Buckeye Hills Development Team

Development Director - Melissa Zoller

Development Specialist - Michelle Hyer

Business Development Coordinator - Tina Meunier

Development Specialist - Charmel Wesel

Executive Director - Misty Casto

Misty Casto is the Executive Director of Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District/Area Agency on Aging PSA8. Casto began her career with Buckeye Hills in August of 1990 as a secretary, working part time while attending Marietta High School.

Casto was hired full time by Buckeye Hills in 1994 and was promoted to Development Specialist in 1997. She became Development Director in 2001 and was promoted to Assistant Executive Director in 2004. She was named Co-Executive Director to Boyer Simcox in April 2007. Casto holds an Associate’s Degree in Accounting from Washington State Community Collegeand a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management from Ohio Valley University. She resides in Veto, Ohio, with her three dogs - two chocolate Labrador Retrievers and one Golden Retriever.

Development Director - Melissa Zoller

Melissa Zoller started with Buckeye Hills in 2001 as a Development Specialist. In that role, she has administered downtown revitalization projects, water extensions, Brownfield redevelopment and Clean Ohio programs and Appalachian Regional Commission projects.

She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio Valley University.

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Manager - Bret Allphin

Bret Allphin earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, with a minor in Leadership Studies from MariettaCollege. He began work with Buckeye Hills as a college intern in 2001. He was hired as the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Specialist/Development Specialist in September 2001. In this role, he oversees and operates all functions of the GIS program including map production, data collection, creation and dissemination. He is also responsible for the GPS Asset Management Program. GPS data has been used to complete projects and studies for FEMA, EPA, local Water and Soil Districts, local water companies, and fire departments.

Bret completes all Environmental Review activities for BH-HVRDD projects and administers state and federal grant and loan projects. He maintains the Buckeye Hills Data Centerfor constituents in the region. The Buckeye HillsDataCentercollects, manages and disseminates any economic, demographic, or other statistical data pertaining to the Buckeye Hills district. He issues routine informational updates from the Buckeye Hills Data Center.

While collecting and assembling data from state and federal sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the Ohio Department of Development/ Office of Strategic Research, he also maintains data from local sources. Much of the data collected is used for funding applications, academic research and local decision making. Buckeye Hills also produces several publications which draw on federal, state, and local statistical information.

Development Specialist/ District 18 Liaison - Michelle Hyer

Michelle Hyer has served the Buckeye Hills District as a Development Specialist since 2004. Hyer coordinated the Trickle Up Business Grant program for entrepreneurs and administers a variety of grants programs across the District. She started with Buckeye Hills in September of 1997 as a secretary, working part time while attending Washington State Community College. She was hired full time in 1998. She has also held the positions of Fiscal Assistant and Program Assistant. Hyer holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Management from Washington State Community College. She resides in Parkersburg, West Virginiawith her husband, Jeremy.

Business Development Coordinator - Tina Meunier

Tina Meunier graduated from Marietta High Schooland earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from The University of Phoenix. She also completed coursework in Accounting at Washington State Community Collegeand Computer classes at WVU Parkersburg. Tina was hired in 2005 as the Business Development Coordinator for the Buckeye Hills Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) . In this role, Tina works with entrepreneurs and business owners to facilitate RLF loans. Prior to joining Buckeye Hills, Tina served as the Assistant Planner for Washington Morgan Community Action in Marietta. She was the owner/operator of Tina’s Place Restaurant in Lowell and has nearly 25 years business experience.

Development Specialist - Charmel Wesel

Charmel Wesel, Development Specialist, joined the Buckeye Hills staff in June of 2007. She works with various Community Development Block Grant programs, assists in coordinating the Appalachian Regional Commission projects and completes Environmental Reviews for projects.

While new to the Buckeye Hills family, Charmel brings two years of experience administering the Community Development Block Grant for the City of Marietta. A Mariettanative, she graduated from Warren High Schoolbefore attending Kent State University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Merchandising. Charmel lives in Marietta with her husband Ron, two step-daughters and four cats.