Pam Sippel – 2024 Senior Co-Chair

Meet Pam Sippel, a high-spirited, community-minded ally! As the Director of Operations for the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac, Pam has spent over 14 years ensuring that the Club’s elementary and teen members receive the best care possible. Her passion for serving kids is matched only by her commitment to positively impacting the entire community.

Pam is a master of partnerships, having created strong alliances with the local public school district to ensure a seamless continuum of care for the young adults of Fond du Lac. But her reach doesn’t stop there! Pam is also the Council Director for Girls on the Run Fond du Lac County, a Co-Chair for Walk to End Alzheimer’s of Fond du Lac County, a Mount Calvary Lights Committee member and a Treffert Center Board Member.

Despite her many accomplishments, Pam remains grounded in her roots. She grew up in the Holyland with five sisters and attended Winnebago Lutheran Academy.  Pam loves spending time with her family and friends when she’s not busy improving the community.  Pam has been a part of Walleye Weekend for many years – from going to the Mercury National Weigh-ins to see all her friends competing to volunteering for the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac in the Cheese Curd tent or in past years helping with volleyball and other volunteering needs.

J.J. Raflik – 2024 Senior Co-Chair

JJ is entering his 23rd year with the Fond du Lac Family YMCA, where he has been serving as the CEO/Executive Director since 2019. In his time, Raflik has overseen growth in several areas including programs, membership, and community collaboration efforts.

JJ currently is involved with several committees, boards and service clubs, some of which include Fond du Lac Noon Kiwanis, Fond du Lac Noon Rotary Board of Directors, Downtown Fond Lac Partnership Board of Directors, Healthy Fond du Lac County Steering Committee, Leadership Fond du Lac Advisory Committee.

JJ has been involved with Walleye Weekend for over 2 decades supporting the Y and Fond du Lac Festivals with involvement in running the 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament, the Walleye Weekend Bike Ride, Noon Kiwanis food tent, and most recently the Fondy Football Challenge.

A native of Lomira, WI, Raflik earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, Majoring in Recreation Management from Marian College in 2003. He resides in Fond du Lac with his wife, Angie and two daughters, Jillian and Audrey.

Joe Venhuizen – 2024 Junior Co-Chair

Joe believes that Fond du Lac County’s best days are ahead of us. He represents the interests of the regional business community, working in collaboration on initiatives for workforce and economic development. Always believing that business is a force for good, Joe advocates for solutions to common problems that harness the power of industry to build a greater community.

Walleye Weekend is an outstanding tool for building community investment, a critical asset for economic development. Joe enjoys the many family fun activities that the festival provides, especially the kids fishing tournament and the community worship service on Sunday morning. While he didn’t grow up in Fond du Lac, Joe has adopted Walleye Weekend as an annual tradition, and is raising his three young children to be Walleye Weekend fanatics.

Joe lives in Fond du Lac with his wife Melissa and three sons Jude, Asher, and Ezra. He serves as a Deacon for Grace Evangelical Free Church on the corner of 18th and Ellis St.

Amber Bodart – 2024 Junior Co-Chair

Amber values community. She prides herself in seeking out ways to enhance the quality of life for others in a dependable way, so we can all live happier; more harmonious lives.
As Branch Manager at Verve a Credit Union, Amber is dedicated to serving her community while balancing the joys of motherhood with two energetic boys.
Amber also serves on the Young Professionals of Fond du Lac Marketing Committee and Advisory Council. When she isn’t volunteering in the community, you can find her at her son’s sporting events, golfing, gardening in her yard, reading or enjoying a day at the beach.
A lifelong resident of Fond du Lac and a passionate community supporter, you can also find her along with her sons, Jonah and Finnigan, at a variety of local events such as the Farmers Market, THELMA’s 13 Thursdays of Summer and Walleye Weekend.
A fond memory Amber shared is attending Walleye Weekend when she was young. She won the radar throw and remembers being particularly excited to go down to the Sheriff’s office and pick up her trophy and portfolio of baseball cards.