Meet Our Team!
Charissa Smith
Camp Administrator
Charissa loves the Lord and loves kids! She started volunteering at Timberlake as a teenager, worked there through her college years, and has never stopped being involved. Charissa serves as the Administrator at Timberlake where she leads daily operations and works with her team to craft incredible programming for kids of all ages. She has a deep calling to show young people God’s love and truth, encouraging them to be all they were created to be in Jesus! Planning and organizing the day to day things at camp allows for Charissa’s love for Jesus and kids to come together in great ways at camp. When not at Timberlake, you will find Charissa by the water, drinking coffee and spending time with her family..
Joel Linn
Director Of Development
Joel is a loving husband, proud dad to three amazing daughters and an avid coffee drinker. He currently serves as the Director of Development where he focuses on building strong partnerships with area churches for the mission of reaching the next generation with the hope of the Gospel. His passion for camping ministry is deeply personal, having made a decision to follow Christ during his 8th grade summer at Timberlake. As luck would have it Joel also met his wife Teresa at Timberlake just a few years later. Joel and his wife Teressa now live in Stromsburg, NE where Joel is a leader in his local church, and they enjoy chasing their three daughters around to school activities. Spend two minutes with Joel and you will catch his excitement for Timberlake and the future of youth ministry within the midwest.
Joe Cissel
Maintenance Director
Joe loves Jesus and loves people. His heart’s desire is to show the Truth and the Love of Jesus to everyone that he meets. Serving as the Maintenance Director, Joe is able to leverage his wealth of knowledge through practical ways as he takes care of facilities at camp! He enjoys working with volunteers who come to Timberlake for work projects because it allows him to nurture their faith and share his pastoral heart. He is currently the pastor at Restoration Place in Palmer, Ne. Joe and his wife Tammie have 5 grown kids and 11 grandkids. When Joe is not at camp, church or home, you will find him on his motorcycle investing in others through motorcycle ministries.
Joy Young
Guest Services Director
Returning to Timberlake is a full-circle experience for Joy who serves as the Guest Service Director. Joy served as a wrangler at Timberlake in college for three summers which ignited a passion for Christian camping and working with youth. It sparked a fifteen-year career in camp ministry, followed by eight years teaching at an international school in Cambodia. Back in Huskerland and the camp ministry world, Joy leverages her experience and unwavering passion to create Christ-centered camp memories that inspire hope in Christ. When not immersed in camp life, Joy is a loving mom to a teen daughter and a spirited puppy. She enjoys the simple pleasures of life, like sipping a warm cup of coffee or immersing herself in the pages of a good book, and exploring the beauty of the outdoors. She eagerly anticipates the opportunity to assist you in planning your next Timberlake adventure.
Nadine Myers
Kitchen Lead
Nadine’s servant heart shines through brightly in her work at Timberlake. As the Kitchen Manager, she plans, prepares and serves meals for our guest groups and summer campers. Nadine’s greatest gift is how she cares for everyone that connects with her. She radiates love and you can definitely taste it in her food! She loves Jesus and is so happy to share her talents by feeding us well! When she is not at camp, you will find her traveling to new adventures with friends and spending time with her 4 grown kids and 10 grandkids.
Micki Hall
Hospitality Coordinator
Micki grew up in Nebraska and graduated from University of Nebraska at Kearney. She began attending Timberlake as an elementary age camper and has continued to be part of camp ever since. She volunteered as a Junior Cabin Leader in high school and worked as a summer staffer for several summers during her college years. Micki currently serves as the Hospitality Coordinator, helping to ensure that every person who steps onto camp has an incredible experience. She loves camp and the message of the Gospel that permeates everything we do at Timberlake. She loves the outdoors and adventures that take her to see more of God’s beautiful creation! When she is not at camp, you will find her enjoying nature in her hammock while reading a good book.