BOARD OF DIRECTORS

YLA is led by a group of up to 16 Board of Directors elected by our membership. Our directors are all lake property owners who share the common goal of improving our lake experience. They actively serve on a variety of lake-oriented committees and boards to represent our membership.

2026 Officers

President – Britt Reynolds
Vice President/President Elect – Keith Comstock
Secretary – Kathy Schlimgen
Treasurer – John Bottorff
Past President – Jim St. Vincent

2026 Board Members

Stuart Allbaugh - Lake Waubesa
John Bottorff - Lake Kegonsa
Keith Comstock - Lake Kegonsa
Faith Fitzpatrick - Lake Mendota
Caroline Fribance - Lake Monona
Tamara Knickmeier - Lake Waubesa
Allan Levin - Lake Mendota

Eric Olson - Lake Kegonsa
Greg Quam - Lake Kegonsa
Britt Reynolds - Lake Monona
Kathy Schlimgen - Lake Mendota
Scott Seymour - Lake Monona
Jim St. Vincent - Lake Waubesa

MEET THE BOARD

  • Stuart has lived on Lake Waubesa in McFarland since ’91 and has been a member of YLA since ‘92. Stuart enjoys gardening with his wife Bonnie, hiking, fishing, SCUBA, photography, sailing out of Point Loma with his daughter Gaylin and son-in-law Michael. H received his BS from UW-Platteville in 1968 and a MS from UW-Madison in Behavioral Disabilities, 1969. He served in the United States Marine Corps 1962–1966, as a teacher -1970-2001 and the State of Wisconsin DOA ’04-‘14. He is an active member of American Legion, Marines’ Memorial Association, WIAA Master’s Swim Official, Southwest Swim Officials Association, Wisconsin Master Gardeners’ Olbrich Gardens.

  • Eric has a long history with Stoughton and Lake Kegonsa. When growing up in Stoughton, he and his family spent many hours in their motorboat on the lake. After living in Colorado for a number of years, Eric moved back to Stoughton to work with his father’s business, Olson Builders. In 2007, he became a realtor, and currently manages the Stoughton Office of Bunbury & Associates, Realtors.

    Eric is very active in the Stoughton community. He is a Supervisor on the Town of Pleasant Springs Board and is also on the Friends of Lake Kegonsa Society’s (FOLKS) Board where he also runs FOLKS’ Facebook and Twitter sites.

    After deciding they wanted to live on Lake Kegonsa, Eric and his family looked for 2 years for the perfect location. In 2000, they purchased lake property and built an important building, a boathouse. A couple of years later, their current home was finished and since then they have enjoyed living on the lake. Both Eric and his son are avid water skiers and swimmers and they are in or out on the lake as much as possible.

    Eric’s dedication to improving the area lakes led him to join the Yahara Lakes Association Board. When asked what he would like focus on to improve the lakes, Eric said he is interested in improving the lake level management practices of the Yahara lakes and dealing with aquatic plants.

  • Scott Seymour grew up in Madison area having graduated from Edgewood High School and UW Madison. After completing law school, he started work at American Family Insurance. He has been with the company for 33 years in different positions, currently as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Corporate Compliance. Five years ago, Scott and Vicki purchased a home on Lake Monona on Tonyawatha Trail. Boating, paddle boarding, cross-country skiing and fly-fishing, especially in the fall for Muskie, are some of their favorite lake activates. Scott also was surprised how the lake “became a dog park: in the winter. The migratory birds in the spring and fall are exciting to see, especially a pair of loons who stop by for a short stay.” Scott said, “Although important in the short term, weed cutting and dredging are treating they symptoms. Better control of run off is key to improving the quality of our lakes. We need to work with local governments and facilitate public and private partnerships to get things done.”

  • Caroline Fribance has been in love with these lakes since coming to Madison in 1971, when she lived on Pirate Island while in school and kayaked from the “island” to the lakes.  Although she left to work in Stevens Point for 18 years, she and her husband have owned frontage on Lake Monona since 1992.  Having always been concerned with the environment, and having watched the lakes deteriorate, she is intensely interested in being involved in lake issues. When living in the Madison area, she has always lived on the Yahara Lakes chain, mostly Monona and Kegonsa.

    As we all know, the health of our lakes and river are interrelated and cannot be addressed in simple terms.  There are many aspects to riparian ownership, with weather, legislation, farming and development being just a few of the issues that affect the jewels that make Dane County such a lovely area.

    Caroline’s work background is law and management, including environmental cleanup management. She has also been active on community not for profit boards in Stevens Point and Madison, and hopes to bring her previous YLA board experience for the benefit of YLA.

  • Tamara grew up on the south shore of Lake Waubesa.  In 1990 she and her husband Dan purchased their home on the same shoreline. “We love living on the lake and enjoy all the wonderful activities lake living offers.  Along with the fun of being on the lake comes a responsibility for taking care of this beautiful resource.” With that in mind, in 2009 Tamara joined the board of the Lake Waubesa Conservation Association and became Treasurer in 2010 and continue in that role today

    Tamara worked for American Family Insurance for 25 years and retired in 2018 as a Director in Information Services.  She has an Associate Degree in Computer Programming from Madison College and a BS in Business Management from Edgewood College.  In retirement Tamara has more time to pursue her interests which include: adventure travel, making a difference in our environment and mentoring with Big Brothers and Big Sisters.  She also enjoys: skiing (all types),  kayaking, swimming, hiking, biking, triathlons, golf, SCUBA diving and surfing.  .

  • My parents bought a cottage on Lake Kegonsa in 1963 and the property remains in the family to this day. Growing up in Stoughton, I spent many hours on Lake Kegonsa boating and water skiing. I am a 1978 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Platteville with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Technology Education and Drivers Education. In 1982 I completed a Master of Education in Professional Development. I spent 36 years in public education as a Teacher, Director of Career and Technology Education and Athletic and Activities Director. During my career I coached both boys’ and girls’ basketball at the high school and college level. In addition, I served on multiple boards and was president of two. Upon retirement from education, I joined Project Lead the Way as the Director of Engagement for Wisconsin. At that time my wife and I made Lake Kegonsa our permanent home. I have also worked as a consultant advising school districts as they implement STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Programs into their curriculum. I am a member of the Technical Foundation of America Honor Role and have been honored to be a member of the University of Wisconsin – Platteville Athletic Hall of Fame.

  • Faith Fitzpatrick has enjoyed living and bringing up two kids on Spring Harbor/Lake Mendota for over 30 years. She loves all things on and along the water, including boating, paddleboarding, and canoeing. She works in  water as well and is a research hydrologist at the U.S. Geological Survey. She got her Ph.D. at UW Madison. She is involved in community service through the Spring Harbor Neighborhood Association, Indian Hills Garden Club, and Friends of Merrill Spring. 

  • Originally from Joliet, IL and Miami, FL respectively, Britt and his wife Katie moved to Lake Monona in the spring of 2020.  Katie fell in love with Lake Monona after her years of competitive waterskiing at UW-Madison. As a Florida Sothern College Ski Team alumni and show skier, it was not difficult for Katie to badger Britt into moving to the lake. Britt is an Advisor and Portfolio Manager for Sentinus Wealth. Prior to that he was the Lead Portfolio Manager for Exchange Traded Funds at Premise Capital.

    Britt currently serves as the chair of the Boat and Lake Safety committee on the Spread Eagle Chain of Lakes Association.

     Britt and his family enjoy using the lake in all seasons for boating, waterskiing, paddle boarding, playing hockey, and walking on the ice to wear out their two young children and dog Buoy.  Britt is also an avid fly fisherman and photographer and loves the abundant opportunities the Yahara Chain gives him to enjoy both.

  • Allan came to Madison in 1969 after 13 years in Chicago attending Northwestern University, medical school and residency training. He also served in the Navy for two years during the Viet Nam war. Allan was on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin and retired as a Professor of Neurological Surgery. He began sailing on Lake Mendota soon after arriving in Madison, first in an Oday Mariner. In 1978 he purchased a Hunter 27. In 2013 this boat was donated to Wisconsin Hoofers as he downsized to a Hunter 22, which he sails with his son Jeremy. He also sails and races on another son’s boat in Chicago. During the winter, when conditions allow, Allan enjoys sailing his Iceboat.

  • I look forward to helping YLA support and advocate for owners along our Yahara River waterways. I grew up on Lake Mendota and am grateful to be living on it now. For over 50 years I have sailed and done many other watersports on Lake Mendota and recognize the challenges lake levels and water quality present to users. My work experience as an UW-Madison biochemistry instructor and supervisor of medical students should be helpful in this position.

  • John has been an active member of Yahara Lakes Association (YLA) for many years and was elected as a member of the YLA Board of Directors in March 2023. He currently serves on the Water Quality and Lake Levels Committee. He is honored to serve YLA members striving for the best interests of beauty and health of the Madison chain of lakes. He believes it is important to learn, serve, and contribute toward the protection and improvement of the lakes and waterways.

    Along with his wife, Karen, John’s family began lake life in 2002 with a small weekend vacation cottage on Lake Kegonsa. He and his family discovered that they really enjoyed lake living, so in 2008, they built a new home on the lake. In 2015, John and his family moved full-time from Beloit, Wisconsin to their Lake Kegonsa home after he retired from an executive management career in human resources with manufacturing firms. He holds a bachelor of science degree in business from Ohio State University and a masters of labor and industrial relations degree from Michigan State University.

    In addition to serving on the YLA Board, John has been a member of the Friends of Lake Kegonsa (FOLKS) Board of Directors since 2018 and has been a FOLKS member since 2002. In FOLKS, he serves as President of the Board of Directors. He is a member of Clean Lakes Alliance and the Rock River Coalition. Along with a group of volunteer lake monitors for Clean Lakes Alliance and the Rock River Coalition. John regularly takes lake water samples from the Yahara River at Fish Camp County Park and Lake Kegonsa. These water samples measure phosphorous levels and other recorded information feeds into data bases used to monitor current and historical conditions of the lakes.

    John’s family includes three married children and six grandchildren who greatly enjoy fun on the lake with family and friends throughout the year. His other activities include golfing, boating, musky fishing, sports, and serving as a volunteer for several other organizations and boards.

  • Jim retired from American Family Insurance in 2021, having most recently served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources.  He served for over 37 years in ten positions in five divisions, with responsibility for Human Resources starting in 2013.

    Jim earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, with a major in Accounting and minor in Computer Science.

    Having served in many professional and community organizations, Jim currently serves on the Dane County Salvation Army Advisory Board, the Overture Center Foundation Board, the Yahara Lakes Association Board, and the Clean Lakes Alliance Community and Executive Board.

    Jim and Judy have lived on Lake Waubesa since 2017 and enjoy kayaking, boating, migrating birds, and especially the sunsets every night!  Jim grew up in northern Wisconsin enjoying the lake cabins of his grandparents and parents, so it was an easy choice when Jim and Judy had the opportunity to live on one of the Yahara chain of lakes.