FoCL is a non-profit partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local organizations interested in the well-being of the Coralville Lake. 

FOCL is committed to enhancing the recreational and aesthetic values of the area it serves, by connecting the people of the local community with the land through its three core values: communication, education, and conservation.

Our Mission

To enhance Coralville Lake and the surrounding land by bringing together organizations, businesses and individuals.

Accomplishments

We incorporated on June 16, 2016. Check out our Facebook page to view past and upcoming projects.

Board of Directors

  • JON KOUNKEL: President

    • Biography - Jon is a Director of Program Management at Collins Aerospace. He grew up taking full advantage of the Great Lakes in Okoboji and has spent the last 14 years enjoying all of the outdoor activities available around the Coralville Lake area.

      • Set the direction of the organization from input from the board and members

      • Set and lead the board meetings

      • Ensure the bylaws and best practices are followed for the organization

      • Represent FoCL at events

      • Drive common agreement and direction between the board

      • Ensure fiduciary compliance and communication

  • MATT MCDOWELL: Vice President

    • Biography - Matt is the Customer Experience Manager at White Distribution and Supply with a background in sales, marketing, and event fundraising. He is a lifelong water sports enthusiast who learned to waterski at the age of 4 on the Des Moines River in Keosauqua and has called Coralville his home lake since 2002. He gave private waterski and wakeboard lessons through college as a way to spend more time on the water and help grow the sport locally. Matt enjoys hiking with his wife and dogs and disc golf.

      • Coordinates and represents FoCL at events

      • Research and develop outreach opportunities

      • Assist with communications through social media and monthly newsletters

      • Plan, coordinate and execute FoCL hosted events

      • Grant writing and sponsorship coordination

  • DERRICK PARKER: Treasurer

    • Biography - Derrick is a Principal Program Manager for Collins Aerospace. He enjoys the area around Coralville Lake by biking (road and mountain), canoeing, fishing, riding snowmobiles, hiking, ATV riding, hunting and camping.

      • Record, track and report all funds received and expended

      • Assure required reports and tax forms are submitted in a timely manner

      • Write policies and procedures for collection and handling of money

      • In addition: Maintaining membership lists and sending membership letters

  • MICHAEL MCCURRY: Secretary

    • Biography - Michael has taught and coached in the Cedar Rapids Community School District for the past 30 years. He enjoys horseback riding out of Upmier Stables and along Coralville Lake.

      • Take notes during meetings and distribute the minutes to FoCL members.

      • Maintain an archive of meeting minutes.

  • ANDY HAMER: Director of Communications

    • Biography - Andy is a GIS Specialist with the City of Iowa City. Andy has enjoyed the Coralville Lake area since 1989. He plays disc golf and rides on the mountain bike trails at Sugar Bottom. He has been the tournament director of many disc golf tournaments at Turkey Creek and Sugar Bottom since 2009.

      • Maintains social media status through the FoCL website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

      • Communicates a variety of volunteer opportunities to FoCL members and friends

      • Designs and keeps the FoCL website up to date with organizational details on a regular basis

      • Volunteers at FoCL community occasions

  • BRUCE MULFORD: Director

    • Biography - Retired from farming and Rockwell Collins. Has lived next to Coralville Lake for 42 years. Taught waterskiing, knee boarding and wake boarding on the lake during the summer. Some major goals are to improve boating on Coralville Lake, the experience around Sandy Beach and lake shore erosion.

  • CRAIG JUST: Director

    • Biography - Craig is a professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Iowa where he has worked since 1993. Craig studied water quality on Coralville Lake for the Army Corps of Engineers in the mid-2000s. Now Craig and his wife, Tracy, boat on the lake with family and friends.

  • BEN PATIENCE: Director

    • Biography - Ben is the Sales Manager at Coralville Lake Marina. Ben is a lifelong boater and a former collegiate water skier in three events at Penn State University. He enjoys hiking around the lake and being on the water at any time possible with his two young boys.

  • BRYAN HAAS: Director

    • Biography - Bryan and his family live in North Liberty on Coralville Lake. Bryan is an entrepreneur that likes to spend all of his free time with family on the water riding every water sports product they can. Foiling has been their new fun challenge on the water. "Maintaining a fun and safe lake is important not just for me but for my family and all of the families that have invested serious amounts of money into our local economy to have fun on Coralville Lake. It is just as important that we look at the lake as a growing economic staple and recreation pillar of our community as it is to look at it as a watershed and wild life habitat. Change is inevitable in everything. Saving our lake is going to be a big change that we all need to work on together!”

EMPLOYEES

  • Carl Gonder: Director of Community Relations

    • Biography - A Cedar Rapids native, Gonder has a strong interest and passion in conservation and land management and grew up spending time at the lake. His father, Ron Gonder is a well-known former sports personality and did Iowa Hawkeye football and basketball play-by-play for over 30 years on WMT-Radio. A Cedar Rapids Washington High School graduate, Gonder played professional basketball overseas for 10 years in Australia, England and France. He is a graduate of Augustana University in South Dakota and received a Masters Degree from the University of Western Australia. Carl is married with two children and resides in Cedar Rapids.

      • Carl has a long history of working in the non-profit sector in Eastern Iowa which includes fundraising, marketing and public relations.

      • Gonder works closely with the Friends of Coralville Lake board of directors, The Army Corps of Engineers and the private sector.

press releases

Friends of Coralville Lake has been formed to enhance the  Coralville Lake area

Coralville, IA, December, 2016 – The Friends of Coralville Lake (FoCL) was incorporated on June 16th, 2016. FoCL is a volunteer-driven organization that works with the U.S. Corp of Engineers to enhance the recreational and aesthetic value of the Coralville Lake area.  

FoCL was formed by a group of environmentally-conscious individuals who saw an opportunity to connect organizations, businesses and individuals to help in the management and stewardship of the Coralville Lake area. In order to achieve their vision, FoCL needs the support of the community. Individuals can become FoCL members, participate in events and attend meetings. Members help decide which projects are selected and elect members to the Board of Directors. Those interested in becoming members can sign up at the FoCL website.  Individuals can help spread the word about FoCL by liking their Facebook page.   

Anti-Harassment and Non-Discrimination Policy

It is the policy of Friends of Coralville Lake to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race including hairstyle and texture, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Friends of Coralville Lake prohibit any such discrimination or harassment.

FoCL ByLaws

Here is a link to download the FoCL bylaws.