Kira
Lake Recreation Manager
Kira joined Lake Jennings in December 2014, and was a welcome addition bringing with her a solid recreation management background. Her most recent position prior to her arrival at the lake was as the Athletic Director at The Crosby at Rancho Santa Fe. She is an East County native, with a degree in Communication from San Diego State, and is a Certified Park and Recreation Executive. You’ll spot her around the campground and lake wearing a smile and her pink steel-toed boots that Earl picked out for her.
Sherry
Recreation Coordinator
Sherry joined the lake as our Recreation Coordinator in October of 2019 after working in both animal welfare and community recreation. She studied Recreation Management and Wildlife Biology at the University of Vermont. She joined the team at Lake Jennings to share her love of water and wildlife with the public. One of her favorite things about the lake is driving into the campground on Saturday mornings to the smell of bacon and coffee over the campfire! On the weekends, she splits her time between the campground and the lake. She looks forward to bringing more fun events to Lake Jennings!
Shirley
Office Assistant
Shirley has been with Lake Jennings since March 2025. A San Diego State University graduate with a degree in Japanese, she has a passion for learning and different cultures. She finds peace and tranquility at the lake, enjoying its views, trails, and relaxing atmosphere. Shirley appreciates working in such a serene and picturesque environment.
Ray
Maintenance Ranger
Ray joined us here at Lake Jennings in June 2020. For 25 years, Ray was the owner of the Dub Spot Custom V.W. & Porsche Shop. He also worked at the Green Door Café in La Jolla. You may recognize Ray as a local Baseball Coach as well. Ray is often driving the dump truck around the lake waving at everyone he sees. Ray enjoys that the lake is a “getaway” in the city. Everyone here is happy to be here and that makes him feel good about being here.
Danielle
Maintenance Ranger
Danielle joined Lake Jennings in October 2021 as an Assistant Recreation Ranger and became a full-time Maintenance Ranger in 2025. A Ventura College alum with a background in math, geology, and years with the Boy Scouts of America, she loves meeting guests, swapping fishing tips, and enjoying early sunrises. You’ll often find her in Siesta Cove, likely with a few trout on a stringer.
Glenn
Assistant Maintenance Ranger
Glenn joined our team as an assistant maintenance ranger in December 2021. Coming to us with a wide range of experience, Glenn grew up farming in the Midwest, dedicated twenty years to engineering in the U.S. Navy, and worked many years in commercial construction. Glenn loves the lake because it is a great place to get away from the big city without having to travel a long way. Depending on the weather, Glenn enjoys hiking or lounging in the shade and enjoying the views!
Garry
Assistant Maintenance Ranger
Garry joined the Lake Jennings team in May 2024. He attended Granite Hills High School and studied ornamental horticulture at Cuyamaca College. Before Lake Jennings, Garry spent ten years in public works at Viejas, and also worked at UCSD and the Alpine Special Treatment Center. He enjoys the lake as a nearby escape, especially fishing with his family and observing wildlife. An animal lover, Garry has several pets and volunteers at the Feral Cat Coalition. He’s also an avid fan of H.P. Lovecraft.
Cole
Assistant Maintenance Ranger
Cole joined the Lake Jennings team in October 2021. Cole is a student at Grossmont College and has joined us from his previous occupation as a valet driver at Four Points Little Italy. Cole loves anything and everything that has to do with the outdoors, so it’s safe to say you’ll probably find him weed whacking and maintaining the campground.
Coryn
Guest Service Associate
Coryn joined Lake Jennings as a Guest Service Associate in February 2024. A Grossmont College student planning to transfer to a university, she loves the lake’s beauty, wildlife, and peacefulness. Coryn enjoys birdwatching and hopes to protect wildlife and work in national parks one day.
Auheen
Guest Service Associate
Auheen, a biology student at Grossmont College, joined Lake Jennings in June 2025, bringing creativity, enthusiasm, and a love of nature to every part of lake life. Outside of work, she enjoys art, music, and spending time outdoors. Always happy to help or chat, Auheen loves making every visitor’s experience at the lake memorable.
Jenny
Guest Service Associate
Jenny loves wildlife, native plants and birds so much that she was excited to make Lake Jennings her office in 2025. She has studied culinary arts and chemistry and is beginning schooling as a California Naturalist. She is looking forward to spotting a cactus wren at the lake! Find her in the campground kiosk, close to her binoculars!
Shayla
Assistant Recreation Ranger
Shayla joined Lake Jennings in March 2024, drawn by the lake’s natural beauty and morning birdsong. A student at Cuyamaca College’s Center for Water Studies, she brings a diverse background from Uptown Jungle Fun Park and Target to her role. Shayla loves exploring trails, observing wildlife, and enjoying boat outings. Her passion for the outdoors and camping reflects her deep connection to nature.
Sebastian
Assistant Recreation Ranger
Sebastian joined Lake Jennings in December 2024, drawn by his love for fishing and the outdoors. A Grossmont College student planning to transfer to San Diego State University to study art, he enjoys fishing, driving boats, and working at the bait shop. Before joining the lake, he spent a year at McDonald’s. In his free time, Sebastian balances basketball, school, and relaxing by the lake.
Vincent
Assistant Recreation Ranger
Vincent joined Lake Jennings in July 2025, bringing curiosity and a positive attitude to the team. An SDSU student studying cellular and molecular biology, he loves the outdoors and enjoys learning about plant life. He also values meeting new people and connecting with visitors. Before joining the lake, Vincent worked at Vons, including a year as a manager.
Grace
Assistant Recreation Ranger
Grace started back at the lake in 2025 after working here back in 2020 as well. She had gone on to work at Helix Water as a Meter Reader, had two little girls and has now come back to Lake Jennings! She grew up at Lake Jennings fishing with her dad and is happy to be back.
Stephen
Dockhand
Stephen joined Lake Jennings in July 2022 as a dockhand. A San Diego native and SDSU graduate in criminal justice administration, he has 22 years of federal law enforcement experience. He loves the lake’s peaceful atmosphere, birdwatching, and helping guests. Around the lake, Stephen enjoys listening to visitors’ stories and connecting with the community.
Jesse
Dockhand
Jesse was hired as a Dockhand at the lake in October 2021. He is currently enrolled at Cuyamaca College studying water treatment, which is what attracted him to a position at Lake Jennings. Previously he worked at the California Conservation Corps. When he’s not at the lake or school, he enjoys reading and hiking.
John
Dockhand
John joined Lake Jennings in February 2023. A longtime El Cajon resident and Navy veteran with experience in hull maintenance and engineering, he previously worked as a Senior Designer at General Dynamics NASSCO. An avid outdoorsman, John enjoys boating, fishing, and tournament kayak fishing. He loves sharing the lake’s excellent rental fleet and fishing opportunities with visitors.
Jackson
Dockhand
Jackson joined Lake Jennings in November 2023. He is currently attending California State University Maritime Academy and loves exploring the lake’s waters and wildlife. His favorite activities include riding the barge and fishing. Jackson enjoys being outdoors every day and connecting with visitors.
Scott
Dockhand
Scott joined Lake Jennings as a dockhand in July 2024. A U.S. Navy veteran with a background in aviation electronics and leadership studies at Grossmont College, he brings decades of experience from Sanyo Electric, John Deere, and GKN Aerospace. Scott loves the lake’s scenery, wildlife, and connecting with guests, whether through fishing, hiking, or capturing photos of happy anglers.
Kenny
Campground Host
Kenny moved to Lake Jennings from Louisiana in May of 2025. He graduated from Del Gado College in New Orleans and worked in Mechanical Engineering for over 35 years. He enjoys the morning hikes on the campground loop trail and appreciates that it feels like an oasis in an urban setting!
Josh
Campground Host
Josh joined Lake Jennings as a Park Host in October 2024. He previously served as a camp host at Lake Piru and Lake Casitas and studied computer science at Moorpark Community College. Josh enjoys the lake’s peacefulness, scenic views, and wildlife, especially the variety of bird species. Outside of work, he loves spending time with his wife and their beagle, Ziva, and is always ready for his next sushi adventure.
Willie
Campground Host
Willie joined Lake Jennings in March 2025, bringing decades of experience from his long tenure in the U.S. Navy. An Ashford University graduate, he enjoys the lake’s stunning views and the professionalism of the staff. In his free time, Willie loves fishing, helping others, and taking walks around the lake. He is always eager to connect with the community and embrace the outdoors.
Sonya
Campground Host
Sonya brings a love for the lake, the outdoors, and a strong spirit of service. With over six years of honorable service in the US Military, she now balances her studies at the University of Maryland Global Campus with campground life.
Previously a host in Texas, Sonya enjoyed leading bird-watching classes and sharing her passion for nature.
Bud, Retiree
Former Assistant Recreation Ranger
Bud was a Lake Jennings staple. He worked at the lake part time for over 30 years. He also worked in publishing with the Union Tribune for 20 years and spent some time working in ship yards and on aircraft before that. He was a San Diego local who attended SDSU and studied political science and biology. He deeply loved the lake because of the rewarding experience it brings to all. He enjoyed teaching others to respect nature and explaining different techniques and bait for catching fish! Bud passed away in 2022. He will be sorely missed by many.
Earl, Retiree
Former Maintenance Ranger
Earl was known for his jolly personality and rainbow suspenders, you couldn’t miss him around the campground! He was also a volunteer firefighter with the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District and spent 14 years of experience as a Ranger at Lake Cuyamaca where he also served as the Reservoir Keeper. He was with Lake Jennings from December 2008 to April 2021, and was a Senior Chief in the U.S. Navy in his younger years. Earl passed away in 2024 but his legacy and shining personality lives on at Lake Jennings Campground through his rainbow bench as colorful as the man himself.
Tim, Retiree
Maintenance Ranger
Ranger Tim worked at Lake Jennings for 10 years. He was our resident tractor expert, and is excellent at felling trees. Tim gave up his job as a transportation manager for a nationwide distribution company to come back to nature at Lake Jennings. He loved camping and fishing at the lake and turned that love into a career! He’s now enjoying the retired life and still loving the outdoors.