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.

2023 Officers

President – Jim St. Vincent
President Elect –
Secretary – Eric Olson
Treasurer – Fritz Wenzel
Past President – Scott Seymour

2023 Board Members

Stuart Allbaugh - Lake Waubesa
John Bottorff - Lake Kegonsa
Keith Comstock - Lake Kegonsa
Tamara Knickmeier - Lake Waubesa
Allan Levin - Lake Mendota
Eric Olson - Lake Kegonsa
Dick Pearson - Lake Mendota
Britt Reynolds - Lake Monona
Kathy Schlimgen - Lake Mendota
Paul Searles - Lake Monona
Scott Seymour - Lake Monona
Dave Silverberg - Lake Waubesa
Jim St. Vincent - Lake Waubesa
Frederick “Fritz” Wenzel - Lake Monona

Get to Know Your Board Members…

Stuart Allbaugh

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.

Tamara Knickmeier

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. 

Allan Levin

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.

Eric Olson

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.

Richard Pearson

Richard is the fourth generation of Pearsons on the same Lake Mendota lakeshore property, dating back to his great-grandfather’s 1853 dairy farm. Dick and his wife Noel replaced the home he grew up in with a Wright-inspired home designed for them to live out their years there. Dick and his family have always made extensive use of the lakes—sailing, water-skiing, fishing on both water and ice. Dick’s son Rick was a barefooter on the Mad-City Ski Team and a member of the University of Southern California water ski team.

Dick remembers his father’s sadness in the last years of his life in the late 50’s and early 60’s as he witnessed increasing weed and algae growth. Dick and his family are excited at the distinct possibility that the disappointing trend will actually be reversed. “My father would be thrilled to experience electric trolling motors, quiet outboards, and cleaner water,” says Dick. “The 2012 drought showed us that reduced runoff resulted in less algae in the same year. This proves to me that runoff control may actually produce better results that we think”, he says. After 25 years as Principal of Pearson Engineering, Dick is now a partially retired HVAC engineer, and enjoying more use of the lakes, as well as more time to devote to many community activities, including Yahara Lakes (BOD), Clean Lakes, Downtown Rotary (BOD), Wisconsin Foundation for School Music (BOD), and as a boating volunteer at the Iron Man competition. Dick has sailed over 5000 miles of ocean crossings with a good friend who has circumnavigated the globe, but he always enjoys returning to his home on the lake.

“I am pleased the Yahara Lakes Association is able to pool resources with Clean Lakes Associates for the greater good of the lakes and the community.”

Scott Seymour

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.”

Dave Silverberg

Dave was born in Madison WI and grew up on the Madison chain of lakes. His Grandparents lived on Lake Mendota. He began sailing with his father Joe as a toddler. Dave waterskied in high school on friends’ powerboats (his dad calls them Stinkpots as only a true sailor will). Dave began windsurfing on Lakes Waubesa and Mendota in the 80s. In 1992 he purchased a Ski Nautique as his first power boat. In 2005, Dave and his family bought a house on Lake Waubesa, which they still own. Dave just sold his MC scow and currently owns a ski boat, fishing boat, Jet Ski, kayak, SUP and several windsurfers, most of which he uses regularly. It is safe to say that Dave loves the Yahara chain of lakes.

Dave graduated from Madison West High School and the University of Wisconsin, Madison School of Business with BBA in Finance and Management. He purchased QualiTemps from his dad in 1985. He has worked at QualiTemps and The QTI Group in various sales and management positions from 1980 to the present. Dave remains a partner in the QTI group. His board experience includes the Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services, TempNet, and the Jewish Federation of Madison. He is married to Betsy Huebel and has two children; Hailey (31) who lives in Manhattan and Sam (22) who attends the UW Madison.

Jim St. Vincent

Jim was named Senior Vice President of Human Resources in July of 2018, previously having been appointed Chief Human Resource Officer in 2017.

In July of 2013, the Board approved Jim as the Vice President of Human Resources, including accountability for talent acquisition, talent management, compensation, benefits, employee relations, organization effectiveness, and HR business enterprise coordination across operating companies.

Jim began his career with American Family as an internal auditor in 1984, and has held ten different positions in five different divisions.

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.

Active in both professional and community organizations, Jim currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Dane County Salvation Army.