Leadership Spotlight: Central Ohio Chapter Officers Elected for 2025–2027

From seasoned trail stewards to emerging voices, the Central Ohio Chapter’s new leadership team reflects the passion, experience, and commitment that keep the Buckeye Trail strong.

Cindy Somers (Chapter Chair)

At the August Annual Picnic and Elections, Cindy Somers was elected Central Ohio Chapter Chair for a two-year term starting August 2025. She previously served as an At Large Member (2023–2025) and Treasurer (2018). Cindy has been active with the Buckeye Trail Association (BTA) for 20 years, holding membership consecutively for 11 years.

Cindy has hiked the entire Buckeye Trail, completing it in just over three years, finishing in May 2023. She has since hiked an additional 1,200 miles while assisting fellow hikers, with only 250 to go to finish it twice!

Cindy’s contributions extend beyond hiking: she has attended or contributed to the past eight TrailFest events. She was marketing coordinator in 2018, and programming/presentation coordinator in 2024, where she initiated, launched, and presented the very well-received Hiker Recognition program, now an annual feature of the signature BTA event. TrailFest 2024 not only had the largest gathering of Buckeye Trail Completionists (58) but also garnered the highest attendance (over 200) of any TrailFest to date. Cindy has volunteered at additional events including EGGS, Run for the Blue Blazes, the Ohio State Fair (4 years), & other outreach events.

Petra Schmalbrock (Vice-Chair)

Petra Schmalbrock has been a devoted member of the Buckeye Trail Association for more than 40 years and is recognized as a lifetime member. Currently serving her second consecutive term as Vice-Chair (2022–2026), Petra previously held a two-year position as an At Large Leadership Team Member (2020–2022) and served as Co-Chair alongside Joe Carter from 2017 to 2020 following the departure of former Chair Bob Litt.

Throughout her longstanding involvement, Petra has generously contributed hundreds of volunteer hours to the BTA, focusing on trail building, maintenance, and a variety of events, including EGGS, Run for the Blue Blazes, and numerous administrative responsibilities for the Central Ohio Chapter. She played an instrumental role in the success of TrailFest 2024, undertaking key responsibilities such as Hiking Coordinator, Food and Meal Planning, and Vendor Coordination, in addition to ensuring all logistical details were meticulously managed. Petra is also highly active in outreach, representing the BTA at many tabling events, including the Ohio State Fair.

Petra’s unwavering dedication, steadfast support, and tireless commitment to the BTA have earned her well-deserved recognition and accolades from the Awards and Recognition Committee (along with Joe Carter.) A group of people standing in front of a sign

Pat Snyder (Recorder/Treasurer)

Pat Snyder was elected for a new two-year term as Recorder/Treasurer for the COC and has been a dedicated member of the Buckeye Trail Association since 2015. She has plenty of experience, as she previously served in the same role from 2019 to 2022.

Pat has developed a genuine appreciation for the trail through her active participation in work parties and numerous outreach events. She shares, “Volunteering has given me a true appreciation for what the trail has to offer and the work that is involved to maintain it.” An avid hiker with many miles completed, Pat looks forward to exploring even more of the Buckeye Trail in the future.

Erin Giddens (At Large Leadership Team Member)

Erin Giddens, a self-described “newbie” with just over 200 miles hiked on the Buckeye Trail, has been a member of the Buckeye Trail Association for about two years. She enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for the BT and encouraging others to explore it, saying, “Even with the few miles I’ve hiked of it, there are beautiful sites in our home state that I would’ve never experienced otherwise!” Most recently, Erin volunteered at the Ohio State Fair where she loved sharing these experiences with others. Erin is grateful for the friendships and memories she has made along the way and feels fortunate that the Trail found her.

Joe Carter (At Large Leadership Team Member)

Joe Carter has been a dedicated member of the Buckeye Trail Association for approximately 16 years and has held key leadership positions from 2017 to 2022. Joe had been serving as Vice-Chair, but when the chapter went through a leadership transition following the departure of former Chair, Bob Litt, he and Petra Schmalbrock stepped up as Co-Chairs to guide the chapter. Currently he is serving a term as an At Large Leadership Team Member for the Central Ohio Chapter that runs until August 2026.

Joe’s impact extends far beyond his leadership positions. He contributed significantly to the planning and success of TrailFest 2024 and has been actively involved in many previous TrailFest events, where his passion and commitment have earned him several awards and much appreciation from fellow members. Joe is known for his unwavering enthusiasm for the BTA and its mission.

Outside of meetings and events, Joe also hikes, adopts and maintains a section of trail in the scenic Scioto Trail region. He has always been passionate about trail maintenance and /finds joy in observing the natural beauty by hiking the forests of Southeast Ohio.

To Be Featured in the next Chapter Newsletter’s Leadership Spotlight

Linda Paul (At Large Leadership Team Member)
Victoria Livingston (At Large Leadership Team Member)
Dave Bradford (At Large Leadership Team Member)
Steve Lind (At Large Leadership Team Member)