Tony Gronniger
Lot 2281
Current career setting: Retired
Number of years an Association Member: 40+
Previous VVA Board or committee service: Served on BOD for 3-1/2 years, acted as interim Lake Manager summer of 2022, Volunteer member of the Lake Viking Volunteer Fire Department. Currently serving as Fire Chief. Member of Strategic Planning Committee, also served on HOC committees such as incorporation study.
Additional personal or family data you would like to share with membership: I am a second-generation property owner. Parents purchased lot in 1968. I have been a full-time resident for approximately 20 years.
What qualities of Lake Viking led you to become a property owner?
My parents introduced me to the Lake with their purchase. This is a community close to the Greater Kansas City Area. It provides a place where a diverse population can come and enjoy the “Lake Life” in a rural setting providing great services. It is also a great place to not only enjoy as a weekend member but also a great place to retire.
Describe aspects of your background that uniquely prepare you for board service.
I have retired from the City of Independence MO Fire Department where I served as Lead Mechanic with 32 years of service. I have also recently retired from the Missouri Department of Transportation. I have also served as School Board President of a private school and BOD member of a regional School Board.
What do you feel is the greatest challenge facing our association?
Fiscal responsibility is always a challenge. As we continue to upgrade our office and digital presence and provide better service, I believe addressing our aging infrastructure will be one of our greatest challenges. Our community is 50+ years old and our road system, electrical systems, community areas are all showing their age. Our challenge will be to complete the necessary improvements and upgrades being mindful of all our members, both with improved lots as well as our members with unimproved properties.
What are the top two issues you want the board to focus on?
Completing the projects already in process. Upgrading our services in administration, and producing and implementing a long-range plan for infrastructure repairs and maintenance.
Describe your vision for Lake Viking.
I see Lake Viking as a place where a diverse population gathers. Providing a fun and safe place for all.
Tom Rice
Lot 343
Current career setting: Attorney
Number of years an Association member: 14 years
Previous VVA Board or Committee Service: Strategic Planning Committee
Additional Personal or family data you would like to share with membership: My wife Karen and I have six children and four grandchildren, with many more grandchildren expected in the future. Our entire family enjoys the lake. I reside at the lake most days except for a few months in the winter when I am at the lake on the weekends.
What qualities of Lake Viking let you to become a property owner?
I grew up in the mountains of Tennessee near several recreational lakes. Lake Viking has the same friendly people and natural beauty of my childhood home. I wanted my family to have the same experience and memories at Lake Viking.
Describe aspects of your background that uniquely prepare you for board service.
My work experience focuses on problem solving, with most disputes involving multiple sides, each believing their position is correct. I have a reputation in the legal and business communities as working with others on the thorniest of issues in a fair and reasonable manner.
What do you feel is the greatest challenge facing our association?
As our lake membership continues to grow, the greatest challenge we will face is how we can all best enjoy the lake and its resources within a reasonable financial budget.
What are the top two issues you want the board to focus on?
The board should continue its focus on providing reasonable levels of basic services such as road maintenance, dredging, and security, with an eye to the increasing demand for these basic service, as our lake membership grows. After basic services are funded, the board can focus on the allocation of the lake association’s remaining financial resources on improving and adding lake amenities as the lake membership directs.
Describe your vision for the lake.
My vision for Lake Viking is that it remains a community that pulls together to solve the inevitable questions we will face in the future. I believe this is a vision that we all share.
Terry Nibarger
Lots 657 & 1868
Current career setting: Certified Financial Planner & Branch Manager, Raymond James Financial Services
Number of years an Association member: 5 years
Previous VVA Board or Committee Service:
Strategic Planning Committee 2019 – Present
Finance Committee 2022 – Present
Restaurant Exploratory Committee 2022 – Present
Additional Personal Information you would like to share with membership: In the last 5 years, Julee and I have made many friends and fallen in love with the lake community. We are at the lake from two to five days a week year round. We love being on the water with friends, and cruising in our 1930 Chris Craft or pontoon.
What qualities of Lake Viking let you to become a property owner?
We wanted a lake close to home. Lake Viking is beautiful and under an hour. It was a great choice. All the new friends have been a fantastic bonus. If it only had a restaurant.
Describe aspects of your background that uniquely prepare you for board service.
I currently serve on three committees at the Lake. The Finance Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee touches everything around the lake, and the experience has prepared me for board service.
I help individuals and organizations with their financial goals daily – and have for my entire career of over 30 years. Difficult decisions must be addressed head-on. The toughest problems are always the ones that have been ignored.
As a Branch Manager with Raymond James Financial Services, I manage investment advisors in Chillicothe, Trenton and Columbia, MO. I have been in finance my entire career.
What do you feel is the greatest challenge facing our association?
The campground electric and septic rebuild will be the single most expensive project we have undertaken since the lake was built. Let that sink in. Let’s get this right.
We are at a critical point in the lake’s history. How we deal with this issue will leave a legacy for many years – for better or worse.
What are the top two issues you want the board to focus on?
Here are three:
1) Re-examine the Campground and its rules. What are the goals? Design and rebuild a plan that follows the desires of most of the Association’s members.
2) Increase the focus on safety of members and guest lake-wide by taking steps to continually test the water for electricity around our docks with a mobile testing device.
3) Continue actions to preserve our lake and be good stewards of our natural and financial resources.
Describe your vision for the lake.
I see a happy, fun place – where we have a large group of friendly, active, and involved neighbors who freely give of their time, efforts, and money toward a variety of things that help us all. A place where neighbors help neighbors – and forget the division that has gripped our country.
Wouldn’t it be great? That is today at the Lake.
At a time when the world has become so divided, we have a place to forget all of that and come together, and be with friends.
The best part of the lake is the community. We need to hang on to this. It is special.
Anthony E. Lambert
Lot 1769
Current career setting: Pre-trial Supervision Services – Probation & Parole
Personal or family data you would like to share with membership: My wife and I plan to build our retirement home at the lake in the next few years and become full time residents. We have several family members that are lake members including 2 of our sons, sibling, and niece.
What qualities of Lake Viking let you to become a property owner?
We were drawn to the Lake through family and instantly noticed the sense of community that it offered, not to mention the atmosphere that is beautiful, nature-filled space to unwind.
Describe aspects of your background that uniquely prepare you for board service.
I am currently on the adjustment board for the City of Hamilton. I am the Executive Director for the Supervision Services board, which I have held for over 10 years.
What do you feel is the greatest challenge facing our association?
Dealing with the growth of the Lake while preserving nature and continuing to maintain the esthetically pleasing surrounding and community.
What are the top two issues you want the board to focus on?
• Keeping our fees manageable for our members, while continuing to grow.
• Looking into future issues/opportunities, so that we are proactive.
Describe your vision for the lake.
Preservation of the Lake, and surrounding area, so that it can be enjoyed by our children, grandchildren, and future heirs. We (I) hope that other like-minded individuals also find the peace, comfort, community, and fun at our happy place.
