Meet the Staff
Hats off to our Ashland SWCD staff for earning the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation District award for the 2020 Ohio Soil & Water Conservation District of the Year! Learn more about our talented staff below:
Jane Houin
As director, Jane oversees the day-to-day operations of the district and the diverse programs we offer to promote healthy soils and clean water. A native of Holmes County, where she still lives on the family farm, Jane is a graduate of Purdue University (Boiler Up!) where she earned a bachelor's degree with distinction in agricultural communications and focused her master's degree in mass communications on scientific and risk communication. Jane enjoys spending time with her husband Craig and three children: Aubree, Garrett and Tristan and their many activities, including 4-H, FFA, karate, rodeo, and bowling. One of her favorite quotes comes from the Harry Potter book series: “It is our choices ... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." To contact Jane please call 419-281-7645 or email jhouin@ashlandcounty.org.
Joe Christner
Joe doesn’t quite know how to take it easy. After retiring from Holmes SWCD as their water quality technician in 2021, Joe joined our Ashland SWCD team part time as a watershed assistant in January of 2022. Joe manager our Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District cost share programs: livestock exclusion fencing, cover crops and log jam removal projects. Joe lives in Ragersville with his wife Nina and enjoys spending time with his daughters and grandchildren.
To contact Joe please call 419-281-7645 or email jchristner@ashlandcounty.org.
Liz Golias
Originally from Hilliard, OH, Liz joined Ashland SWCD in the summer of 2025 as our Education & Outreach Assistant. Liz has a bachelors degree in Animal Science from The Ohio State University and spent the first 12 years of her career working in pre-clinical research. Along with working for Ashland SWCD, Liz also has her own business, Golias Family Homestead, in which she bakes and sells sourdough bread, and sells pasture raised poultry. Outside of working, Liz enjoys spending time with her two children, traveling, hunting, and spending time in the outdoors.
To contact Liz please call 419-281-7645 or email at lizgolias@ashlandswcd.com .
Holly Hale
Holly joined the Ashland SWCD team as our Natural Resource Specialist in July 2024. She also assists with Education Programs. A graduate of South Central Local Schools, Holly was an active member of FFA and 4-H. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Masters Degree in Instructional Design and Educational Technology and is currently a 3rd Grade teacher at Ontario Local Schools. Holly lives in Greenwich, Ohio and enjoys spending time with family, fishing, reading, going on bike rides and traveling. Her favorite quote is: "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr. Seuss.
To contact Holly please call 419-281-7645 or email hollyswcd@gmail.com.
Kansas Huston
Kansas joined Ashland SWCD this summer (2026) as our natural resource intern! She works directly with Holly Hale. Kansas comes to us from The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute where she majored in Environmental & Natural Resources. While she is still determining her career path, she wants her work to create a meaningful difference. She is deeply passionate about nature and hope to build a career that connects environmental stewardship with public service. Whether through work in a national park setting, community outreach, or writing about the natural world, I hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for our environment and encourage others to care for it, too. Her favorite quote is, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." - Jane Goodall
To contact Kansas email kansashswcd@gmail.com
Tressie Wallace
Tressie joined the Ashland SWCD in August 2026 as our Agricultural Conservation Specialist! She is from Shelby and graduated from Shelby High School, where she was active in their FFA chapter, and later graduated from Casper College with a degree in Agricultural Business. She is still active in 4-H as a Clover-Bud Advisor. Tressie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, baking, hunting, and being outdoors in her free time. One of her favorite quotes is, “Everything happens for a reason”.
To contact Tressie, please call 419-281-7645 or email tressiewallace@ashlandswcd.com.
Avery Frank
Avery joined the Ashland SWCD in August 2026 as our Administrative Assistant! She is from Ashland & Holmes County and a graduate of West Holmes High School, where she focused on art, computers, and writing. She plans to attend North Central State College to become a certified bookkeeper. Avery enjoys drawing, writing, researching, hanging out with friends, sisters, & pets, and helping with computers & graphic design in her free time. She is eager to learn and very excited to branch out into agriculture. One of her favorite quotes is, “Try once more, like you did before; sing a new song, Chiquitita!” - ABBA/Mamma Mia
To contact Avery, please call 419-281-7645 or email averyfrank@ashlandswcd.com.