Benton County Tourism & Recreation

Benton County Tourism seeks to promote the cities of Warsaw, Lincoln and Cole Camp to encourage tourism efforts to the region. Meet the staff below or click here for more information.

Lynette Stokes, Executive Director

Lynette started as the Assistant Director of BCTR in April 2017 before being promoted to Executive Director in June of 2017.

​Lynette moved to Benton County with her fiance, Jeff, in 2014 and worked for Angler’s Port Marine in Marketing prior to accepting the tourism job.

Her career has been comprised of Marketing, Legal Assistant and Property Management.

She enjoys spending time with her family and friends out on Truman Lake in her spare time and while working she enjoys promoting all there is to do and love here in Benton County to potential tourists.

Suzie Brodersen

Suzie has been a member of the board since 2013.   She was elected to the office of Vice President in 2017, and in 2018, she assumed the position of President.

Suzie moved to Warsaw in 2000 when she took over as the local State Farm Insurance Agent.   She has been active in several local organizations including the Warsaw Chamber, Jubilee Days, the Benton County Community Foundation, Warsaw Parents as Teachers Advisory Board, and the Parish Council of St. Ann’s Catholic Church.   She has also held several leadership positions on these boards.

She became active in tourism when she started the Benton County Wine Stroll in 2012 – which continues to thrive as a tourism event.   She loves being involved in area events, and she enjoys telling people about the various activities that are available – whether they are just passing through or if they plan to make Benton County their home.

Suzie grew up in nearby Sedalia, Missouri, but she has deep roots to Benton County.   Her father’s family can be traced to the original German settlers in Cole Camp, and she proudly has her name as a descendant of the German Immigrant Memorial in Cole Camp.

Suzie is married to her husband, David, and they have two sons, Ben & Blake, who are both graduates of Warsaw High School.   When she isn’t working or volunteering, Suzie enjoys playing with the cattle on the farm she and her husband have.

Brooke Daleske

Brooke started on the Board of Directors for the Osage Lakes Greenway Corporation in 2015 and transitioned to the Board of Directors for BCTR in 2017. Brooke moved to Warsaw in 1996 with her family, when she was a young girl. She now resides in Lincoln with a family of her own.

Brooke is a Registered Nurse at Benton County Health Department, where she is the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, In-Home Services Coordinator, and Education Coordinator.  Being active in the community, as well as the outdoors, are just two of her many hobbies. She loves to be out on the water on the boat, to see all of the beautiful sites there are to see from the lake point of view.

To Brooke, tourism is especially important in this county, because it keeps us thriving. Many people love to be at the Lake, but also want that small-town feel. Benton County is perfect for that. She feels that there is no other place that she would rather raise a family.

Rick Renno

Rick Renno owned and operated Rick’s Lakeside BBQ located at the 84-mile marker of the Lake of the Ozarks from 1980 – 1986. In 1986 he purchased the Lincoln Inn in Lincoln and operated it for the next 27 years until he sold in  2013.

He is a member of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is a Past President.  He has also been a member of the Cole Camp and Warsaw Chambers of Commerce.  Rick served on the Board of Alderman in Lincoln for six years and was Mayor for two years.  He was elected County Treasurer in 2002 and is still serving in that capacity.  He is also the current President of the Missouri County Treasurers Association.

Rick enjoys spending his free time on the lakes, both Truman and Ozark on his boat with friends and family every chance he gets.  He is also an avid bike rider and enjoys riding the many trails available in Benton County and on the Katy Trail.

Rick has always felt that marketing was an important component of being in business and has that same feeling for promoting the lake area businesses. He feels that Benton County has a lot to offer to people that are looking for a place to visit or own a second getaway home and that it is the Tourism Board’s job to help spread the word.

Marge Lumpe

Marge Lumpe was raised near Ionia, Missouri. She spent 41 years of her adult life in San Antonio, Texas before returning to Missouri in 2007 with her husband, Ron. Marge’s working life consisted of various positions in office administration and accounting and ending her career as a Certified Financial Planner with Waddell & Reed. Marge belonged to a number of organizations: Toastmasters, Professional Women of San Antonio, Financial Planning Association, and Rotary International where she was a Paul Harris Fellow.

Marge was interested in nature and thus conservation. She was a past president of Bexar Audubon Society as well as the Mitchell Lake Wetlands Society, a stewardship organization that advocated for the transformation of the wastewater treatment facility to a wildlife refuge.

When Marge moved to Missouri she enrolled in the first Master Naturalist class offered in Cole Camp—the Hi Lonesome Chapter. She has served as treasurer since its inception in 2008.

Marge is also active in civic organizations in Cole Camp and serves on the board of Cole Camp Community Betterment, is a member of the Cole Camp Chamber of Commerce, and the American Legion Auxiliary. She also serves as treasurer for the Cole Camp Community Center, an organization dedicated to obtaining and providing a community center for the City of Cole Camp.

Marge also serves on the committee that is active in developing biking trails around Cole Camp and is interested in developing a spur to the Rock Island Railroad rail bed sometime in the future.

Marge loves living in Missouri and feels there are great opportunities for tourists to enjoy the beauty of our state.

Marge is a birdwatcher and has done extensive travel to pursue her hobby. She also knits, puzzles and enjoys spending time with friends.

Christine Letcher

My husband Ron and I have owned and operated R&C Adventures for 14 years, which is a cabin rental resort on Highway 7, one mile north of Long Shoal Marina.  We have eight cabins total, we’re open year-round and live on-premises.

We bought the land and built the business while still living in Maryland.  We moved to Warsaw in June of 2009.  Two of our children, Alex and Rebecca, came with us and helped with the business after school and on weekends.  Our two older daughters were going to school in Maryland and wanted to stay there.

I was a travel consultant in Maryland and learned about most aspects of the travel industry, which has helped with the hospitality end of our business, along with acquiring management skills during my career.

When we can get away from the cabins, we just love all of the outdoor activities Benton County has to offer, especially boating on the lake.​

Ken Beyer

Ken has served on the BTCR Board of Directors since September of 2016. In Jan 2014 Ken and his wife Cathy moved from Phoenix AZ to Warsaw when they purchased Sterett Creek Resort. Although busy managing a marina, campground, motel, bar & grill, he still finds time to support and promote the community. Ken has had several successful businesses over the years and is a retired Navy Commander. His hobbies include cooking, boating, and travel.

Being a small business owner, Ken is able to keep a finger on the pulse of local tourism. Understanding firsthand the need for drawing tourists to the area to provide a strong inflow of recreational dollars to the local economy made him want to support the community by participating in BTCR. Being on the BTCR Board of Directors has allowed him to work with other community members to help promote the county and a variety of activities and events throughout the year.

Tim Blankinship

Tim began serving on the Benton County Tourism and Recreation Board of Directors in 2018. He moved to Warsaw from Kansas City in 1998 with his wife Liz, their son Jacob, and daughter Jessica.​

They opened Parkside Cabins in the summer of 1998 and still own it today. Tim has a background in restaurant management, worked as a food service representative, and also served on the management team at the Hilton Hotel on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City.

Being an outdoor enthusiast, he loves what the Benton County lakes area has to offer. Tourism is everything to this community as it provides a tremendous amount of tax dollars to Benton County. He believes that we have only scratched the surface and foresees a bright future for the area.

Susan Kyle

Susan began serving on the Benton County Tourism Board in  October of 2017.  She is a lifelong resident of Cole Camp and is the Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Farmers Bank.

Susan spends much of her spare time volunteering for organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and Cole Camp School Music Boosters.  Her favorite thing to do is spending time with and spoiling her four grandsons.

Tourism is vital for the local economy of the small towns in Benton County.  Cole Camp is fortunate that 52 Highway runs right through the historic downtown area on the way to Lake of the Ozarks.   Many tourists and weekenders stop in Cole Camp for the unique restaurants and shopping as well as the many events hosted by the town.

Jessica Kendall

Jessi started on the Board of Directors for BCTR in 2018. Jessi moved to Warsaw in August 2016. Originally born and raised in a small rural area of Indiana and then to Ashland, Missouri.

Jessi is the City Clerk and Finance Officer for the City of Warsaw. She is passionate about the community and the individuals who live and visit the area. She loves the outdoors and being involved in all things Benton County and enjoys hiking and being on the water soaking in the sunshine.

Jessi believes tourism is detrimental in allowing Benton County its continued growth and prosperity.  Visitors and residents alike enjoy the beautiful sites, scenery, hunting, fishing, antiquing and the great outdoors. Benton County is a place to be.

Mary Donnell-Brown

Mary moved to Cole Camp with her family when she was 11 years old and grew up on a farm.  She still lives in Cole Camp where she resides and is a very active community member, serving on the Cole Camp Chamber of Commerce, the Cole Camp Trails Committee and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.

​Mary began her career as a Farm Bureau agent in 1980 with an office in Lincoln and moved to a Warsaw location in 1987.  She retired from Farm Bureau in 2013, which allows her to continue being actively involved in all aspects of promoting and volunteering for events and promoting tourism within the entire County.

Mary enjoys teaching dancing at State Fair Community College and selling Avon.  In her spare time, she enjoys going to flea markets, thrift stores, and antique malls and traveling.

Mary understands the value in tourism in growing our community and she enjoys speaking to families and retirees about coming to visit and the benefits of moving to our area.

Dorcas Brethower

Dorcas and her family started coming to Benton County for weekend get-a-ways in the early ’80s. Being near hunting and fishing was important to their family when looking to relocate from Springfield.

She felt very fortunate to have been able to raise her children in this area.

​Dorcas enjoys working with our tourism board and sharing the many activities available in our county.