Board Members
Linda Hodges
Chairperson
Linda was born in Paulding County and spent her childhood on a farm near Oakwood. She has fond memories of those years.
After graduating from Wittenberg and Bowling Green Universities with degrees in Education, she lived in other areas of Ohio and Illinois.
Upon retiring she returned to Paulding County and lives on the family farm located on the bank of the Auglaize River near Charloe.
She has three children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law and five grandchildren all of whom enjoy spending time visiting and exploring the history and natural beauty of Paulding County.
Anna Gurney
Secretary
Anna lives outside of Payne, OH on a small farm where she and her family have a small herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats, several horses, and chickens. She has 3 children- one in college, one at Vantage, and one at Wayne Trace.
Anna worked 16 years at New Haven Parks and Recreation before beginning a job at Paulding Soil and Water Conservation District at the end of 2019.
She has a degree in Outdoor Recreation from Indiana University and understands the importance of having outdoor recreation areas for the community to use.
Vacant
Vice Chairperson
Anne Reinhart
Board Member
Anne is a resident of Paulding. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Defiance College and became a Realtor in 2015. She previously served on the Park and Recreation Committee for Paulding Village.
She is the mother of four grown children and has a grandson in high school at Paulding. She has always believed children should play outside and regularly took her children and grandson to the parks to play. Being a big kid at heart, she can be found rolling down the hill at the reservoir, hanging from monkey bars, kayaking down the river or simply walking on the trails.
Leslie Klopfenstein
Board Member
Leslie is a tax preparer with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, a background in government and insurance adjusting, and now has a passion for helping people navigate their taxes. She came to the U.S. from Canada in 2013 after marrying her best friend, and has two grown children back home. She has built a life here centered around community, personal growth and giving back.
These days, she finds a sense of connection and purpose in her appreciation for parks. She believes that parks are more than green spaces: they’re community assets where people gather, children play, neighbors meet, and everyone has access to a place of rest and renewal.
Leslie joined the Park Board in 2025.
Every visit to a park brings new things to see and discover! Its proven that time spent outside sparks creativity, reduces stress, increases physical and mental wellness and contributes to the livability of a community.
Visit a park today and see for yourself!