Meet the Board

Originally from Scandinavia, Susanna has lived in Oconomowoc since 2010 and considers the numerous intangible benefits of life in Wisconsin, with its nature, recreational opportunities, and culture to be ideal. Susanna earned an International Business degree at The Ohio State University and spent over 25 years in corporate sales calling on Fortune 500 companies across the nation before venturing into real estate to stay closer to home and family over 13 years ago. Susanna and her husband Cris have brought five kids through the Oconomowoc school system and are closely connected to the community.  Susanna is passionate about animals and considers a horse, dog, and cat as part of the family.  Susanna and Cris own Paddleboard and Nordic Specialists in Oconomowoc and love the lakes and the many opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation in our area. She is a Nordic Walking instructor and leads walking groups on many of the local trails.  Each year she organizes Midwest Paddle Fest, a fund-raising event, that brings standup paddlers from states around to compete on Fowler Lake.  The proceeds go to support her passion:  outdoor recreational and sports activities that improve our community, building Rockwell Park being one of them.  Susanna is excited to bring her business, social marketing, and fundraising experience to help further improve and preserve Oconomowoc’s parks and trails. 

Terry Kaldhusdal teaches social studies in the Kettle Moraine School District where his goal is for students to think like a historian. He feels the need for a grassroots community organization, like the “Friends”, which has the infrastructure and connections to make community ideas and dreams come true, is long overdue. His entire family, including his three children and wife, Janet, have a love for the outdoors. Kaldhusdal was been honored as the Wisconsin State Teacher of the Year, Wisconsin Environmental co-Educator of the Year, and a Fellow with the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. Outside of the classroom, Terry has produced six documentaries, including “The General of Progression, the story of Oconomowoc’s founder John S. Rockwell,” “America's Kings and Queens, The Gilded Age in Middle America" for the  Oconomowoc Area Historical Society, and "Consider the Conversation, A Documentary on a Taboo Subject", which aired on PBS stations over 1,800 times. He has served on the Oconomowoc Public Library Board of Trustees, KM Education Foundation Board, and Wisconsin Teacher of the Year Council. 

After graduating from college Lisa Ridolfi went to work for Union Carbide as a saleswoman in the oil production division. She was the first woman hired within this division of 600 men. She later moved overseas to South Korea for marketing and spent four years traveling throughout Asia and the Middle East learning Korean as a second language. Returning to the states, she moved to Chicago and was hired by Crate and Barrel as their Public Relations Manager. While working with Crate and Barrel, she secured design segments on the Oprah Winfrey Show. After a number of years, Lisa branched out on her own starting Ridolfi Productions Public Relations firm and became a “trend talker” and a contributor for local media/news/morning shows. She began on camera segments for WGN-TV and ABC7 among others. She later settled in Oconomowoc with her husband, Douglas Stern. 

Jana Gedymin is the Research Manager and resident Master Bird Bander at Riveredge Nature Center in Saukville, Wisconsin. She earned her BS in Biology and MS in Geography from UW-Milwaukee and is currently working on her Ph.D. in Phenology, which is the study of the timing of plant and animal lifecycle events and how they are influenced by climate. Jana loves to employ citizen/community science-based research methodology whenever possible and is passionate about nature-based education.

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An Oconomowoc native, Jana grew up on Fowler Lake with her parents and three younger brothers. In 2020, she moved from Milwaukee back to Oconomowoc with her husband, Dave, and two children, Quinn and Hutch. In her spare time, she loves drawing, painting, caring for animals, and spending time outdoors hiking, swimming, paddling, birding, snowboarding, and biking with her family. As a board member, Jana is looking forward to helping improve and support the many beautiful natural spaces Oconomowoc has to offer.

Over the years Gina has been involved in many community events and organizations, at present, she’s involved with Meals on Wheels as a driver, serves on the Rogers Behavioral Health Board, Build A Park at 517 Fundraising and Design Team, Lake Area Free Clinic Committee, volunteers with the Lake Country Unitarian Universalist Church, and is the coordinator for Family Promise, and volunteers with the Oconomowoc Food Pantry.

Gina has many hobbies, but one of her favorite pastimes is spending time outdoors hiking, biking, paddling, and gardening!  She believes time spent in nature is important to our physical and mental well-being and she is excited to be part of an organization that will focus on creating and improving area parks and trails.  She enjoys taking care of the cast of characters on her farm with her husband Bob. Gina believes the community can have an impact on creating and enhancing these spaces while displaying respect for the environment, an attitude of conservation and education about our natural surroundings.  

Craig is the Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry for the City of Oconomowoc.  He most recently worked in the same capacity for the City of West Bend and prior to that was the Recreation Manager/Supervisor for the City of Waukesha.  

Craig and his wife Judy enjoy spending as much time in the outdoors as possible, whether that is hiking the Ice Age Trail, camping Up North or in da Yoop, biking on our excellent Rails to Trails or kayaking the beautiful lakes in Wisconsin.  

Craig is excited to be able to work with this dedicated group of volunteers who continually want to improve the parks and trails within the community for its residents.  Oconomowoc continues to grow and offers a great variety of outdoor pursuits from lakes to parks to trails and everything in between.  It’s fun to be part of a winning team!! 

Since moving to Oconomowoc in 1996, Katie has worked with, and on behalf of, a number of local organizations including the Oconomowoc Area Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA at Pabst Farms, the Rogers Memorial Hospital Foundation, OPEF, Silver Streak, and OASD. In addition to the Friends of Oconomowoc Parks and Trails Board of Directors, she is also currently serving on the Park and Recreation Board and Shorehaven’s Corporate Board. Katie is excited to support the parks, trails, and public recreation facilities that are central to the vibrant and thriving community we call home.  

A self-proclaimed “sun enthusiast,” Katie loves to spend time outdoors - especially in the summer. She especially enjoys walking around Fowler Lake, visiting the Farmer’s Market, gardening, and lazy Sunday afternoons floating in the pool with family and friends. 

Since graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Julie has over a decade of professional experience in corporate and non-profit strategic leadership in public relations, recruiting and event management for national wellness, healthcare and advocacy organizations. Julie is passionate about environmental conservation and investing in public green spaces for community building and mind-body wellness.

Julie, along with her husband, two children and dog, are outdoor enthusiasts who love hiking, biking, swimming, paddling, kayaking and traveling. Julie is a yogi, tri-athlete and marathoner.  She loves music and art and is an avid reader.