Greg Stevens

 Current Board Member

 Lessee Member Seat

Greg is best known by area residents for his service in the Iowa House as a state legislator representing Dickinson County from 1999-2005.

The younger set will know him as "Mr. Stevens" language arts instructor at Okoboji High School since 1987 and coach  of last years state champion debate team.  Over his years in teaching, he has also found time to coach volleyball, speech, golf ,and basketball. 

Greg and  his wife Laura  live in rural Milford  and have two grown sons Dan and Matt.   He serves on a number of area boards, and maintains a strong interest in state and national politics. 

His lifelong passion for education led him to the Land Trust.   "I found it hard to understand why a in high growth area like the lakes region   local schools were still suffering from  declining enrollment .  When I heard that over half of the homes in Dickinson county  are owned by people who don't live here , and that average home prices had doubled in the last few years, it became obvious that  the lack of affordable housing for working families is at the heart of the problem". says Greg.  We need to find solutions to this problem if our schools and communities are to remain viable in the future.

Pam Jordan

Current Board President

Public Member Seat

Pam and her husband, Mike, reside in Spirit Lake and have two grown children, Anne, 26 and Robert, 21.  She has served on the  Dickinson County Board of Supervisors since  2002.  Among her many  significant accomplishment as Supervisor will be the completion of a new, state- of -the art $14.9 million dollar courthouse due to open in late 2007.

As a self- employed grant researcher and writer since 1996, she has helped bring in nearly four million dollars for Dickinson County projects in the schools, law enforcement, trails and recreation, human services, water quality, business and science, wind energy and environmental education.  These collaborative efforts, plus her experience as Supervisor, have given her valuable insight into the workings of school, county and municipal governments as well as background into the infrastructure and growth issues facing this county.

 "The novel approach presented by the Community Land Trust model holds great promise as a way to address issues of affordability for working families.  Now we need to roll up our sleeves and put it to work"

Nadine Hough

Secretary

Lessee Member Seat

Nadine Hough is the current Secretary of the Lakes Community Land Trust.  She and her husband, Jack, are long time residents of Spirit Lake.  Their two daughters attended and graduated from Spirit Lake Community School.  Nadine was the Director of the Low Rent Housing Agency for 28 years, retiring in 2006.  This program provides rental assistance to low income families, disabled and elderly residents of Dickinson County.  She brings her love of the lakes area and her passion for meeting the housing needs of families to her work with LCLT.

Barbara Mendenhall

General Member Seat

Barbara and husband Walter moved back to the lakes region in 1981.    In the mid 1980s  she was asked to join the Board of Directors for the Okoboji Protective Association (OPA).  That opportunity created  a link to her  involvement in conservation issues in the lakes region. 

 I have served on the Friends of Lakeside Lab board since its inception in 1995 and served as President in 2001-2002. Her  interests in conservation were broadened when she  joined the Board of Trustees of the Iowa Chapter of The Nature Conservancy in 1991.  Recently she accepted an opportunity to participate on the City of Okoboji Planning and Zoning Committee so that  "I would be aware of changes that occurring in my local community".

With her two daughter Katy and Emily  safely launched into adult life, Barb has added business owner to her resume, creating a new perspective from main streets of  Spirit lake and Arnolds Park . 

"While concerns for land use policy and conservation first brought me  to the Lakes Community Land Trust , being involved has deepened my understanding  the broader concept  of sustainability  and the interaction of the the environment, the economy , and social equity in creating quality of life."

Cory Peterson

New Candidate

Public Member Seat

Cory Peterson is the County Extension Education Director for ISU Extension in Dickinson County.  She has been with ISUE since 1989, when she started her extension career as a community and economic development field specialist.  Cory feels strongly that for Dickinson County to sustain a balanced population and economy, we need affordable housing to attract young families to the area.  Cory and her husband farm in southern Dickinson County.  They have two children, Angie who is a graduate student at UNO and Tyler who is a Junior at Okoboji High School.  Other organizations that Cory has served on include:  Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation, Dickinson County Endowment Fund, Priority One, Friends of Lakeside Lab, and Dickinson County Industrial Development Corporation.