Staff

Our full-time staff is here to serve you!

 

Marc Eix: Executive Director

Marc is a Michigan native and in many ways is a native of camp. Growing up in Dearborn, he spent two weeks most every summer of his life attending camp at Portage Lake and worked on staff for two summers in the early ‘90s. Camp is the place he gave his life to Jesus, where he heard his call to ministry and where many of his major life decisions happened. Marc was ordained in the Covenant Church in 1999 and has served churches as a pastor in Chicago, IL, Manistee, MI, and most recently in Red Wing, MN. Marc and his wife Sarah have three children, Emily, Nathan, and Laura who all love to hike, camp, run, read, and be together. Marc is excited to return to a place that was so formational in his own life now with the opportunity to shape the lives of others through the ministry of camp.
Contact Marc at marc@portagelake.org

Eric Ek: Finance & Operations Director

Eric grew up as a pastor’s kid in the Covenant church in a couple different churches and locations, but family camp at Portage Lake was a family constant growing up. He spent 9 summers over high school, college, and just post college as part of the staff before heading to North Park for seminary. Eric was ordained in the Covenant Church in 2016, and is excited to be back with some added life experiences under his belt having served in youth ministry in McMinnville (Oregon) and Farmington Hills (Michigan), and to lean into that business degree he got in undergrad from North Park. While at camp, you will likely run into Eric at some point walking with his wife (Erica), new baby (Britta), and possibly the dog (Pippi).
Contact Eric at eric@portagelake.org

Matt Schmidt: Program Director

Matt is from Flint Michigan where he grew up attending camps in Northern Michigan and quickly grew to love the woods and Lakes of the North. Matt attended Clarks Summit University where he studied Education, Business and Bible. Camp is where he gave his life to Jesus and where he was called into Ministry. Since 2000, Matt has only missed two summers at camp and has spent the last 10 years serving full time at camps around the Midwest.

When he’s not at camp Matt loves to be in the woods exploring and hiking or finding people to play sports and boardgames with.

 

Ruth Hendrick: Office Manager

Ruth was born in Rochester, NY, spent her adolescence in Nashville, TN and ended up at North Park University in Chicago, IL where she obtained a BA in Fine Arts. She made a new friend named Linnea Ek at NPU, who suggested working at PLCBC in summer 2006. It was a life-changing summer and she was hooked. God showed her His intentionality in making her who she is and how He could use her story, strengths, and creativity to serve His people. She spent the next 3 summers on staff. While working at camp, she met many of her best friends and even met her now-husband, Jacob Hendrick! They settled in Grand Rapids, MI after getting married in 2011. They have been bringing their 3 children, Joel, Jack, and Chloe, to family camp for the last 8 summers. Ruth feels so blessed to be working at her favorite place on earth. She can’t wait to carry on the legacy of such a transformational place, and follow in the footsteps of one of her favorite PLCBC people, Kathy Smith! She will do her best to love and serve each of you as you interact with camp.

Contact Ruth at ruth@portagelake.org

Markus Tepandi-Sivila: Media Director

Markus is from Metro-Detroit and has been to PLBC almost every year since 2012. He has a passion for videography and photography and graduated with an associates in Cinematic Arts. In his spare time, Markus enjoys the outdoors through hiking and hammocking. His favorite activities at camp involve being at or in the lake and playing his guitar by a campfire.

Contact Markus at markus@portagelake.org

 

 

Jada Samuels: Promotions Coordinator

Jada Samuels is from Metro-Detroit and an Oakland University graduate. She has a bachelors in Public Relations and Strategic Communications with a minor in Entrepreneurship. Jada has a passion for exploring new foods from around the world, and uses her spare time to roller skate, read, and watch classic black and white movies. Her favorite thing about working at Portage Lake is being surrounded by beautiful scenery and constantly meeting new people in a faith-filled atmosphere.

Contact Jada at jada@portagelake.org

 

 

Randy Bennetts: Facilities Manager

Randy started working at PLCBC in March 2014. He has three sons and six grandkids. Before working at camp Randy owned a construction company for 25 years. Randy loves camping and spending time with his family. His favorite thing since he’s starting working at camp has been being in a Godly atmosphere every day.
Contact Randy at randy@portagelake.org

 

 

 

Patti Church: Food Service Manager

Patti is a native Michigander raised in Livonia by her amazing and hard working parents and alongside her seven brothers and sisters.

Patti married her husband Tom in 1997 and together they share two beautiful children, Christine and John.

After a combined twenty three years spent in food service in the metro Detroit area, and one here at PLCBC, Patti hopes to continue to feed the masses as they come to camp to hear God’s word proclaimed.

Contact Patti at patti@portagelake.org