Board of Directors
Moon Beach, Daycholah Center, and Cedar Valley are a ministry of the Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ. Operated by an independent Board of Directors, United Church Camps, Inc. (UCCI) exists to provide program and operations expertise to support the outdoor ministry mission and program that serves all of our churches, church members, other individuals, families, and groups.
Current UCCI Board Members:
Tom Bayer
UCCI Board President
Hospital and Health System Leader, retired
My wife, Mert, and I live in Green Bay, Wisconsin and have three adult daughters. We are members of First United Presbyterian Church in DePere where I currently serve as an Elder. My passion for outdoor ministry is rooted in my experiences leading to the rank of Eagle Boy Scout, Outward Bound mountaineering in Colorado, a summer in Rocky Mountain National Park serving with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks as well as church family camps at Daycholah Center. I enjoy most outdoor activities including biking, sailing, kayaking, hiking and fishing. In the winter I focus on woodworking. For the past 30+ years I have worked for HSHS St Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, serving in a variety of leadership positions.
“It is a privilege to serve on the UCCI Board as the Winnebago Presbytery representative. Part of my role is to connect the Presbyterian Church with the UCCI camps. I have personally benefited from outdoor ministry. I believe in the benefits outdoor ministry brings to individuals & communities and want to help make this available to all who would like this experience”.
Kythie Boyd
School Psychologist
I have been connected to UCCI and Moon Beach for over 20 years – first as a camper, then as a staff member, and then as a volunteer for Camp AweSum! What started as an opportunity to connect with other kids around music and drama grew into an annual need to reconnect with the Spirit in a place that became a second home.
Outdoor ministry can be a transformative experience. I have been blessed to be part of and witness the strength of the relationships developed over years of camp and the wonder of an outdoor ministry that calls us to be exactly who we are. There is nothing better than renewing your soul and pondering life’s big questions while sitting around a campfire and looking out at a lake.
My experiences at Moon Beach and Camp AweSum have led me to my current career as a School Psychologist. I’ve worked for the last several years at an elementary school in DeForest, WI. I work with at-risk children, families, and school staff to create more equitable systems and opportunities for all.
Wendy Dallman
UCCI Board Secretary
Special Education Teacher, retired
Wendy earned her Bachelor and Master of Science in Education-Special Education degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She taught at the middle /junior high school and high school levels for over 36 years in Wisconsin public schools. While teaching in New London at the middle/junior high school she was a team leader and while at the high school was the district’s key person for transition. Wendy has been the district’s new teacher mentoring program’s co-trainer and facilitator. In retirement, Wendy has conducted inservices for educational support staff and continues to substitute teach.
Wendy has been active in First Congregational UCC, New London serving several times as Council President, search committee chairperson, Sunday School teacher, Stephen Ministry seminar group facilitator, Women’s Fellowship leader, and lay service leader. Wendy completed Lay Academy in 2002. She continues to support outdoor ministry by attending/directing Grandparent and Me camps, is a Camp AweSum volunteer, and helps with local church fundraising for camp scholarships. While on the UCCI Board from 2014-2019 she was Board secretary and continues on in this important role having voice but not vote.
“I serve the UCCI Board because UCCI has been supportive of camping experiences for diverse populations. Because I believe in this ministry, I want to continue to shape camping opportunities and accessibility for all”.
Julie Garber
Spiritual Director/Retreat Leader
Former Licensed UCC Pastor, Registered Nurse, Certified Yoga, Group Exercise and Personal Training Instructor.
My present vocation (and my passion) as a Spiritual Director is to help people “Open their Hearts to God”, through individual and group Spiritual Direction sessions and in Retreat settings. I believe we are created in God’s image to be God’s image. Living out that journey is our call.
I am volunteer coordinator for Ruby’s Pantry Distribution site in Osseo, serving about 200 people each month to receive needed food. I work with the Eau Claire County “Sleep In Heavenly Peace” project, coordinating those children needing beds with delivery teams.
“I serve on the UCCI board because I believe in care of body, mind and spirit and “camp” is a wonderful way to do that”.
Kevin Haass
UCCI Board Treasurer
Attorney
In my professional life, I am an attorney. My firm is Forward Disability Attorneys. I am also a West Allis alderman. I have served as alderman for the past five years. Prior to becoming alderman I served on the West Allis Police and Fire Commission for nine years.
I grew up in the UCC and we are active members of Plymouth UCC, Milwaukee. I have previously served on the Southeast Association Church and Ministry Team.
I have been active in Scouting all my life. I am an Eagle Scout and I have served on the Three Harbors Council, Boy Scouts of America Executive Board for nine years.
I have been a family camper at Moon Beach since the ‘80’s when I was a child. My wife, Carolyn, and I are parents of 13-year-old twins: Clara and Henry. Now that we have a family of our own, we have been attending Moon Beach family camp for about 12 years. My parents and my sister and her family also attend the same week, making for a nice annual event for extended family. Our twins have attended Daycholah Center for the past few summers.
Paul Karch
Lawyer, Independent Pharmacy Cooperative
Chair, Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ Board of Directors. Member, First Congregational United Church of Christ Madison.
I have loved Church camps in Wisconsin beginning with family camps as a child at Presbyterian Church Camps, and in one year when Wisconsin UCC and Presbyterian Church camps combined their programs, at Moon Beach. I have three grown children. My oldest daughter has autism and I look forward to going to Camp AweSum with her one day.
I love hiking, especially at Devil’s Lake, near my home town of Baraboo.
I work as a lawyer for Independent Pharmacy Cooperative, a Sun Prairie based buying group and distributor for community pharmacies across the United States.
Rev. Julie Jennings
Vice President of Ministry, Cedar Community
Julie Jennings serves as the Vice President of Ministry at Cedar Community in West Bend, WI. She has over twenty years of chaplaincy experience in health and human service ministries, including health care, transitional housing for women and children, adults with developmental disabilities, and youth in detention and residential treatment. Julie is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ with standing in the Southeast Association of the Wisconsin Conference UCC. She also writes and sings original songs about life in our times with her spouse, Susan Drake. Julie enjoys running and biking and connecting to creation.
“I serve on the UCCI Board in recognition of the relationship between UCCI and Cedar Community through the Cedar Valley site and because I value the unique ways outdoor ministries contribute to grounding and transforming the human experience.”
Holly Kirking Loomis
Acting Director, Office of Global Change U.S. Department of State
Holly Kirking Loomis is Acting Director of the U.S. State Department Office of Global Change, where she leads the 35-person team that coordinates and implements U.S. foreign policy and programs related to climate change. A career diplomat since 2004, Holly previously served in Brasilia, Tegucigalpa, and twice in Beijing. She earned her master’s degree from Tufts University Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy and graduated Summa cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. She has served as Treasurer and Development Chair on the Board of Directors of the American School in Brasilia and also currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), a 17,000-member professional association of U.S. diplomats. Before joining the Foreign Service, Holly worked in trade finance in the Chicago. Holly and her husband Landon have three young sons, who call Wisconsin and New Orleans their home.
Benjamin Lentini
SVP Global Planning Solutions & Operations for 7thonline, Inc.
7thonline, Inc. specializes in merchandise planning and demand forecasting solutions for global retailers and wholesale brands in the apparel/footwear/accessories industries. Benjamin has over 25 years merchandising and planning experience in both the retail and wholesale sectors. Prior to 7thonline, he was Vice President of Merchandising for Designs, Inc. which operated the Original Levi’s and Levi’s Outlet stores. He also was Chief Operating Officer for Belly Basics, a manufacturer of high end maternity apparel and accessories sold to retailers like Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom. Benjamin also spent time in management consulting working for Arthur Anderson as the lead Project Management consultant for their Retail Merchandising practice. Benjamin is currently the President of Camp AweSum, Inc., which organizes summer camps for children on the Autism Spectrum. Benjamin received Bachelor of Science degrees in Management and Marketing from Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ.
“My participation in the UCCI Board originates with my blessed involvement with Camp AweSum. Being engaged with such an outstanding organization and knowing that UCCI shares the same mission and commitment allows me the opportunity to further realize my spiritual purpose”.
Nathan Litt
Head of Operations, Homestead Studio
Nathan Litt is Head of Operations for Homestead Studio, a startup digital growth agency, located in Appleton, WI. He has a diverse background that includes fundraising for a higher education institution, project and account management for creative/marketing agencies, helping launch and run a music festival, and working as a marketing manager for a startup coffee company. Nathan is involved with several non-profit organizations in his community including the Advisory Committee for Public Affairs at Lawrence University and the N.E.W. Professional Advisory Committee for the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. He is an alumnus of Lawrence University in Appleton, WI. Nathan and his wife Bekka enjoy reading, music, traveling, being active outdoors, and relaxing “up north”.
”I serve on the UCCI Board because I believe in and value Outdoor Ministry and want to help position the organization for continued success as well as reach new audiences”.
Rev. Franz Rigert
Conference Minister, Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ
Franz Rigert grew up in Delavan, Wisconsin, where his father served the Congregational UCC church for more than 30 years. He attended UW Eau Claire and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a minor in religious studies. In 1989 Franz enrolled in graduate school at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. In 1991 he married his spouse Trinn, and in 1992 earned a Masters of Divinity Degree. Franz then served as Associate Minister at Kingswood United Methodist Church in Buffalo Grove, IL from 1992 to 1995. Following that, Franz was called to Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Grafton, Wisconsin, where he served for nearly 20 years. During that tenure the congregation grew significantly in membership and mission, eventually taking on a major building project that would provide a beautiful new sanctuary, seven classrooms and much needed gathering space. In fall of 2014, Franz was called by the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ, to serve as Conference Minister. Franz and Trinn make their home in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, where Trinn has taught Early Childhood Special Education for 25 years. They share three twenty-something children – Mitchell, Jordan and Marianna. Franz enjoys mounting hiking, travel, music and nature.
Rev Lance Smith
Pastor- Zwingli United Church of Christ, Monticello WI.Lance Smith, Pastor of Zwingli United Church of Christ Monticello WI. Come to Wisconsin form North Carolina where he and his Wife Heather Directed a Farm Day camp experience for children K -9 grade for fourteen summers. The smith family operated their day camp on a 18 ac. Homestead farm, Gardening , cooking, preserving vegetables, animal husbandry were added to traditional camp craft swimming tubing and native lore. Lance Spent year leading youth groups and developing faith formation programs in North Carolina before becoming a pastor, He has been the pastor of Zwingli since August 2016. He and His wife Heather have two sons Isaac a music education major and Ezekiel a music theater major both enrolled in UW Steven Point.