Karl R. Gebhardt, Director of Natural Resources for Hemisphere Advisors, is owner and President of Teater-Gebhardt & Associates, a firm headquartered in Columbus Ohio, specializing in policy and project management relating to natural resources, agriculture and land use. Robert W. Teater founded the firm in 1984. Mr. Gebhardt, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, has worked with issues related to natural resources, agriculture, land use and government relations for 30 years.

Mr. Gebhardt served as the first Executive Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Office of Farmland Preservation, where he established a state farmland protection strategy based on voluntary landowner programs. He was also instrumental in drafting and securing passage of the Ohio Farmland Protection law, providing for the use of agricultural easements. Mr. Gebhardt served as Director of Local Affairs for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, where he was responsible for policy, programs and legislation relating to natural resource, environmental and local government issues. While on staff at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Mr. Gebhardt conducted field surveys and developed master plans for the state's natural areas system. In addition, he served in the Director's office as the Assistant Legislative Liaison.

Mr. Gebhardt has made numerous presentations on natural resource management, agriculture and land use to organizations such as the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Township Trustee Association, County Commissioners Association of Ohio, Ohio Planning Conference, Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the U.S. Public Works & Economic Development Association. Mr. Gebhardt has also been a guest lecturer at numerous colleges, universities and seminars.

Mr. Gebhardt has been a member of or has served as an advisor to a variety of boards and committees, including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Energy and Environment Committee, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service State Technical Committee, Governor Voinovich's Farmland Preservation Taskforce, Clean Ohio Campaign Committee, Ohio Water Resource Management Policy Committee, Water Management Association of Ohio, and The Ohio State Rural-Urban Policy Advisory Council. In addition, he has testified before numerous committees of the Ohio General Assembly.

Mr. Gebhardt holds an M.A. in public policy and management from The Ohio State University, a B.S. in business administration from Franklin University and an A.S. in natural resources from Hocking College.