Commissioner Backgrounds

If you have issues or suggestions to discuss, please contact us. Our members take great pride in the lake and want to see it improved. Everyone has good ideas that can help our lake District. We look forward to working with you.

Dusten Tornow – Chairperson
My wife, Kirsten, and I purchased our cabin on Horsehead Lake (the A-Frame on the west side of the lake) in fall of 2020 and enjoy spending our free time up there. We reside in Wausau, WI full time and both work from home so we’re able to be “up north” frequently. I have a background in technology and work as a Product Manager at Dell. I have been involved in the new aerator project and when I was asked if I’d be interested in volunteering as a Board member I gladly agreed. I’m excited to get more involved and help support and protect the lake that we all enjoy.

Dave Averbeck – Treasurer
After three years of renting in the Northwoods, we bought a small cottage on Horsehead Lake in 2011. The cottage was expanded over the winter of  2013-2014 to better accommodate our family.  Dave retired in 2020 (water treatment engineer) and loves water skiing and motorcycling.  Wife Kathy is a retired computer programmer/analyst and enjoys quilting, gardening and volunteer work.  We live in the town of Lisbon in Waukesha County and enjoy having friends and family at the lake when we can.  Grandson Wyatt especially loves to come to the cottage for tubing and his favorite activity – fishing.

Kevin Collins – Secretary
Nancy and I discovered Horsehead Lake and our “Cabin…eh’ in July of 2017 while looking for a place in the Northwoods. I consider that we are relatively new to Horsehead Lake, having been a resident for only six years, but we are trying to learn all about our little heaven on earth. Both of us have enjoyed coming up to the Northwoods starting back in the 80’s. Each season brings new activities to do. Horsehead Lake seems to be ideal for all activities, whether it’s tubing with the family, fishing or kayaking and commuting with nature.

I graduated with a chemistry degree back when there were only 106 elements. My career started in environmental engineering and ended as a computer programming consultant. I’m still dabbling in chemistry as I perform the water sampling on Horsehead Lake for the DNR. Nancy received her Master’s in Architecture (structures) at University of Illinois. She has both an Architect and Engineer license with the state of Illinois. We have recently retired and are spending more time up at the lake.

We also have two sons. Mike is a nuclear engineer at Quad Cities Nuclear Plant near Davenport, IA. Jonathan has a computer science degree and is an IT support specialist. They both enjoy coming up to the lake to get away.

We enjoy watching the sunsets whether from the party deck or from our living room. And to hear the eagles and loons calling throughout the day is a treat for our whole family. So far, we have had numerous birds and animals passing thru our property. We are avid fishermen and love dipping our lines in the various lakes in the area. The northern pike from Horsehead are fun to catch and delicious to eat.

As your commissioner, I welcome any questions, comments and insights that you may have for bettering Horsehead Lake.

Lenore Lopez- Commissioner
Lake Tomahawk Town Board Representative
I taught high school art on the south side of Chicago for 21 years.  I started going to a YMCA family camp in Lac DuFlambeau since childhood and have been enchanted with the Northwoods since that time.  My family still goes to the same family camp going on 67 years.  They visit me often and I travel to Chicago to visit family and in particular, my daughter. I miss the great diverse restaurants there! I bought my home in 2012 and moved here permanently in 2017 when I retired.  I like being part of this community and have enjoyed all the connections I’ve made.

Jim Winkler – Commissioner
Oneida County Board Representative
Hi! I am Jim Winkler, District 10 Oneida County Board Supervisor representing Ward 3 & 4 of Newbold. I am currently the chairman for the Oneida County Conservation and UW Extension Committee. Our committee oversees the seven Lake Districts in our county.  My wife Kathy and I have been residents of Newbold since 2004 and have been married for nearly 52 years. We have visited Horsehead Lake a couple of times and I am excited to join your team of commissioners. Feel free to contact me.