Meet the Class of 2024! This is a dedicated group of individuals representing some amazing businesses and organizations that embody the very best of Lake Geneva. From left to right are; Pat Herman, Deb Otlewis, and Kathleen Papcke of the Geneva Lake Women's Association, Walt Chadick, with Yerkes Observatory, Donald Driver, Dianna Colman with the Yerkes Future Foundation, Tai Serna and Anthony Silvestri with Magpies Den & Pen, and Emily Trainor with Queen Bee Artisan Market.
Citizen of the Year Award: Dianna Colman
Presented to a person who represents the Lake Geneva region at its very best, consistently making a positive difference.
Dianna Colman will not be denied.
She is best known for the amazing, transformational and relentlessly optimistic crusade to preserve and protect the historic Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay. But her involvement and commitment to the region’s well-being goes back years. She has been a strong advocate for the Lake Geneva Fresh Air Association and Holiday Home Camp. She and her husband Charles have been involved with conservation causes. She has volunteered in classrooms and raised money for fire and rescue in the Town of Linn and Fontana.
But in 2018, when the University of Chicago decided it was done with Yerkes, “I just couldn’t let it go.” At the time, she freely admits now, she had no idea what she was in for. Years of visioning and planning, long hours of due diligence, negotiating, dealing with lawyers and regulatory matters, setting up structure and organization and, often, just rolling up her sleeves and getting down to the dirty work. Her commitment was contagious, drawing in others from fundraising to sweat equity, preparing the way for electricians, architects, carpenters, masons, painters and more, many of whom agreed to work at heavily discounted rates.
The result is nothing short of astonishing. Yerkes not only has a past and present, it has a future, a beacon for science and a jewel for the community.
Dianna deserves much of the credit, but she’s quick to deflect and praise the team and the scientists who call Yerkes home. Still, it’s personal for her. “You always think that you want to do something once that is memorable,” she says. “You have your family, friends, everything else. But I live in this community and I love the people here. It would have been devastating (to lose Yerkes). This is something that lasts.” Dianna acknowledges she often spent wakeful nights worrying over her “terrifying obsession,” which caused her “to cry a lot on this project, because I just didn’t want to let the people down.”
You can leave that worry behind, Dianna. Your work speaks for itself.
Business of the Year Award: Magpie’s Den and Pen
Presented to a business or organization that exemplifies excellence in business culture and embodies social responsibility by giving back to the local community.
“We’re both dreamers. We would sit and talk about what Lake Geneva needed, and we would come up with ideas and different names for it, bouncing it off each other for hours.”
So says Tai Starr Serna, half the dreamer-team with Anthony Silvestri. They are the managing partners at Magpie’s, which they opened together less than three years ago. It has quickly become one of Lake Geneva’s top destinations for good food, good drinks and good times. Their skill sets matched the dream. Anthony had management experience with his family’s chain of salons, along with a carpentry and building background. Tai had spent time in retail management. Both had worked in the bar and restaurant industry. Together they concluded, “We can do this.”
The dream is a rousing success, regularly packing the house while providing about 50 jobs. The interior is cozy and welcoming. The large outdoor space provides not only dining and drinks, but fun games and live music in-season. Anthony and Tai have grown their business to include the renovated Fat Cats cocktail bar downtown and a busy food truck. More growth and features are coming, they say.
Not only are they successful entrepreneurs, but Anthony and Tai have a growing reputation as generous supporters of Lake Geneva causes and initiatives. “There are a lot of good people who have supported us,” says Anthony. “Your business is only as strong as the community that surrounds it.”
Tai is most gratified when their dream is shared. By annually hosting more than 100 wedding, anniversary and birthday parties “we’re making dreams and special moments happen for people.”
Hospitality Award: Walt Chadick and the team at Yerkes Observatory
Presented to a person, business or organization who exemplifies outstanding customer service, care and hospitality.
“We’re talking about a region, a town, a lakefront area that since the mid-1800s has been known for hospitality. It’s built on service. This is a special place. The relationship to visitors needed to be genuine and it needed to be preserved because you can’t keep people away from here.”
Don’t let the soft southern drawl of Walt Chadick, a transplanted Arkansan, fool you. He is a force, a do-er and a true believer as program director for Yerkes, thoroughly committed to building unforgettable experiences for the tens of thousands of annual visitors to the historic site. He’s determined no visitor will leave with a B-minus experience, only A-plus, which he laughs and says, “is a sneaky way to teach people about astrophysics.”
Walt came to work at Yerkes about three years ago, but it was hardly his first brush with the famous institution. In fact, he and his wife were married “under the great refractor telescope, and no one had ever done that before.” He came in the midst of the Yerkes transformation, when “I didn’t know how it was going to play out, but I knew that because this was a little pocket of paradise there was a place for me.”
He is quick to praise the team – from the scientists to support staff – for creating a welcome animating experience for visitors and school kids to enjoy tours, speakers, concerts, observation nights, even the World’s Tallest Glass Tree Festival. Working with a host of community supporters, the team has been instrumental in saving and restoring the 127-year-old site.
“This is a very important group in the history of this institute,” Walt says. “It could have been gone. It was very close to being gone. It was headed for a resort or a condo association or a conference center. This first group of employees – 10-12 now – is very important in this timeline. I feel such a sense of honor.”
He’s excited to share more, with plans in the coming months and years for an accessible playground based on a supernova, to a 200-seat events theater. It’s all about the history and thrill of discovery – an ongoing process, no end in sight.
Rising Star Award: Emily Trainor
Presented to a person, organization, or business who, in five years or less in their respective field, has made a substantial impact in their profession.
It all started with an ice sculpture of a bee.
The Winterfest sculpture stood outside Queen Bee Artisan Market, and that’s when opportunity met commitment for Lake Geneva visitor Emily Trainor. Coming out of the pandemic, “I felt like I was ready for a change.” She and her husband sold their car, their house, bought the store and moved to Lake Geneva. “It was exciting and it was risky. That kind of calculated risk is what is making me helpful to the artists.”
With a background in nonprofit management and retail, Emily was ready to work with artists and producers. “We’re not the traditional retail store. We’re building relationships with these artists and makers.” The store is an eclectic blend of food items – honey, of course – jewelry, clothing and inspirational, funny wall hangings and household decorations. The newest, and growing, feature involves honey tastings and pairings – think wine tasting, but with the sweet nectar rather than the grape.
Emily is committed to Lake Geneva and to her store’s ethic of working with local and state producers and artists to expose their work while making a difference for the community. “Lake Geneva is the best of everything,” she says. “All the charm of a small town, with the lake and the beautiful nature.”
The Rising Star recognition “is also for all of our makers. Every day they call me with community efforts or fundraisers they’re supporting” and Emily embraces the opportunities to help artists and her adopted community.
Community Betterment Award: Geneva Lake Women’s Association
Presented to a non-profit organization which enhances and improves the quality of life in the Lake Geneva region.
For six decades – 2024 marks their Diamond Anniversary – the Geneva Lake Women’s Association has extended helping hands to the people of Walworth County.
Here are just a few of the dozens of charitable causes that benefit: Dementia Friendly Community Initiative; VFW Post 2373; Walworth County Literacy Council; Walworth County Food and Diaper Bank; Never Say Never Playground. It’s a long (and growing) list.
Three major fundraisers provide rocket fuel for the group’s good works. Women’s Weekend raised $20,000 this year. The Ladies Day Luncheon raised $40,000. The upcoming Bling It On Gala is projected to net $60,000. For those keeping score that’s $120,000 to provide direct assistance, bolster programs and make life better for people who need a hand. One long-time program, Safety Town, goes back four decades with a summer event to teach safety skills to 5-year-olds, with the help of high school volunteers.
President Pam Wenc says the 80 members – and they’re always looking for more – are committed to helping others and having a good time while they do it. A total of 66 charities have been helped this year and, she said, in addition to providing dollars “our members often go to the charity events and donate their time and work.”
“We attract members because when you look at our brand, we’re out there,” Pam says. “People see what we’re doing and want to be part of it.” To join, sign up for an upcoming event, to donate, or to request help as a Walworth County charity, go to glwa.net.
Check out the gallery of event photographs, click the image below to see how our partners celebrated and relive the fun at the Annual Dinner and Impact Awards.
