Management
Pit
- Hi! My name is Gab-Riel but at Aikens, people call me Pit.
- 2026 marks my 38th season at Aikens.
- In the off-season, when I’m not working at Aikens, I’m still working for Aikens! Pat and I handle all the sales for the lodge in the winter, and our lovely spouses handle everything else from social media to e-newsletters to bookkeeping to purchasing. They are amazing! After two winters of missed beer league hockey due to knee surgeries, I can't wait to get back on the ice in the fall of 2027.
- If I could instantly become an expert at one thing, it would be how to fix stuff. I suck at that. I see Pat and Jus fix just about everything at the lodge and it amazes me because I don't even know where to start.
- My perfect day off at Aikens would include a beach party! We have such fun beaches that don't get used as much as they should... sand as far as you can swim out and hot sunshine - it's like being in the Caribbean some days!
- An Aikens staff member that I think would most likely survive a zombie apocalypse is… for sure it would be Jus. He has probably already set aside provisions and imagined strategies and weapons to use.
- You might be surprised to learn this about me… I have played over 10,000 games of backgammon on my phone. I am pretty deadly at it so don't challenge me in a game of backgammon - you've been warned!
- An Aikens fish that best matches my personality is a burbot because people assume they are boring but don't realize how fun a burbot is until they hang out with one after dark.
Julie
- Hi! My name is Julie… and I don’t really have a nickname.
- 2026 marks my 27th season at Aikens.
- In the off-season, when I’m not working at Aikens, I’m hopefully travelling somewhere I've never been before. I love exploring new places, spending time with family and friends, and collecting stories along the way. But even in the off-season, I'm always thinking about ways to make your next visit to Aikens even more memorable. So I'm usually busy planning all the behind-the-scenes details that help turn an Aikens trip into an "Aikens Experience".
- If I could instantly become an expert at one thing, it would be weather forecasting. If I could accurately predict the weather at Aikens, I'd probably be considered a wizard.
- My perfect day off at Aikens would include definitely sleeping in! After that, you'll find me parked on the beach, alternating between reading, floating, sipping fun drinks, and pretending I have absolutely nowhere to be. Imagine if Chef Colin happens to stop by with snacks… then it truly would be the perfect day off!
- An Aikens staff member that I think would most likely survive a zombie apocalypse is Marty. He has logged enough Call of Duty hours that I'm convinced he already knows exactly what to do. Whether it actually works is another question.
- You might be surprised to learn this about me... I once got ordained so I could perform a wedding ceremony at Aikens. I kind of enjoy curveballs and unusual requests, but becoming a wedding officiant was definitely not on my bingo card!
- An Aikens fish that best matches my personality is a perch because I'm usually happiest when surrounded by friends and snacks.
Patrick
- Hi! My name is Patrick but at Aikens, people call me Pat.
- 2026 marks my 27th season at Aikens.
- In the off-season, when I’m not working at Aikens, I’m admiring my beautiful wife.
- If I could instantly become an expert at one thing, it would be lottery numbers.
- My perfect day off at Aikens would include no breakdowns.
- An Aikens staff member that I think would most likely survive a zombie apocalypse is Chef Colin due to his knife skills.
- You might be surprised to learn this about me… I’m pretty good at drinking beer.
- An Aikens fish that best matches my personality is a jumbo lake trout because while they look old, they still have lots of energy.
Janelle
- Hi! My name is Janelle but at Aikens, people call me Jans.
- 2026 marks my 21st season at Aikens.
- In the off-season, when I’m not working at Aikens, I’m a hockey mom!
- If I could instantly become an expert at one thing, it would be Excel.
- My perfect day off at Aikens would include sunny skies, a calm beach, my family and good book.
- An Aikens staff member that I think would most likely survive a zombie apocalypse is Jus.
- You might be surprised to learn this about me… I’ve never watched Top Gun.
- An Aikens fish that best matches my personality is a northern pike, because I seem calm… until it’s time to compete for snacks.