Steve DuFresne

FOUNDER

At The Lake for me brings together my two greatest passions - being on the water and helping our athletes whom refuse to let their disabilities define them. My passion for the water began as soon as I could walk as I was fortunate enough that my Aunt Margaret lived on Lake Keesus where we put on this event. After many years away I returned to Lake Keesus and bought a house of my own just up the road from my Aunt and now enjoy every minute I can on the water with my wife Janna and sons Devin and Ethan.

For the last 16 years I have worked designing medical equipment for the disabled population. In the beginning I owned a company that developed power wheelchairs and for the last 11 years I worked with an AMAZING team of individuals developing seating and positioning equipment that could be used on ANY wheelchair around the globe. I have had the please to meet thousands of people in this unique medical space and was inspired to put on an event of my own after volunteering at many other events Internationally. This particular event is open to ANY and EVERYONE! Some events like track and field, a person may have to have some level of mobility but at our event we have multiple things for people to do that require no mobility at all! It truly is an ALL-INCLUSIVE event! So come down and just hang out At The Lake for a day or two! We can’t wait to see you!!!

Danielle Snyder

Site DIRECTOR / Volunteer Coordinator

I love helping people. I simply get an immense sense of fulfillment from easing pain or bringing joy to someone else’s life. I learned this about myself early on when, as a young nursing student, I took on the task of fostering two disabled teenage boys. Balancing that task with school and work was one of the most challenging things I have ever done, but seeing the way my time could so positively impact a person left me with an enduring desire to help others. My career has progressed from being an OB nurse (delivering more babies than I can remember!) to managing a Labor and Delivery unit and most recently being part of a team to help nurses learn how to operate new medical equipment most effectively for their patients.

My passion for helping others and the organizational skills I’ve learned made my role within At The Lake a comfortable fit for me. Coordinating dozens of volunteers and skiers for two days was very rewarding and I left each day more excited than the last. Being able to greet a wonderfully excited person and then watch them leave even more excited is a pleasure I cannot wait to repeat.

Janna DuFresne

Safety Coordinator

Janna DuFresne has always had a deep passion for the water.  Throughout her life, she always felt the need to be involved with some aspect of being in the water or helping those in the water.  From a very young age, she became a competitive swimmer and continued to compete throughout her childhood and into her teens.  Once she was old enough, she became a lifeguard and continued this role for 8 years, which also included managing a municipal city pool.  As a lifeguard, she also taught swimming lessons of all ages ranging from babies to adults. Janna continues on with her passion today by spending as much time in the water as she can by surfing, boating or just swimming in the water with her family.

Craig “Scruff” Snyder

skiing coordinator & equipment manager

My love of the water began at the age of 7 with my very first attempt at water skiing, where I was promptly dragged through the water (sans-skis) for at least 100 feet (because I wasn’t bright enough to let go of the handle). Despite that rough beginning I was hooked, and since then all forms of water sports have been and continue to be my passion. Through my teens and into my late twenties I was a member of various water ski show teams; taking the role of skier, show director and announcer. But whichever role I played I was always happiest teaching and helping skiers learn. Whether it was learning backwards bare footing or a little tyke getting up on skis for the first time, my joy and fulfillment at helping someone become better was the same.

My first year with At The Lake brought back all that joy times 10. The pure happiness and excitement I could see, hear and feel from each extraordinary person I had the privilege to work with is a little slice of heaven I will always be able to carry with me. It is a toss up who left the water each day more satisfied: me or the skiers. I am beyond excited for our next event, to get the chance to once again let more amazing individuals fill my joy bucket to overflowing.

Sarah Resch

CAMP DIRECTOR

Sarah Jacobs Resch is an experienced Executive Director with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry, specializing in day and overnight camps. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Social Services, Event Planning, Risk and Crisis Management, and Youth Development. Strong community and social services professional with a Bachelor of Science focused in Recreation Management from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.