Yahara Lakes Association Board Members
Charles Gates President
Dick Adler Past President
Dick joined American Family right out of college and had a 43 year career before retiring last year. He held several management position with the last eighteen as Sales Promotion Director. He and his wife have lived on Squaw Bay of Lake Monona for over fifteen years. Two of their three children also have homes on Lake Monona.
Carol Gillen Secretary
Carol recently retired from UW Health after working for 30 years as a speech pathologist. She, her husband Bill, and their many different dogs have lived on Lake Monona since 1979. Carol is a member of the Lake Monona Sailing Club. She enjoys racing their sailboat, a Flying Scot, with her husband and kayaking on the lake.
Michael Gerner Treasurer
Mike is a CPA and the managing partner of the Madison office of Grant Thornton LLP, a national firm of accountants and business advisors. Mike, Claudia and their 4 children moved to the north shore of Lake Mendota in 1988. Lake activities are part of their active lives year round including boating, skiing, sailing and ice skating. Mike and his family share a love and deep concern for the Madison lakes and believe the quality of the entire water shed needs to be preserved and improved. Mike and his family also enjoy golfing at Blackhawk Country Club where he served on the board and as President.
Douglas Bach
Doug is a civil/environmental engineer with 20 years experience in pollution control. In addition to his role with YLA, Doug also serves on the board of the Wisconsin Association of Lakes (WAL), a statewide non-profit organization advocating for lakes. He enjoys sailing and cycling, and has lived on Lake Monona with his wife, Muriel Nagle, since 1995.
Charles Dykman
Chuck has a law degree and focuses on legislative activity that impacts lakes. He is a former board member of the Wisconsin Association of Lakes, and is on its legislative committee. He follows State and local legislative issues. Chuck is a long time sailor with the Lake Monona Sailing Club, and has lived on Lake Monona since 1967.
Louisa Enz
Bill Fitzpatrick
Bill is a professional engineer and geologist specializing in water resource management. He has 25 years of experience in surface water restoration projects including the cleanup of waterways contaminated with PCBs, mercury, and other pollutants. Bill and his wife Faith have 2 children and live on Lake Mendota in the Spring Harbor neighborhood.
Ken Koscik
Dick Adler Past President
Dick joined American Family right out of college and had a 43 year career before retiring last year. He held several management position with the last eighteen as Sales Promotion Director. He and his wife have lived on Squaw Bay of Lake Monona for over fifteen years. Two of their three children also have homes on Lake Monona.
Carol Gillen Secretary
Carol recently retired from UW Health after working for 30 years as a speech pathologist. She, her husband Bill, and their many different dogs have lived on Lake Monona since 1979. Carol is a member of the Lake Monona Sailing Club. She enjoys racing their sailboat, a Flying Scot, with her husband and kayaking on the lake.
Michael Gerner Treasurer
Mike is a CPA and the managing partner of the Madison office of Grant Thornton LLP, a national firm of accountants and business advisors. Mike, Claudia and their 4 children moved to the north shore of Lake Mendota in 1988. Lake activities are part of their active lives year round including boating, skiing, sailing and ice skating. Mike and his family share a love and deep concern for the Madison lakes and believe the quality of the entire water shed needs to be preserved and improved. Mike and his family also enjoy golfing at Blackhawk Country Club where he served on the board and as President.
Douglas Bach
Doug is a civil/environmental engineer with 20 years experience in pollution control. In addition to his role with YLA, Doug also serves on the board of the Wisconsin Association of Lakes (WAL), a statewide non-profit organization advocating for lakes. He enjoys sailing and cycling, and has lived on Lake Monona with his wife, Muriel Nagle, since 1995.
Charles Dykman
Chuck has a law degree and focuses on legislative activity that impacts lakes. He is a former board member of the Wisconsin Association of Lakes, and is on its legislative committee. He follows State and local legislative issues. Chuck is a long time sailor with the Lake Monona Sailing Club, and has lived on Lake Monona since 1967.
Louisa Enz
Bill Fitzpatrick
Bill is a professional engineer and geologist specializing in water resource management. He has 25 years of experience in surface water restoration projects including the cleanup of waterways contaminated with PCBs, mercury, and other pollutants. Bill and his wife Faith have 2 children and live on Lake Mendota in the Spring Harbor neighborhood.
Ken Koscik
Donna Paulnock
Donna Paulnock has been a resident of Madison since 1983. She came to Madison to take an academic position in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Both she and her husband are avid water sports enthusiasts and have enjoyed a variety of recreational activities, including windsurfing, canoeing and rowing on the Madison lakes. When they moved to a lakeside location in Monona about 5 years ago, it brought a new dimension to their relationship with the lakes. Beyond enticing them to add sailing and kayaking to their outdoor activities, this move allowed her to gain a deeper appreciation of both the importance of the lakes in our local natural environment and the fragility of their existence in this urban landscape. She is on the YLA board so she can be a more direct part of efforts that support the continued health and accessibility of our valuable lake resources.
Richard Pearson
Mark Pernitz
Mark is a partner in the Boardman Law firm and has specialized in civil litigation for nearly 30 years. Mark has lived on Lake Waubesa for over 20 years and enjoys swimming, boating, sailing and windsurfing. A former president of YLA, Mark currently represents YLA on the Dane County Lakes & Watershed Commission. Mark is a past president of the McFarland School Board and has held leadership positions in a number of community, conservation and youth sports organizations. In his spare time, Mark enjoys bicycling over and skiing down the Colorado Rockies.
Raymond Potempa
Dan Schultz
Dan is the Vice-President Controller for American Family Insurance Group. He has lived on Lake Monona since 1986 He lives with his wife, Patty and their 14 year old son Matt. Dan is a member of the Lake Monona Sailing Club. Dan also serves on the city of Monona's Ad Hoc Flood Mitigation Committee that is researching solutions to the flooding on Belle Isle. He is treasurer of the Belle Isle Neighborhood Association. Dan became a YLA Board member in 2004.
Joe Tisserand
Joe and his wife Kay have three children and five grandchildren. He has lived on Lake Mendota at present home since 1987 and near the Lake my entire life. Just retired from American Family insurance after 39 years of service as a Senior V.P. My only other place of full-time employment after college was a Madison Police Officer for 81/2 years before joining American Family Mutual. Always have loved the Madison Lakes and the City of Madison area.
Sal Troia
Sal spent 29 years in the banking industry with 3 different organizations, and went through 2 mergers as President of Valley BankSevice Corporation and then M & I Service Corporation. His main interests are now the environment and bicycle racing. Sal is active on boards of organizations working to improve the environment for future generations.
William von Rutenberg
Bill and his family own and operate three restaurants (The Mariners Inn, The Nau-Ti-Gal, Captain Bill's) on Lake Mendota and Betty Lou Cruises on Lakes Mendota and Monona. Bill is a graduate of the UW Madison Business School and lives on the north shore of Lake Mendota. Bill is currently a supervisor in the Town of Westport and is active in the National "W" Club and Chairman elect of The Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
Donna Paulnock has been a resident of Madison since 1983. She came to Madison to take an academic position in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Both she and her husband are avid water sports enthusiasts and have enjoyed a variety of recreational activities, including windsurfing, canoeing and rowing on the Madison lakes. When they moved to a lakeside location in Monona about 5 years ago, it brought a new dimension to their relationship with the lakes. Beyond enticing them to add sailing and kayaking to their outdoor activities, this move allowed her to gain a deeper appreciation of both the importance of the lakes in our local natural environment and the fragility of their existence in this urban landscape. She is on the YLA board so she can be a more direct part of efforts that support the continued health and accessibility of our valuable lake resources.
Richard Pearson
Mark Pernitz
Mark is a partner in the Boardman Law firm and has specialized in civil litigation for nearly 30 years. Mark has lived on Lake Waubesa for over 20 years and enjoys swimming, boating, sailing and windsurfing. A former president of YLA, Mark currently represents YLA on the Dane County Lakes & Watershed Commission. Mark is a past president of the McFarland School Board and has held leadership positions in a number of community, conservation and youth sports organizations. In his spare time, Mark enjoys bicycling over and skiing down the Colorado Rockies.
Raymond Potempa
Dan Schultz
Dan is the Vice-President Controller for American Family Insurance Group. He has lived on Lake Monona since 1986 He lives with his wife, Patty and their 14 year old son Matt. Dan is a member of the Lake Monona Sailing Club. Dan also serves on the city of Monona's Ad Hoc Flood Mitigation Committee that is researching solutions to the flooding on Belle Isle. He is treasurer of the Belle Isle Neighborhood Association. Dan became a YLA Board member in 2004.
Joe Tisserand
Joe and his wife Kay have three children and five grandchildren. He has lived on Lake Mendota at present home since 1987 and near the Lake my entire life. Just retired from American Family insurance after 39 years of service as a Senior V.P. My only other place of full-time employment after college was a Madison Police Officer for 81/2 years before joining American Family Mutual. Always have loved the Madison Lakes and the City of Madison area.
Sal Troia
Sal spent 29 years in the banking industry with 3 different organizations, and went through 2 mergers as President of Valley BankSevice Corporation and then M & I Service Corporation. His main interests are now the environment and bicycle racing. Sal is active on boards of organizations working to improve the environment for future generations.
William von Rutenberg
Bill and his family own and operate three restaurants (The Mariners Inn, The Nau-Ti-Gal, Captain Bill's) on Lake Mendota and Betty Lou Cruises on Lakes Mendota and Monona. Bill is a graduate of the UW Madison Business School and lives on the north shore of Lake Mendota. Bill is currently a supervisor in the Town of Westport and is active in the National "W" Club and Chairman elect of The Wisconsin Restaurant Association.