Four Lakeland grads to be honored as part of Homecoming
Lakeland University will honor four individuals and induct the newest members into the Emeritus Club as part of this fall’s Homecoming festivities on September 25-27.
A brunch reception and program will start at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, September 26. Cost is $20/person and registration is required via the Lakeland Homecoming webpage, which will be available beginning on June 25 at 1 p.m.
Members of the 1976 class are complimentary. Class members should contact Sydney Pingitore, director of alumni and community relations, at 920-565-1023 ext. 2159 or alumni@lakeland.edu to reserve their spot.
Membership into the esteemed Emeritus Club is limited to alumni with a Mission House or Lakeland College graduation date of at least half-a-century ago. The newest members of this respected club are annually inducted during Homecoming and recognized for their longstanding relationship with their alma mater. All Emeritus Club members and members of the class of 1976 are welcome this year.
Lakeland will also present four individual awards:
Barb LaMue is president and founder of Pebble Rock Partners LLC, Building Business and Community from the Ground Up, a consulting firm that specializes in practical economic growth strategies for businesses, communities, educational and non-profit organizations.
In addition, LaMue is a member of the Lakeland University Board of Trustees and President Emeritus of New North, Inc., the 18-county regional economic development corporation serving northeast Wisconsin. She previously served as vice president of economic and community development for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).
She holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh along with her bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics from Lakeland. She is a Certified Economic Developer, a designation awarded by the International Economic Development Council that is the industry gold standard for excellence in the profession. She also received her Economic Development Finance Professional certification through the National Development Council.
In northeast Wisconsin, LaMue leads Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce’s Executive Forum, where top executives engage in a curated, C-suite-focused leadership curriculum designed to foster growth, connection, and strategic insight.
She has been recognized as one of Wisconsin’s 275 Most Influential Leaders by BizTimes Media in both 2023 and 2024, received the Women of Influence - Lifetime Achievement Award from Insight on Business, and has been named to Wisconsin’s Titan 100 CEOs. She has also been appointed by governors of both parties to serve on various state commissions.
She currently serves on the boards of the Transportation Development Association, Wisconsin Business Development-Executive Board, Wisconsin Procurement Institute, On Broadway Inc., Wisconsin Innovation Board, Advisory Board and Executive in Residence for the Schreiber Institute for Women’s Leadership at UW-Green Bay, and the International Economic Development Council. She is a Commissioner with the Brown County Harbor Commission, mentor with the Green Bay Packers Mentor Protégé Program, and advisory board member of African Heritage, Inc. She also serves on the board for the Franki Moscato Foundation to prevent young adult suicide and promote mental wellness.
Stan Zoller spent more than 50 years as a journalist, journalism educator and First Amendment and civic engagement advocate.
While attending Lakeland, he was editor for two years of The Mirror during which time the paper was honored by the Associate Collegiate Press with two First Class Honor ratings. As a journalist, Zoller wrote for a variety of publications at the local, regional and national level including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Dayton Journal Herald & Daily News. He continues to produce a news blog about his hometown of Buffalo Grove, Ill.
As a journalism educator, Zoller advised the student newspapers at Waukegan (Ill.) and Rolling Meadows (Ill.) high schools. He has a Master Journalism Educator certification from the Journalism Education Association (JEA). He was also a lecturer of journalism at Lake Forest (Ill.) College. He has taught at numerous summer journalism workshops including programs at the University of Iowa and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Passionate about First Amendment rights and student press rights, Zoller co-chaired the successful passage of the Speech Rights for Scholastic Journalists legislation in Illinois that was signed into law in 2016.
In addition to his work in education, he has been active with the professional journalism community, serving as a board member of the Chicago Headline Club, the largest local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He is a board member of the Citizen Advocacy Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to building democracy for the 21st Century.
Zoller has been honored for his work in journalism and journalism education by regional, state and national organizations. He has won numerous awards including lifetime achievement awards from the JEA and the Illinois Journalism Education Association. He is in the Hall of Fame for the Illinois JEA and the Kettle Moraine Press Association.
In addition to his bachelor’s in English from Lakeland, he has a master of arts in secondary education from Roosevelt University. He has done post-graduate work at Stony Brook University (New York), Hampton University (Virginia), Kansas State University and Indiana University.
Lisa Stephan, executive director for Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization, is a dynamic and collaborative leader with more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, higher education, community engagement and student development.
Known for her employee-centered approach, strategic vision and commitment to creating inclusive and supportive environments, Stephan has dedicated her career to empowering individuals, strengthening organizations and building meaningful community partnerships.
Since 2019, she has served as executive director of SCIO, where she oversees multiple community programs, leads fundraising and grant initiatives, manages organizational operations and budgeting, and cultivates partnerships across the Sheboygan community. Under her leadership, the organization has advanced diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, strengthened community collaborations and expanded its impact through innovative programming and strategic outreach.
Prior to her nonprofit leadership role, Stephan devoted more than 27 years to Lakeland, serving in numerous leadership positions including regional director, director of career development, senior director for student development, academic advisor and student success coach.
Throughout her tenure, she championed student success, developed impactful career and leadership programs, expanded internship opportunities, strengthened employer and community partnerships and mentored both students and emerging professionals. Her work consistently reflected a passion for personal growth, belonging and lifelong learning.
She has actively contributed to numerous community organizations, faith-based initiatives, leadership networks and volunteer programs throughout the region. She is also a frequent presenter for nonprofit, civic, educational and community groups, sharing expertise on leadership, partnerships, strengths development and organizational engagement.
Stephan earned her master of arts in counseling with a higher education emphasis and her bachelor of arts in psychology and sociology from Lakeland. Her career reflects a lifelong dedication to service, collaboration and helping others reach their fullest potential.
In his role as chief executive office and director of advisory at Wisconsin-based accounting firm Vesta, Nathan Volkomener leads Vesta’s executive team with a forward-thinking, strategy-first mindset.
A self-described futurist, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s direction, fostering innovation and aligning teams around a shared vision. His leadership spans growth planning, business model evolution and the development of Vesta’s next generation of service offerings.
With deep roots in Sheboygan County, Volkomener is known for meeting owners where they are, helping them navigate the complex intersections of business, leadership and long-term planning.
In addition to a bachelors in accounting from Lakeland, he holds a master’s in accountancy from Marquette University. Over the course of his career, he has worked alongside business owners through launch, expansion, succession and sale. As a trusted advisor, he brings practical insights, calm guidance and a bias toward action.
Along with his professional work, Volkomener is an active community leader and board member. He serves on a variety of nonprofit and for-profit boards and has been instrumental in several civic and business development projects.
