – James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Foundation, Executive Director (retired)
• Shawn Masterson – First Financial Bank, Market President
• Bobby Slattery – Fifty West Brewing Company, Owner, President
• David Walter – Marathon Health, Vice President of Sales, Midwest Region

Financial Reports