Our Leadership Team
RICKY ETRA
RICKY ETRA
Ricky and Kenny, along with their wives Susan and Karen, have owned Camp Pontiac since 1995 following a lifetime in camping including 10 years each as camp physicians. Possessing an extensive background in medical and childcare, together they have built Camp Pontiac into the incredible summer home that our campers can’t wait to return to year after year. They are practicing ear, nose and throat specialists but devote their entire summer and a significant part of the off-season to their true passion, Camp Pontiac. Their true love is children, which is where their efforts are devoted along with multiple charitable endeavors. They are most proud of the lasting bonds the Etra family and Pontiac staff continue to form with our campers and parents.
SUSAN ETRA
SUSAN ETRA
Susan Etra, Ricky’s wife, spends her summers at Pontiac assisting in multiple capacities.
KENNY ETRA
KENNY ETRA
Ricky and Kenny, along with their wives Susan and Karen, have owned Camp Pontiac since 1995 following a lifetime in camping including 10 years each as camp physicians. Possessing an extensive background in medical and childcare, together they have built Camp Pontiac into the incredible summer home that our campers can’t wait to return to year after year. They are practicing ear, nose and throat specialists but devote their entire summer and a significant part of the off-season to their true passion, Camp Pontiac. Their true love is children, which is where their efforts are devoted along with multiple charitable endeavors. They are most proud of the lasting bonds the Etra family and Pontiac staff continue to form with our campers and parents.
KAREN ETRA
KAREN ETRA
Kenny’s wife Karen during the summer directs Pontiac’s extensive Cooking program and coordinates our Arts & Crafts program, each of which is operated out of two buildings that focus on different specialties.
MICHAEL ETRA
MICHAEL ETRA
Michael has been working in his family’s camp since 1995 first as a group leader, then as a legal consultant and currently as a Director. He left his career as an attorney and real estate professional in 2015 to pursue his passion of working alongside his family to help run Pontiac year-round. Michael manages the winter office, regularly speaks with parents, campers and staff, oversees hiring and manages the site budget. During the summer, he adds Boys Head Counselor to his responsibilities. He also has supervised Pontiac’s pre- and post-camp events since 2008. Michael and his wife Marissa’s twins, Whitney and Sammy, started at Pontiac as a Deb and Brave in 2016.
MATTHEW ETRA
MATTHEW ETRA
Matthew Etra has been involved in camping since 1987 joining his family’s camp in 1995. He oversees the boys campus as boys head counselor. He spends his summers at Pontiac with his wife, Ali, son Brody, and daughters Emmy and Ryder. Matt is a middle school history teacher during the remainder of the year.
LINDSAY ETRA
LINDSAY ETRA
Lindsay has been in camp in all capacities since she was seven years old and has been working at Pontiac since the inception of the Etra family’s ownership in 1995. She and her husband Jarrett met at Pontiac and have two sons, Jordan and Spencer, both of whom are Pontiac campers. Lindsay is an Associate Director and as Girls Side Head Counselor, she directs both campers and staff in their entire program. Lindsay is a third grade teacher during the winter. ​​
ALI ETRA
ALI ETRA
Ali Etra, Matt’s wife, has been at Pontiac since 2002. She is involved in camp recruiting and works closely with campers lending her experience as a middle school guidance counselor on Pontiac’s Camp Counseling Team.
STACIE HABIB
STACIE HABIB
TRISHA ESSLINGER
TRISHA ESSLINGER
SHERYL SPRING
SHERYL SPRING
BRIANA KUSHNER
BRIANA KUSHNER
HOWARD SCOFIELD
HOWARD SCOFIELD
Howard Started at Pontiac in 1996 as Visual Arts, Special Event coordinator and staff recruiter. Howard manages the videography department, responsible for creating daily camp videos, as well as all the photography. Howard also takes a major role in our Event Planning for groups in the pre and post season and has become Pontiac’s full time site manager.
BRYAN DUGAN
BRYAN DUGAN
When he is not spending his summers in Copake, Bryan has been a high school physical education teacher since 2005. He has taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Bryan also has coached varsity soccer, basketball, tennis and softball. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree from Hofstra University and an Education Leadership certificate from Stony Brook University. Before stepping into his current Athletic Director role at Pontiac, Bryan was a Boys Side Group Leader four summers. He and his wife, Lori, enjoy watching their two children, Addison and Avery, create memories every summer at Camp Pontiac.
MARC SKLAR
MARC SKLAR
Marc brings an extensive camping, educational and childcare background to his directorship at Pontiac. He has been at Pontiac since 1973 in multiple capacities serving as Director since 1997.
His Background as a special education supervisor, educator and family counselor brings great experience to Ponitiac.
JIMMY WOLF
JIMMY WOLF
Jimmy Wolf has been at Pontiac since 2003. Jimmy has spent a lifetime in camping having directed a coed residential camp for seventeen years. He is a retired assistant principal and former varsity basketball coach. Among multiple responsibilities he supervises many operational aspects of camp.
MICHAEL BONGINO
MICHAEL BONGINO
“Gino” joined Pontiac in 1996, having been in the camping industry his entire life. He has been a Pontiac Group Leader and Head Counselor and is now our program and tour director. During the winter, Gino is an Athletic Director on Long Island.
JASON GELLER
JASON GELLER
Jason Geller has been in camping his entire life and joined the Pontiac family in 2016. He works with Matt and Michael on boy’s side and is a high school guidance counselor lending his expertise to work on Pontiac’s Camp Counseling Team.
MIKE ZITNER
MIKE ZITNER
BAILEY BURCHAM
BAILEY BURCHAM
ALEXIS SCHLOSS
ALEXIS SCHLOSS
SAMANTHA WALTERS
SAMANTHA WALTERS
Samantha Walters (or “Som” as the campers call her!) has been at Camp Pontiac since 2009. In past summers, she served as Golf Director, Ice Cream Shop Supervisor, and a proud CIT counselor in 2012, 2013, and 2017. In her current role, Som oversees the camp’s daily and weekly schedules, coordinating almost 50 programs across 18 divisions and ensuring each group gets the most out of camp. She works closely with Pontiac’s Program Heads and Group Leaders to accommodate special events, tournaments, and any last-minute changes due to weather or camp needs. From planning rainy-day schedules to arranging special treats for each division, Som puts it all into a daily timetable everyone can understand. When she isn’t in 12516, she is the CEO of a data center services company based in Los Angeles.
