Captina Conservancy Welcomes New Executive Director
Turner Provost began his role as executive director of Captina Conservancy on Jan. 2.
Organizations such as Captina Conservancy play an important role in protecting water quality and preserving natural areas for future generations.
Provost, a 2013 graduate of St. Clairsville High School, earned his degree in exercise physiology and applied management from Ohio University in 2018.
After graduating, Provost worked a series of jobs, including coaching golf in Florida and doing concrete rebar work for oil and gas companies. He soon wanted to pursue a different career path.
“It wasn’t very fun,” Provost said. “It wasn’t really who I was.”
Provost returned to school through an online program from Oregon State University, earning a degree in fisheries and wildlife biology in 2022.
He then worked as a fishery technician for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources at Salt Fork Lake and other lakes throughout a tri-county area.
For nearly three years before being selected as executive director of Captina Conservancy, Provost worked for Belmont Soil and Water Conservation District as a Captina Creek watershed coordinator.
Provost replaces Ellie Ewing, who accepted a full-time position with The Ohio State University.
As executive director, Provost said his primary focus is enrolling properties in conservation easements, which restrict future development and protect land long-term.
His responsibilities also include organizing fundraising events and working directly with landowners.
“Owners aren’t required to have a forestry management plan, so they just go in and do an irresponsible timber harvest,” he said. “We’re trying to keep eastern Ohio beautiful.”
Provost is looking forward to protecting the natural areas that eastern Ohio residents love and to expanding the mission of Captina Conservancy.
“They quit making land a long time ago,” he said. “So it’s time to protect what we have.”
Contact Provost at 740-238-3415 or turner@captina.org.
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