
Peter Bucher
Chief of Staff

Kobe Collins
Campaign Communications Manager

Riley Dean
Political Associate

As Chief of Staff with the OEC and OEC Action Fund, Pete oversees local, state, and federal advocacy strategies to secure a healthy air, land, water, and democracy for all who call Ohio home. This entails policy development and then public and decision-maker education to improve or implement laws across the state. Pete is from Central Ohio and he has a B.S. in Environmental Policy from the Ohio State University with a focus on water quality. Prior to joining the OEC Pete served as a Legislative Aide in the Ohio House of Representatives and as a consultant for various agricultural associations, labor coalitions and political campaigns. Pete lives in Worthington, OH and he’s currently serving in his second term on Worthington City Council and on the board of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA).
Kobe was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, staying active with all sorts of outdoor hobbies. Exploring nature became a necessity in life, even leading into college where he attended The Ohio State University to study Strategic Communications and Professional Writing. Following school, his skillset was honed through various positions in the social media, marketing, and communications industry.
Currently, he supports the OEC through creative and concise communications practices. Being a strong supporter of local non-profit leadership, Kobe also serves as a Board Director for At Home By High and does freelance writing and marketing consulting. In his free time, he loves to hike, camp, read, and travel as much as possible.
Riley was born and raised in Waterville, Ohio, and recently graduated from the Ohio State University with degrees in Economics and Public Policy Analysis. During her time at Ohio State, Riley was the political director of OSU’s College Democrat chapter and completed internships with Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Nucor Public Affairs, and Columbus City Councilmember Rob Dorans. She is excited to join the OEC to increase the power of the environment in Ohio politics. Outside of work, Riley enjoys spending time outdoors and exploring different restaurants around Columbus.
A native Ohioan and first-generation American, Spencer Dirrig was born and raised in Delaware County, just north of Columbus. He graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in Economics in 2019. An experienced political organizer, Spencer founded Breakthrough Advising LLC in 2019 and managed numerous campaigns throughout Central Ohio on the local, state, and federal levels. Spencer joined the Ohio Environmental Council in 2021 to help build the political power of the environment in Ohio. Spencer now serves as Managing Director of Democracy Policy for the OEC and Director of the OEC Action Fund.
Spencer serves as the Vice President for the Midwest of the Young Democrats of America, Vice President of the Franklin County Young Democrats, and a Member of the Board of Directors for the Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation. Before moving into management, Spencer served as the President of Workers United Local 2843. Spencer is a USSF Soccer Referee and enjoys hiking with his rescue dog, Saoirse.