Showcasing successful collaboration at the Winter General Assembly 

The 2025 Winter General Assembly included a full slate of caucus sessions, leadership elections, networking, and a dynamic keynote conversation that highlighted programs that can support the redevelopment of properties from a small former gas station to a large traditional brownfield site. 

 

During the keynote, speakers encouraged community leaders to reimagine what they think a brownfield is – even a small dormant site that may have unknown environmental hurdles could be eligible for financial programs and technical assistance from state and federal programs from organizations like the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

 

While some may see Ohio EPA as a regulator, “we’re not all bad,” joked Melisa Witherspoon, chief of environmental remediation and response. In fact, the agency can help clear roadblocks and open avenues for funding through partnership. Witherspoon encouraged attendees with ideas or questions to engage the organization early and often to help find creative solutions for barriers to redevelopment. 

 

One significant tool is Ohio EPA’s Voluntary Action Program, which allows for a narrowed scope that focuses not on full environmental remediation, but only the aspects that are necessary for the proposed future use of the land. This, along with funding programs for site assessment, can reduce risk for public and private developers. 

 

Witherspoon and Sally Gladwell, senior vice president/principal for The Mannik & Smith Group Inc., outlined programs and strategies that were essential for the success of six major efforts in partnership with the City of Toledo, including UpTown Green, Overland Industrial Park, Cleveland-Cliffs, Glass City Metropark and Riverwalk, the Schneider Soccer Complex, and the Toledo Zoo’s conversion of the former Jennison Wright facility into a new main parking lot. 

 

Click here to view an interactive map with photos from six the projects. Click to open each item, then expand the first photo to access a looping gallery. 

 

Each of these efforts required creativity and the combination of multiple programs and partnerships, not to mention persistence. Attendees at the Winter General Assembly received a resource guide with examples of state and federal programs that can assist with redevelopment. 

 

Earlier in the day, caucus members and guests participated in 90-minute sessions to discuss shared challenges, strategies, and regional issues. Notes from the six caucus sessions and the Nongovernmental/Community Roundtable are now available on TMACOG’s website, along with all the resources, handouts, and information from the day’s events. 

 

Click here to access the full package. Bookmark and revisit this page to see everything we share at future TMACOG events! 

 

Representatives of TMACOG member organizations voted to elect Northwood Mayor Ed Schimmel as chair for 2025. Toledo City Councilman George Sarantou and Lucas County Commissioner Lisa Sobecki will serve as first vice chair and second vice chair, respectively. 

 

For a full gallery of photos from the event, click here. 

 

We want to share another word of thanks for supporters of the 2025 Winter General Assembly, including: 

• Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.
• Colliers Engineering & Design
• Destination Toledo
• DGL Consulting Engineers
• FirstEnergy
• Fishbeck
• Huntington Bank
• OHM Advisors
• Path Master
• Rudolph Libbe Group
• The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc. 

TMACOG policy agendas outline regional priorities 

Two new policy agendas now available on TMACOG’s website outline the region’s priorities for action on transportation and water quality issues over the next two years.  

 

These documents were developed in partnership with members, technical experts, and stakeholders and represent a consensus of the funding and legislative actions that will advance our regional transportation network and protect our waterways. 

 

The Agenda for Lake Erie outlines how to best protect interconnected systems like rivers, drainage, and utilities that impact the health of our Great Lake recognizing its critical role in our economy and as a source of drinking water. The agenda has a specific focus on addressing the impact of harmful algal blooms caused by phosphorus, and how regulators should improve the implementation of a total maximum daily load (TMDL) plan to reduce nutrient pollution in the Maumee River watershed. 

 

The Transportation Legislative Agenda includes recommended policies and funding to improve each mode of transportation that makes up our regional network, including road and railways, walking and biking infrastructure, air and seaports, and freight transportation. It emphasizes continuing and expanding crucial funding programs that would support a broad range of important infrastructure projects. 

Melissa Hopfer is TMACOG’s new water quality program manager 

Melissa Hopfer wants to use her experience and passion for environmental sustainability to rally the region around protecting Lake Erie. 

 

That perspective makes her a great fit as a program manager in TMACOG’s Water Quality Department. 

 

After growing up in the Cleveland suburb of Twinsburg, Melissa earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy and analysis and a master’s in public administration, both from Bowling Green State University. 

 

Her career began as a sustainability conservationist at the Lucas Soil & Water Conservation District. Following the Toledo water emergency in 2014, she joined the Lucas County Commissioners Office to focus on water quality and addressing harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie. Her next position at BGSU’s Center for Regional Development led her to develop skills in community and economic development and public health. 

 

Melissa is no stranger to TMACOG, having served as a member of the Water Quality Council for eight years, including roles as chair and vice chair. 

 

She is an avid birder who enjoys visiting Magee Marsh during migration season. Her dedication to conservation is driven by her love for nature and the importance of a healthy environment for community wellbeing. 

 

One of her goals is to continue to expand collaboration on harmful algal blooms and water quality issues by bringing together partners across the entire Western Lake Erie Basin. 

 

“There are a lot of organizations and communities doing great work throughout the basin, and bringing everyone together around these issues would allow us to share information, pool resources, and have a unified voice,” she said. 

Amira Nur joins TMACOG as transportation planner 

Amira Nur turned her interest in problem solving into a passion for planning. 

 

This new transportation planner at TMACOG said she was initially drawn to architecture before discovering that urban planning is key to creatively shaping communities.

 

“I knew I wanted to join a field where I can practice creative problem solving, make a meaningful impact, and address complex challenges, which is why I appreciate the interdisciplinary nature of urban planning,” she said. 

 

Amira earned a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from Miami University of Ohio and completed an internship with the City of Hamilton, where she gained experience contributing to planning projects. 

 

She recognizes the essential role transportation plays in providing access to jobs, education, and healthcare, and she is passionate about creating transportation systems that are efficient, sustainable, and accessible for everyone. At TMACOG, Amira is involved in the Locally Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan in collaboration with TARTA. 

 

Outside of work, Amira enjoys traveling, reading, practicing photography, and journaling. 

Transportation Summit coming down the pike! 

Mark your calendar for our next big event on Thursday, April 24, when TMACOG’s Transportation Summit will showcase infrastructure innovations and trends. 

 

Industry experts will share information about new technology and materials that aim to make projects more efficient and less costly, including local projects where they have been implemented. 

 

A panel of engineers and planners will review and discuss planned construction projects slated across the region. 

 

Registration will open in March at www.tmacog.org/events  

 

Click here for our full listing of 2025 events. 

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