You can’t teach personality. We hire nice people, not salespeople. Our staff does not work on commission. We are helpful, not pushy. And guess what? We know our stuff!
Since our motto is “Outfitters for Active People” we hire active people. We aren’t mountain climbers, marathon runners or professional surfers. We run. We travel. We play. We paddle. We party. We try to do the right thing.
Sally Troutman: Founder, Owner, Runner
Sally at the Base of Torres Del Paine
Sally built Landsharks from scratch in 1989. A nordic skier, Sally dislocated her shoulder skiing at the Saugatuck Dunes State Park 10 years ago. It gives her Patagonia style street cred.
Sally grew up in Holland, Michigan and studied Biology and Medical Communications in college, how she ended up an entrepreneur we’ll never know. She ran her first 5k at the age of 50 and won. She went on to win or place 2nd in the Mount Baldhead Challenge 3 consecutive years. She also placed in the top 3 for her age group in several regional events in the early 2000s.
Celesta (that’s her real name) started travelling to Costa Rica 15 years ago, before the masses. She’s rafted the Pacuare river, hitchhiked, and studied Spanish in Central America. She’s also travelled in South America to hike Machu Picchu, the Torres Del Paine region, Patagonia, and Southern Chile. She gets outside to hike, bike, run, paddle or ski about 355 days a year.
Kenny T: Owner, Carpenter, Paddler, Landlord, Counselor
KT in Machu Picchu
A native of Saugatuck (and former SHS track star) Ken Troutman was with Sally when she was doing all that fancy stuff I was just bragging about. He spends many days in the Ottawa Marsh area of the Kalamazoo River in his kayak. If he’s not on the mighty Kalamazoo you might find him on the Rabbit River with chainsaw clearing a section for other paddlers. That’s how he rolls.
After purchasing the historic Heath building (which Landsharks calls home) he renovated nearly every square inch of the joint. His efforts earned him a Historic Preservation Award in 2005. The dude has talent. When you are handing over your hard-earned money at the counter, be advised that it was designed and built by Ken. He also built all of the tables in the shoe room and the pillars around the building. And how ’bout this? Every fixture in our store was built with recycled wood!
When ”KT” isn’t making magic with a saw and piece of wood, he is making the tenants of the building happy. He listens, advises, and solve problems.
David Lokker: Owner, Traveller, Chicken Farmer
David on The Kalamazoo River
I’ve hopped a plane from Mexico to Cuba with buddies and bribed a customs agent not to stamp my passport. I’ve lost a wristwatch in the Vltava river in the Czech Republic after flipping a canoe, and played marbles with some kids on Ihle Grande off the coast of Brazil. I’ve spent some of my best days on the Gauley, Penobscot and Pacuare Rivers. I’ve begged a farmer in Austria for hex key to fix the rented mountain bike on my way to check out a waterfall. I’ve been fortunate to have adventurous friends. I’ve learned to pack light.
My travelling days have been replaced by ice-hockey, fishing, and running: three things that I seem to get worse at each time I attempt them. I have a wonderful bride, and daughters named Lily and Sylvie, who accompany me on spectatcular adventures in West Michigan. You’ll find 4 or 5 chickens in my backyard and a small garden. Although it’s only a tiny step toward sustainability, I can’t stop myself from bragging about it.
Marc Soliz: Buyer, Baller, Picky Eater.
Mr. Customer Service with a winning smile
If you’ve been to the store, chances are Marc has helped you. We “recruited” – actually, we stole him - from another retail store in Saugatuck several years ago. (Sorry about that Saugatuck Drug, please forgive us) Marc will answer your questions, he’ll get that special order shipped to your door, and he’ll tell you what shoe to buy. If you have a question, ask “M-Fresh.”
Marc loves basketball and occasionally shows up at the start line of 5k. He’ll take your $$ at the poker table and has the distinction of being the only human on the planet that does not like cheese.
He helps picks out the men’s clothes that make you look so sexy. The mannequins and windows are Marc’s masterpieces. He’s a hard-working Landshark, please give him a fist bump the next time to stop in.
Dirk “DAZ” Zwiep: Skier, Diver, Beard Grower
Mighty Dirk to the Rescue!
Dirk has skied mountains in Colorado and sailed in Hawaii. He has the distinction of spending an entire flight from New York to Israel in the bathroom (food poisoning).
Dirk was a diver at Holland Christian High School and attended Davenport University. Is he brave for wearing a banana hammock in front of all those strangers, or for doing backflips and risking busting his melon on a diving board?
DAZ’s collection of Folk music will make you jealous. When you hear something obscure on our iPod you can bet it came from Dirk. He loves Nashville, microbrews, Olukai footwear, and photography.
Dirk has spent 4 years at Landsharks, he can get you in the perfect shoe or sunglasses. He can also grow a pretty swell blonde beard. He’s a master recruiter, when we need new talent we let Dirk take over. If you want a job at Landsharks – this is your guy!
Evan “E$” Knudsen. Mooch, Boarder, Kicker
E$ Choosing a line at Copper Mountain
E$ is all about speed. A former SHS cross-country runner, Evan now spends spare his time on the soccer field or at Formula 1 events. According to E: “Summers are for board shorts and skimboards, winters are for Burtons and Patagonia Down Sweaters.” We think he’s right!
When he’s not snowboarding out-of-bounds or restoring Porsches, you can find E$ keeping customers happy at Landsharks. He’s been selling Oakleys longer than he’s had a driver’s license, he’ll get you in the right pair.
A phenomenal brown-noser, Evan talked the president of Cushe Footwear into giving him the one and only purple prototype men’s boutique sneaker. If you flirt with him he might show them to ya!
Luann Raimondo. Spirit Captain, Runner, Gardener
Luann celebrates at the finish line of Pigeon Creek Park
In the early 90s Luann launched her career as an aerobics instructor. The best part of teaching 17 aerobics classes a week, according to Luann, was being able to eat anything she wanted. Although she isn’t dancing around in neon spandex anymore, she’s still kicking butt and taking names at local 5ks. She’s a 3-time Fennville Goose Festival winner.
You’d never know Lu grew up on the mean streets of Bangor, based on her sunny disposition! Lu brings a genuine smile and a LOT of excitement to the Shark. She’s the happiest and friendliest person you’ll meet in town.
An avid gardener, you’ll find asparagus, basil, peppers, zucchini and occasionally a Sicilian man named Sam in her garden.
Melissa Fox: Advocate, Retail Maven, Lamb Lover
Melissa in the Valley of Fire, Nevada
Melissa brings an unrivaled wealth of retail knowledge to Landsharks. She started her career at age 16, where she made an immediate impression at Steketee’s by painting the fingernails of all the female mannequins. While the manager didn’t respect her creativity, we respect her pizzazz! Melissa has served professional roles in every facet of business: owning her own Paint it Yourself Pottery Store, buying & managing for women’s boutiques, marketing for Providence Farms (a grass-fed meat farm), helping establish a local organic market, and working as an innkeeper at a Bed and Breakfast.
If you think all of her professional experience has gone to her head, you’re wrong. Melissa is an Oval Beach bum and an environmental steward. She volunteers her time to help maintain the Saugatuck Dunes State Park and is a proud supporter of the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance.
When Melissa isn’t working one of her three current jobs, she is probably cooking a free range organic animal (she’ll take some lamb chops, rub a little olive oil and a clove a garlic on it, throw it on the grill & knock your socks off) or knitting something creative. And get this, Mrs. Fox – as required by Pottawatomie tradition – handcrafted her wedding gown! Damn.
Marisa Darpel: Dancer, Painter, Avid Shopper
A lover of clothes, shoes, and socializing, Marisa would be thrilled to hook you up with our latest gear. She has impeccable style and she gives great advice. If you need someone to help you put an outfit together (or just confirm how awesome you look in that Prana shirt/True Grit Sweater/killer pair of Toms wedges), Miss Darpel is your girl! All she asks is that you don’t smack your Double Bubble when you’re talking… her biggest pet peeve is “cow-like” gum chewers.
Marisa makin’ the most of Michigan’s snowy weather
Marisa graduated from Saugatuck High School in 2012. Our local readers may have seen her around; a talented ballerina, she has often performed at the Knickerbocker Theater in Holland, and her family owns a fantastic restaurant in Fennville called Salt of the Earth.
Currently, Marisa is attending Central Michigan University, where she hopes to earn a degree in health fitness. Ideally, she would like to become a pediatric physical therapist (although she wouldn’t mind spending her life painting in Greece, either). Marisa enjoys hitting the beach in the summer and snuggling with her sizable collection of extremely cuddly blankets in the winter.
Sierra Rodriguez: Clean Freak, Roller Coaster Enthusiast, Beach Bum
If you shop during the summer, it’s likely you’ll see Sierra around the store. You might know her by the shoes on her feet… She is the Shark’s record-holding Toms shoes owner. At last count, she had six pair in her closet (if you’re familiar with Toms, you’ll know this means she has also provided six pair of shoes to needy children around the world)!
Sierra at Lake Michigan, loving life
Sierra is what one particularly enamored customer described as “exotically gorgeous.” In her free time, she enjoys watching the sun set over Lake Michigan and taking long, romantic bike rides to the “unknown, less-traveled” areas in her hometown, Fennville. Before she graduated from Fennville High in 2012, Sierra was involved in just about every extracurricular imaginable, including theater, choir, soccer, leadership, and cheerleading. Clearly we are working with one talented girl.
Currently enrolled at Grand Valley State University, Sierra will one day become a very successful accountant (even though we all like to pretend she’s staying at Landshark’s forever).
Lindsay Timmerman: Writer, Runner, Consumer of Caffeine in Copious Quantities
A seasonal Shark since 2010, Lindsay shows up in the store the minute summer arrives. If you’re having trouble finding what you’re looking for, just let her know! A real people-pleaser, we think Lindsay might literally go to hell and back to find you the right shade, style, or size. As a future teacher, Lindsay would also be happy to distract your kids with our supercool temporary Landshark’s tattoos while you’re shopping!
Lindsay aboard the Saugatuck Star, rocking the Toms wedges and the Oakleys
When summer comes to an end, Lindsay heads off to Hope College in Holland, MI. There, she studies creative writing, education, English, and social studies. When she’s not reading, writing, or assistant teaching, you can find her out pounding the pavement. A distance runner, Lindsay competes on Hope’s track and cross country teams.
Lindsay’s career goals include imparting an appreciation of books to every child in America, actively advocating minority rights, becoming BFFs with Kate Middleton, and writing the next great series in children’s literature so she can continue to foster a love of reading in young people while retiring rich like JK Rowling.
Summer “Sunny” Hoffman: Family Member, Future Surfer, Perpetual Smiler
“Summer” is the perfect name for this girl. She is laid-back, warm, happy, and incredibly bright. Her favorite part of working at Landshark’s is, quote, “bring sunshine to the store and working with the amazing Rock Star Staff.” Who wouldn’t love a girl with an attitude like that? She makes everyone feel good, all the time!
Summer maintains her sunny disposition, come rain or shine.
When she’s not busy lighting up someone’s life here at the Shark, Summer loves staying active (whether it be by playing sports or going running), boating, serving at her church, and spending time with friends and family. Having graduated from Calvary Baptist High School in 2011, she is currently enrolled at Indiana Wesleyan University, where she is studying to become an occupational therapist.
Someday, Summer hopes to “meet her Prince Charming and start a family.” Preferably, they will live in Hawaii, where she can spend her days soaking up the rays and surfing the waves with the whole Hoffman/Charming clan. We hope she’ll invite us to visit sometime!
You cats should really have a retiree ‘hall of fame’ for all those Landsharks legends that used to work the ole cash register and that ridiculous receipt system.
But till then, this list of current workers will do, nice work kids!
Watch out last year,
HJM
Hannah Jane,
The Landshark Alumni post is in the works, it may even be a permanent fixture. Stay tuned!
Like how the bios say what you do and then what you really do. Chicken farmer, LMAO…