Meet Our Dedicated Board
Chris Holicek
President
Chris lives in Fish Creek, across from the Park. She finds the Park inspirational for writing, photography, and eating a picnic dinner while watching the sunset, accompanied by Lily, her Sheltie. She enjoys volunteering on the Friends board and working closely with the DNR and the state Friends group. Working on the Eagle Tower Committee and the Nature Center expansion has been a very rewarding experience. She hopes everyone who comes to the Park feels refreshed and looks forward to their return.
Michelle Kemp
Vice President
Gary and Michelle are retired and are year round Door County residents. Their love for Peninsula Park and the environment led them to volunteer in the park and become involved with the Friends of PSP! Their hope is simply to leave the Park a “little better” so future generations can continue to enjoy its beauty and tranquility.
Gary Kemp
Treasurer
Judy Ortiz
Secretary
Judy loves the park and nature in its natural habitat. Her hope is that the park and its natural resources remain for generations to come. She has camped in the park for over 40 years with her family, starting with her mother’s family and continuing with her brothers and sister and their children and grandchildren. Judy and her husband bought property in Egg Harbor over 25 years ago, and she retired from nursing in 2006. She was involved with fundraising for the Kress Pavilion and currently serves on the board of directors for the Friends of the Pavilion. She enjoys the park for hiking with her husband in the summer and winter, cross-county skiing, biking, golfing and camping with family and friends.
Dave Lea
Board Member
Dave did most of his growing up in the San Francisco region of California. He met his wife Renny in Germany and the couple relocated to Wisconsin in 1976. In 1997, the family moved to Fish Creek to help Renny’s mother, and has been in the area ever since. Dave has worked as a music teacher, factory worker, hardware guy, and pie shop keeper. He is now active in several local organizations: historical society, sustainability group, Baha’i community. He lives near the park and spends lots of time there hiking the trails and looking for hidden treasures.
Bill Pennoyer
Board Member
Bill is a retired architect and project manager who splits his time between Fish Creek and Madison. He has a long history of camping at Peninsula State Park with his family. His Fish Creek residence is across the street from the park. While in Fish Creek rarely does a day go by that he is not running, hiking, kayaking, snow shoeing or cross-country skiing in the park. Bill enjoys volunteering on projects in the park and appreciates the opportunity to serve on the Friends’ board and assist in the goals of the Friend’s Group for a place that has been very special since childhood.
Bill Seidel
Board Member
Bill splits his time between Mount Pleasant and Ellison Bay, Wisconsin. He is a retired marketing executive and business consultant who has volunteered his time with numerous nonprofit organizations for many years. His love affair with Peninsula State Park started nearly forty years ago when he, his wife Linda, and their two young boys would camp at the Tennison Bay Campground every summer. He appreciates the abundant opportunities and endless beauty that the Park offers, and has recently started to experience the Park in each of the four seasons. Bill says, “With all that the Park has given me over the years, it is time for me to return the favor by serving on the Friends of PSP Board.”
Morgan Rusnak
Board Member
Morgan lives in Sturgeon Bay and has an extensive background in community outreach & engagement, visitor services, and communications. Her love for Peninsula Park began as a young kiddo on vacation with her family and has only strengthened over the years as Door County became home. While today she might know some trails like the back of her hand, something new will still catch her eye during each and every visit – the reflection of the sunset in the water, a patch of flowers in bloom, or fresh animal tracks crossing a trail. Morgan is a Leave No Trace Level 2 Educator and aims to help people better understand their relationship to the natural world. She firmly believes nature is one of the most powerful tools for health, wellness, education, and human connection. Morgan enjoys running & backpacking, and can often be found hiking Eagle Trail with her dog Leif or putting in her SUP at Tennison Bay for a sunset paddle.
Jason Miller
Board Member
Jason lives on a farm in Algoma with his partner, Justin. He has his own ecological restoration firm where he helps homeowners restore their properties and create native landscapes. He enjoys hiking at the park and seeing some of the less explored areas. Jason is excited to join the Board and help continue advancing the goals of the Friend’s Group that makes the Park a special place for all.
Meet Our Support Staff
Sharon Popiel
Accountant
Sharon and her husband Michael purchased a farmhouse built in 1895 in Ellison Bay in 2004. They split their time between Lake Forest, IL and Door County until 2015 when they moved to Ellison Bay full time as empty nesters. Working with the Friends of Pen State Park just feels right as Sharon and her family love the hiking, biking, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, golfing, and relaxing by the water at the park. They look forward to sharing the joys of Door County and Peninsula State Park with their grandchildren! Sharon runs her accounting consulting business, walks miles daily with her dogs, loves gardening, the gym, and spending time with family and friends.
Steve Strucely
Administrative Assistant
Steve and his wife Kathy have many fond memories of traveling to Door County from Texas to spend time with extended family every summer when their two sons were younger. A trip to Peninsula State Park and Eagle Tower was always a highlight of their visit. They moved to Wisconsin in 2007 when Steve accepted a position with a private high school in Watertown. They moved to Door County in 2017 to live full-time when Steve took on the role of Friends business manager, a position he held until 2021. He continues to assist the Friends by providing administrative support in the area of donations and memberships.
Cory Roskopf
Website/Social Media Assistant
Cory has been coming to Peninsula State Park every year since he was a baby for family camping trips. Starting in 2010 his then to be wife, Elisabeth, joined along and their journey continued with their daughter joining them in recent years as well. Cory and Elisabeth were even engaged on the rocks (now the fishing pier) at the Nicolet Bay boat launch in 2013! They prefer to camp in South Nicolet Bay and they love to spend their time at the park biking, relaxing at Nicolet Beach, visiting Eagle Tower, and having campfires! No trip to Door County is complete without multiple stops for ice cream at Not Licked Yet. Cory is assisting the Friends with website management as well as social media support.