Meet the Staff

Jim Simpson: Maintenance Man Extraordinaire

Meet Jim. He can give you driving directions to anywhere a car can travel. Before coming to Lock 30, seven years ago, he worked for the same local company for more than thirty years, drilling wells and installing propane lines all over the tri-state area.

We’re expecting this graduate of East Palestine High School to give us thirty years, too! He reports directly to his 7 year-old dog, Muttley—also known as Missy-- when she’s behaving, but that’s not too often.

If you like how we have our dumpsters enclosed and out of sight, Jim gets the credit. The cosmetic touches on the pavilion and the clubhouse, like the new shutters, are created during winter months when he’s not on a tractor mowing or fertilizing. You can thank him, too, for the extended length of all the G sites and the enlarged electric tent sites, A through H.

Jim gets the credit for keeping the lake ready for fishing. He clears the grounds when we have a storm and he chops and splits wood that allows us to enjoy campfires. Our chlorinated water system and dependable electric is under Jim’s watchful eye, too.

When he’s not working, you can find him at home with his wife, Jayne, his high school sweetheart, who keeps him in line, he says. In his spare time, this father of four and grandfather of six, enjoys gardening and checking out local thrift shops and flea markets.

John Toolis

If you are wondering “who’s the brains of this operation?” we have an answer for you. We’re delighted to introduce you to The World’s Most Appreciated Maintenance Helper, John Toolis, who was recently named Lisbon High School’s Class of 2009, Valedictorian.

John has been with us for three years, working mostly in the summer months, but also after school when he’s not involved with sports. Our favorite scholar /athlete has earned varsity letters in golf, tennis and track. He’s attended Buckeye Boys state and competed on speech and debate teams. As part of Lisbon’s Mock Trial Team, John has been recognized in state competitions.

When he’s working at Lock 30, John likes to drop trees and split firewood. You’ll see him doing riverfront clean up, fishing lake maintenance and brush removal. With 68 wooded acres, and Ohio’s unpredictable weather, we think John has some real job security. In fact, if varsity letters were offered in wood splitting and stacking, John would lead the team.

John usually reports to Jim, but when Karen is planting flowers, look for an argument to ensue. She wants John to plant canna lilies, while Jim wants him to run the weed eater. If you are wondering who wins those arguments, we have an answer for you: Karen.

Pool maintenance and restroom cleaning are jobs shared by all who work at Lock 30, John included. He’s painted bathrooms and the gatehouse and clubhouse exteriors and he helped landscape the bed of lavender and the poolside gardens.

This Lisbon, Ohio, native has two older sisters and super parents who support John’s passion for car engines. With his father, John builds and maintains the cars the two race at competitive, sanctioned drag racing events.

John recently learned he has been awarded an academic scholarship to Ohio Northern University, where he’ll major in engineering.

Karen Anesi

Working daily to manage Lock 30 Woodlands RV Resort is Karen Brucoli Anesi, a Youngstown, Ohio native who divides her time between Durango, Colorado and her home above the Gatehouse at Lock 30 Woodlands.

Karen and her husband, Frank, purchased this 68 acre forested, river- front property almost a decade ago. All buildings have been redesigned in the clean-up efforts required to take Lock 30 Woodlands from a rustic campground to the highest-rated camping resort in the tri-state area. Within a year of purchase, electric service was upgraded to provide more than 60 FHU sites offering 50 amp electric, setting the standard in the area to accommodate the biggest RVs on the road. Every year additional amenities and upgrades—such as concrete pads, electric/water tent sites and basketball and bocce courts await returning summer campers. Year-round occupancy makes these improvements financially possible.

Karen, a graduate of Ohio State University, has been teaching at the Association of Recreational Vehicle Campgrounds’ (ARVC) National School of RV Campground Management for the last eight winter sessions. Early in Lock 30’s history she was elected to the Ohio Campground Owners Association Board of Directors as the trustee for NE Ohio member campgrounds. Displayed on the wall of the clubhouse is the nationally recognized ARVC Chairman’s Award that she received in 2006 for “inspired leadership” and service to the camping industry.

When Karen is not at the reception desk in the summer, this Master Gardener creates regular mischief planting annuals in Lock 30’s landscaped flower beds. Rhododendrons, azaleas and spring bulbs welcome spring campers. Fall campers often help themselves to an occasional tomato from the small vegetable and herb garden in her side yard, where campers relax occasionally with ice cream from the gatehouse counter store.

When not on site—usually during winter months—she’ll take phone reservations and answer camper web site inquiries from her Durango, Colorado home office. You can reach her directly through web site: www.ohiorvcamp.com. She writes or edits most of the newsletters that go to Lock 30’s loyal clientele of return campers.

Karen and Frank have two sons, Ben and Nick, who spent part of their teen years as lifeguards and seasonal maintenance at Lock 30 Woodlands. Rounding out the family are three rescue canines: Blackjack, the world’s smartest one-eyed Lab (who lives in the Gatehouse as Lock 30’s official canine ambassador), Max and Diva. Meet the family and you’ll understand why it’s been just recently that Karen “retired” her favorite Gatehouse signage: “Pets Welcome. Children Must Be Leashed”.

"Clean,quiet and able to bring our dogs. The staff was excellent! Coming back!"

- Erin & Carlos Steffeen