In the summer of 2016 four families of dreamers and doers rallied together to bid on and win the GSA auction for the North Manitou Shoal Light. Daniel and Anna Oginsky, Dave and Sherry McWilliam, Todd and Natalie Buckley, and Jake and Suzanne Kaberle founded North Manitou Light Keepers (NMLK), with the goal of acquiring The Crib and completing its restoration. Officially, NMLK was established on August 16, 2016 as a Michigan non-profit corporation named North Manitou Light Keepers, Inc. NMLK is managed by its board of directors, who are Daniel Oginsky (President), Anna Oginsky, Dave McWilliam, Todd Buckley, and Jake Kaberle.
North Manitou Light Keepers Board of Directors
Daniel Oginsky, President
Daniel is a proud Michigan native, born and raised in Flint. He, his wife Anna, and their three kids now live in Brighton, Michigan and enjoy time at their home in Elk Rapids, Michigan. Daniel is a senior executive at a company headquartered in Michigan that owns, maintains, and operates infrastructure in seven states across the U.S. He grew up working in the garage and restoring old cars into show cars, and he loves family, history, Lake Michigan, art, and Michigan State University. Daniel is dedicated to making awesome things and making things awesome, and he is excited to make the North Manitou Shoal Light beautiful and open to the public.
Anna Oginsky
As a child Anna spent summers camping with her family in Kalkaska. She loves Lake Michigan and was delighted to learn that Daniel shared that love when she met him as a sophomore at Michigan State. She is now happiest when exploring and making memories with Daniel and their three children in Northern Michigan. Anna published her first book, the award-winning, My New Friend, Grief in the summer of 2016. She offers classes and retreats designed to help guests tune in to their own inner wisdom through her business, Heart Connected. She can’t wait to help transform the Crib!
Dave McWilliam
Dave was born and raised in Farmington Hills, and currently lives in Brighton. Father of two children and husband of Sherry, Dave has vacationed in the Leelanau and Traverse City area his entire life. Dave is a pilot for Delta Airlines, and on his days off enjoys working outside on his small hobby farm growing crops and caring for his animals. He is excited to be a part of the restoration team that will restore and open the Crib to the community, and looks forward to the complex challenges that this project will offer.
Todd Buckley
Todd resides in Brighton, Michigan and has spent many summers in Northern Michigan. He and his wife, Natalie, are proud graduates of Michigan State University and own a residential real estate brokerage in Brighton. They enjoy traveling with their teenage boys, especially to US National Parks. In their travels they also gravitate to lighthouses and have toured many throughout the country. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has always been a special place for Todd and he is thrilled to be involved with the North Manitou Light Keepers in their pursuit to restore the Crib.
JAKE KABERlE
Born and raised in Traverse City, Michigan, Jake always has loved being on the water. Jake is the General Manager and operating partner of Burritts Fresh Market in Traverse City. A father of three and husband of Suzanne, Jake spends his free time on Long Lake, mountain bike riding, and day trips hiking in Leelanau County. Jake’s passion for restoring the North Manitou Shoal Light comes from years of charter fishing out of Leland, hikes on Pyramid Point, and adventures to South Manitou Island.