Field Trip to Origin Park

Melissa is a dynamic and results-driven project manager with extensive experience in environmental remediation, park and resource management, and public sector operations. Currently leading the brownfields initiative at Origin Park, she oversees the strategic prioritization, assessment, and cleanup of contaminated sites—guiding complex environmental projects from vision to implementation with a focus on sustainability and community impact.

Melissa’s career spans more than a decade of managing diverse natural, cultural, and recreational assets across interdisciplinary settings. Her expertise includes environmental due diligence, capital project design, and environmental restoration. She brings a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, develop strategic plans, and manage large-scale projects with precision and accountability.
With a strong foundation in both operational oversight and creative problem-solving, Melissa excels in navigating the challenges of large scare projects. Her leadership is grounded in hands-on experience, a commitment to natural resource conservation, and a passion for creating resilient, accessible public spaces that serve both people and the planet.

Jim Kenney is a graduate of the University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law and a retired General Counsel and Senior Vice President at Farm Credit of Mid-America. In 2016, Mr. Kenney became a founding Director of River Heritage Conservancy, currently serving on the Board of the Filson Historical Society and is a former member of the Town of Clarksville Historic Preservation Commission.

President & CEO as well as an Ogle Foundation Board Member, he has been with the Foundation since 2007 in the role of Executive Director and then named to his current positions beginning in 2012. He holds a BA in Economics from DePauw (1983) and both an MBA (1987) and a separate MA (2006) degree in Computer Resources & Information Management from Webster University.

He has been the President of the Donors Forum of Kentuckiana; Chairman of the Board for Leadership Southern Indiana from 2010-2012; Board Member of the Indiana Philanthropic Alliance (2008-2014); the Kentucky Center for the Arts Foundation (2015-2017) and Governor Appointee to the State of Indiana’s Regional Works Council (2013-2017). He is currently the Board Chairman of River Heritage Conservancy/Origin Park.

Kent has been the recipient of the Indiana University Southeast Chancellor’s Medallion Award in 2018 for lifetime achievements; the National and Indiana Distinguished Leadership Awards from the National/Indiana Leadership Associations in 2014 and 2013 respectively. In 2013, he was named Business Professional of the Year and Rising Star Award in 2004 by One Southern Indiana. Lastly, he was honored to be selected by the general Louisville Metro public in 2010, as one of the 108 influential "Connectors" in the Kentuckiana Region by the Leadership Louisville Connector Project.

Mr. Lanum has lived his entire life in the Southern Indiana area and resides with his wife, Dalene, and their son Reagan William. As a note of interest, Dalene Lanum’s first job after high school was a job working for Mr. Ogle at Silgas too!

Dennis Schnurbusch is a results-oriented CEO with more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in both non-profit and for-profit sectors. Known for driving strategic growth, operational excellence, and sustainable impact, Dennis has led transformative initiatives across diverse industries, including zoological parks, aquariums, and entertainment. Currently, he heads the $250 million Origin Park project, a groundbreaking public-private partnership that revitalizes degraded land along the Ohio River into an iconic urban park, poised to become a regional economic engine and environmental sanctuary.

In his previous role as Senior Vice President and COO at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Dennis propelled the organization to record-breaking attendance and annual earned revenue exceeding $58 million, through innovative marketing and operational strategies. His leadership also introduced new attractions and strengthened guest engagement, alongside climate resilience initiatives.
Earlier in his career, Dennis held key leadership roles at the Toledo Zoo, Gaylord Entertainment's General Jackson Showboat, and Grand Ole Opry Tours. His work consistently delivered measurable results, including managing multimillion-dollar budgets, achieving record attendance, securing public funding, and expanding conservation initiatives.

A graduate of Belmont University in Nashville with a BBA in Management, Dennis combines a deep commitment to community enrichment and environmental stewardship with expertise in revenue innovation, crisis management, and customer-focused operations.

Greg connects Indiana leaders with the World Trade Centers Association and manages relationships among strategic partners. He served as Indiana Attorney General from 2009 - 2017 alongside Governors Mitch Daniels and Mike Pence. During his tenure, Greg dutifully served the people of Indiana, focusing on consumer protection, public health, and public safety initiatives. Greg concurrently served as the liaison for the National Association of Attorney General to the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Previously, Greg worked for ten years in the U.S. Senate and then in the White House with Senator and then Vice President Dan Quayle. He has also spent more than a decade in private practice as an attorney and consultant with national and international companies. In his practice, Greg has led World Trade Center initiatives to import technology for Indiana companies, developed international trade missions and provided legal and strategic counsel. Greg attended both Purdue University and Indiana University, earning his law degree from IU Maurer School of Law in 1982 and has served as adjunct professor of law at the I.U. McKinney School of Law . Greg and his wife, Kerrie, have three children and reside in Indianapolis.