Sara Sutter, Director of Lakeshore
Rev. Sara Sutter began serving as Director of Lakeshore Center in October of 2022. Sara worked on summer staff at the Presbyterian Camp on Okoboji from 1997-2001 and was on year round staff for a couple years as the program director. She grew up in Cherokee, attended Northwestern College in Orange City, worked as a youth director in Winterset and Cherokee before attending seminary at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. Her first call in ordained ministry was to United Presbyterian Church in Goldfield. She has been active in North Central Iowa Presbytery and enjoys attending Synod School when scheduling allows.
Sara married Steve in the chapel at Lakeshore in 2012. They live with two spoiled cats: Benny and Phoebe. In her free time, Sara enjoys creative writing, reading, cross-stitching, and trying interesting recipes. Sara is excited to lead Lakeshore's next chapter. She hopes to continue with the legacy of youth programming while also offering church leadership development and retreats for adults of all ages. She is eager to connect and reconnect with friends of Lakeshore.
Sara married Steve in the chapel at Lakeshore in 2012. They live with two spoiled cats: Benny and Phoebe. In her free time, Sara enjoys creative writing, reading, cross-stitching, and trying interesting recipes. Sara is excited to lead Lakeshore's next chapter. She hopes to continue with the legacy of youth programming while also offering church leadership development and retreats for adults of all ages. She is eager to connect and reconnect with friends of Lakeshore.
Serena Lynch
Program Director
Serena is a BVU graduate who is passionate about working with youth and families. She loves being creative and designing programming that is both fun and educational. Serena is active at First Presbyterian Church Spirit Lake as a member of the worship team, Youth Group Leader, and volunteer. Her goal in life is to make children and families lives better through positive interactions, relationship building, and Christ centered conversations.
Program Director
Serena is a BVU graduate who is passionate about working with youth and families. She loves being creative and designing programming that is both fun and educational. Serena is active at First Presbyterian Church Spirit Lake as a member of the worship team, Youth Group Leader, and volunteer. Her goal in life is to make children and families lives better through positive interactions, relationship building, and Christ centered conversations.
Steve Sutter
Office Manager/Turkey Wrangler
Steve started at Lakeshore Center in January of 2023. He spent the two years before that as Director of the Rowan Public Library. Born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, Steve got his degree in English from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, where he minored in Arts Management. He’s cautiously optimistic that working at
Lakeshore Center will give him a chance to make practical use of his minor for the first time in 20 years.
Steve married Sara here at Lakeshore in 2012, and has enjoyed being in the space as a retreat many times throughout the last ten years. He is looking forward to being an integral part of the next chapter of Lakeshore’s
story. In his free time, Steve enjoys playing guitar, reading, writing fiction, and playing video games.
Office Manager/Turkey Wrangler
Steve started at Lakeshore Center in January of 2023. He spent the two years before that as Director of the Rowan Public Library. Born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, Steve got his degree in English from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, where he minored in Arts Management. He’s cautiously optimistic that working at
Lakeshore Center will give him a chance to make practical use of his minor for the first time in 20 years.
Steve married Sara here at Lakeshore in 2012, and has enjoyed being in the space as a retreat many times throughout the last ten years. He is looking forward to being an integral part of the next chapter of Lakeshore’s
story. In his free time, Steve enjoys playing guitar, reading, writing fiction, and playing video games.
John Hanna
Minister of Maintenance
Although known under a different name when our daughters attended and worked at Lakeshore Center at Okoboji, the camp has always held a special place in our family history. I am excited by the opportunity to be part of its resurgence. This is such a special place! Many people have benefited from their experiences here and it is my fervent hope and prayer that many more will have the same opportunity.
My being here answers a call to be active in ministry again... not exactly what I had thought God was asking of me, but God knows better than any of us where we need to be to serve the family of God. I retired from the pulpit in May of 2017. I've spent most of the ensuing years driving for a charter bus company based in Ames (complicated by the changes brought on by Covid). Now I think of myself as the “Minister of Maintenance.”
A lifetime spent as a homeowner, diesel technician, agronomist, convenience store manager and assisting several farm operations as the opportunities came about has given me a broad background in the knowledge required to maintain and improve this beautiful, very special place. Thank God for this opportunity!
Minister of Maintenance
Although known under a different name when our daughters attended and worked at Lakeshore Center at Okoboji, the camp has always held a special place in our family history. I am excited by the opportunity to be part of its resurgence. This is such a special place! Many people have benefited from their experiences here and it is my fervent hope and prayer that many more will have the same opportunity.
My being here answers a call to be active in ministry again... not exactly what I had thought God was asking of me, but God knows better than any of us where we need to be to serve the family of God. I retired from the pulpit in May of 2017. I've spent most of the ensuing years driving for a charter bus company based in Ames (complicated by the changes brought on by Covid). Now I think of myself as the “Minister of Maintenance.”
A lifetime spent as a homeowner, diesel technician, agronomist, convenience store manager and assisting several farm operations as the opportunities came about has given me a broad background in the knowledge required to maintain and improve this beautiful, very special place. Thank God for this opportunity!