2026 Elected Candidates
As per the DLYC Bylaws, an election of Club Officers is to be conducted annually. The nomination committee presents a list of candidates for Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Executive Treasurer, Recording Secretary and Board of Governors. Full, Senior and Past Commodore members of our Club are eligible to submit their votes. The final results of the election of officers are conducted by the three Full Club members acting as our election tellers. These tellers confirm the votes and present results to the membership during our annual meeting in September. The list of elected 2026 Club Officers are presented below including their photo and brief biography.
2026 Commodore (1-Year Term)
Mark Schaffner
Fellow members. My name is Mark Schaffner, and I am running for the position of Commodore for the upcoming season. It has been my privilege and honor to serve on the board of directors of our club for the past 6 consecutive years. During my time on the board, I have watched many improvements at DLYC. My goal in the next year is to see this positive environment continue and flourish. My hope is to not only improve what we have but also to bring back some traditions from the past that helped mold this club into what it is today.
I grew up in Hudson and married my high school sweetheart Rachel. We will be celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary this December. We have been members of the Devils Lake Yacht Club since 1998. Our three children have not only enjoyed growing up at the club but have also been employed and members. Now our Grandson is coming aboard to enjoy all the fun too. I love spending summers at our cottage on Devils Lake and finishing a summer night having dinner on the patio at DLYC.
In the past I have served on the board of Lenawee Farm Bureau, the Boys and Girls Club of Lenawee and Crossroads Community Church. I am also a member of many agricultural and marketing organizations and committees. I graduated from Central Michigan University in 1990. In the past I have worked for Shearson Lehman Hutton, Solomon Smith Barney, and Smith Barney as a securities/commodity broker and agricultural marketing consultant. After this I was a member of a private consulting firm that dealt in agricultural markets and commodity hedging. I am currently a self-employed local farmer and marketing consultant.
I have been a member of many clubs over the years but have not found one as unique and special as ours. I am looking forward to being a part of what the future will bring DLYC, and I am excited to be running for the position of Commodore.
2026 Vice Commodore (1-Year Term)
Jeff Tagsold
Growing up in Blissfield MI, Jeff, along with his brother Doug and sister Linda (Cantrell), started spending summers on Devils Lake in the 1960s.
Their father, Parker Tagsold, was an active member of DLYC. Jeff’s fondest childhood memories of his grandparents’ cottage in Echo Cove and his father’s house further north on Devils Lake prompted him and his wife Laura to purchase a cottage on Round Lake in 2005. Jeff and Laura wanted to provide similar great times for their four children, all adults now.
Jeff attended Central Michigan University, majoring in both Mathematics and Economics. Immediately after graduating, Jeff started a 37 plus year career with Auto-Owners Insurance Company, based in Lansing, Michigan. After gaining experience in many areas within the company, Jeff was named President in 2010, and became CEO in 2018. He has recently transitioned into retirement which has enabled him to have more time to devote to DLYC board responsibilities. Jeff and Laura have been active members since 2008.
2026 Rear Commodore (1-Year Term)
Brent Mercer and his wife Monica have been year-round Devils Lake residents since 2009. They have five children and eight grandchildren. Brent is a partner and Senior tax manager at Donna Baker and Associates, a CPA firm in Adrian. They were also previous owners of The Buoy at the Lake. Brent was previously the treasurer of the club for the last three terms and held a board of director position for the yacht club for two terms prior to that.
Brent has been involved with many nonprofits in the Lenawee County area such as Noon Rotary Club, Adrian Rotary foundation, Neighbors of hope and the Sam Beauford Woodworking institute. When not enjoying the use of DLYC you may find him on Lake Erie, where he is a member of Monroe boat club and the Put-In-Bay Crews Nest.
He looks forward to serving the club as your Rear Commodore, giving the members a voice in all the exciting things the club has in store. With his sound financial knowledge and leadership skills he will be working to develop an ever more thriving and vibrant club for everyone to enjoy with their family. With this he asks for your vote in the upcoming election for the DLYC board of directors’ Rear Commodore position.
2026 Executive Treasurer (1-Year Term)
Mark Blaufuss
Hello fellow DLYC members! My name is Mark Blaufuss, and I am seeking the opportunity to serve as the Executive Treasurer for DLYC. My family and I have been part of the Devils/Round Lake community since 2011 and have been proud members of DLYC for over 10 years.
I am a semi-retired financial executive and have focused my efforts on consulting, teaching, and board work since I hung up the full-time work in 2017. I currently serve on several non-profit boards including Ele’s Place, MCE Social Capital and Marbella Condominiums. I also currently serve on several for profit boards including Bluebird Industries, Worldpac, Old World Industries, Roop/Highway, Niles Industrial and the Jason Group. I also work as a consultant in the private equity space working with The Carlyle Group and teach a master’s level mergers and acquisitions class at Michigan State University.
I was recently blessed with the opportunity to be a key team member for our first ever DLYC Corks and Kegs festival this spring. The festival by all accounts was a tremendous success - and a great way to highlight the club and our amazing members and staff.
I believe I will bring my unique mix of community, business, financial and leadership experience which I’ve developed over my 35-year career to the role of Executive Treasurer. If elected, I would bring my passion for leadership, financial responsibility and common sense to DLYC, along with my love of the area and the lakes. I appreciate your consideration for this position and hope I can have the opportunity to serve our valued members and our tremendous club!
2026 Recording Secretary (1-Year Term)
Mike Clark
Present Secretary DLYC, Renovation Chairman DLYC 2006-2020, Past Commodore 2006, Chairman Pleasant Grove Hotel Historical Society, Inc. 501c3 from 2013 to present, Chairman Devils and Round Lakes Fireworks Display, Inc. 1984-2023, Rollin Township Supervisor 1986-1992 and re-elected in 2025 for four year term, Owner Air Center, Inc. 1986-2022.
Married to Terri Clark with four children Sarah, Melissa, Laura, and Elizabeth and two grandchildren Jack and Lillian.
2026 Board of Governors (3-Year Term)
Gary Geiger
Devil’s Lake and particularly Devil’s Lake Yacht Club will always hold special memories for me and my family. My parents introduced our family to Devil’s Lake when I was just 4 years old. They also joined DLYC early on and remained members for over 40 years.
My wife, Theresa and I have continued the tradition with our four children playing on the beach, dining and attending the social events. We have owned a co age on Devil’s since 2011 and are now enjoying the club amenities with the next generation of grandchildren.
We are always so proud of the club when bringing guests to DLYC. Having a place on the water to boat to for drinks, dinner and music is very special and certainly unique in the Irish Hills area. I would love to now be a part of serving the club that has been such a big part of my life.
My wife, Theresa and I have fallen for lake life and are now full-me residents on Devils Lake. I have been in finance for over 39 years and am a Senior Advisor with SJS Investment Services in Sylvania. I have served on numerous boards and committees over the years and know the importance of service and leadership to these organizations.
I’m eager for the opportunity to help preserve the history of The Club along with helping to cultivate a future for our kids, grandkids and beyond to enjoy the same memories that I have had for many years. The club has enjoyed a strong membership roster since the renovation and loyal support of the dining, dancing and social events. I would welcome the opportunity to serve on the board and help continue the current trajectory of the club. Thank you for your consideration!
Rene Kullman
I started at the Yacht Club in the early 2000s when my twins were young and just learning how to swim, aka, swimming lessons at the club (we soon learned about chiggers in the water) and proudly returned as a member in 2018 when my husband and I moved to Round Lake. I have been in the restaurant and retail business all the way back since my days attending Adrian College where I ran 3 Little Caesars stores while completing my Business Degree.
Once I graduated, I then went on to owning stores in two locations, Saline Michigan and Anchorage Alaska. Sometime later when my kids started kindergarten, I opened a women’s apparel store: Kelsey’s Boutique & Gifts, which still remains today 26 years later. I’ve also enjoyed being a director and ambassador for the Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce. At Kelsey’s, I have always strived to give excellent customer service to our customers and to our community.
Since my husband and I have moved to round lake, we sincerely have enjoyed our new community with awesome new friends. The Yacht Club has given me the opportunity to network both in business and in friendships more than I thought possible. There is a sense of community that the Club provides that I can’t quite explain. You walk in a stranger and leave as a friend to many. It would be an honor and a privilege to be on the Board of Devils Lake Yacht Club. Thank you for your consideration.