2024 State Game Lodge Summer Blast now live!

Elk herd standing on a ridge

Our Team

We love the Park fiercely. We go play outside. We live local, we support local. We believe in collaboration; in showing up for people in need; in family first. We are Custer State Park Resort's year-round senior management team.

Josh Schmaltz

President & CEO, Ramkota Companies

Perhaps it is because he grew up on a ranch in northwestern South Dakota (we like to think it's because we are all so remarkable to be around) but even as he fast-forwarded his operational career to assume leadership of the ownership company, Josh still keeps a hand in the Park.

A Note From Josh

Allow me to introduce you to this team of upstanding professionals, many of whom I have had the pleasure of working side-by-side with since 2007, when we were awarded Custer State Park's concession contract. I was named Director of Operations at the time, and I have since raised my family within these majestic 71,000 acres. It is my sincere hope that you, too, are able to make memories at each of our heartwarmingly-unique Lodges during your stay. Dine at the Game Lodge and catch the herd bounding through. Kick your heels off and breathe in the fresh canyon air at our Chuckwagon Cookout. Experience Sylvan's unrivaled views, and let your kids delight in the sand between their toes at Legion Lake. Welcome to my second home. May you get caught in many buffalo jams.

Ryan Flick

Director of Operations

Lifetime hospitality expert. Hill City, SD native with roots in Florida. BHSU grad, 2000. Decades of campground management & destination resort experience. Dedicated to the company since 2015. Hard rock music aficionado. Hunter. Fisherman. Head of an all-female household and his home hobby farm when not leading the Custer State Park Resort team to victory.

Gina Konechne

Regional Director of Sales/Marketing

Lifetime destination resort specialist. Yankton, SD native with roots in Texas. Double majored (2005). Effectively leads the teams through sales, event management, web content & e-commerce marketing strategy development & execution. Mother of dragons two girls.

Susie Timm

Reservations/Tour Group Manager

CSP Resort's longest-tenured senior manager. Illinois native, Custer State Park Resort expert. Fearless dedication. Has done it all, still does it all, but prefers leading the reservations team through thick and thin.

Teresa Cortney

GM, Blue Bell Lodge

Known as "T". Ferocious leader. Dependable manager. Persuaded her retired husband to help manage her lodge, and together, they are raising their family here right. Natural caretaker. Believes in a strong faith and a hearty homecooked meal.

Jason Krulish

GM, State Game Lodge

(Feat. Bailey) Hospitality and Horticulture expert. Sioux Falls, SD native with roots in Minnesota. SDSU grad. Started with CSPR in '92 as a housekeeper, and returned to his beginnings since 2015. Lives (literally) and breathes Custer State Park day-in and day-out.

Nickolas Reinke

GM, Sylvan Lake Lodge

Minnesota native. Attended NDSU. Hospitality extraordinaire. Dedicated to the company since '09 and to Custer State Park Resort since 2016. Passion for team management. Hopelessly devoted husband and grandfather.

Eric Robinson

Director of Retail Operations

Three decades of retail management experience. Much of his career spent at Yellowstone. Been there, done that. Purchaser. Manager. Leader. Makes all six retail outlets shine.

Kylie Tuggle

Human Resources Director

Wyoming native. UW grad (Communications; Marketing, Minor, 2017). Passionate wrangler. Stables leader. Entrepreneurial work ethic. Pioneers Custer State Park Resort's seasonal staffing efforts, year after year.

Chef Epifanio Manzano

Executive Chef, State Game Lodge

Born in the Philippines. Fearlessly humble beginnings. Now boasts nationally-accredited experience. Take a minute to learn more about Chef Epi.

Carly Jinks

Sales/Catering Manager

California-born; Meritage Resort-trained. B.A. English, St. Mary's College of California, 2011. Recruited to CSPR in 2019. Mother of three boys, leader of events, passionate planner. Dedicated. Smart. Handy with a hunting rifle and on her funny hobby farm.

Gina Isaacson

Sales/Catering Manager

Custer State Park enthusiast-turned-career since 2014. Minnesota native. Le Cordon Bleu, Mendota Heights graduate, 2015. Leader in event planning, banquets, kitchens, and operations teams. A talented hobbyist. Multifaceted. Truehearted.

Tim Tuggle

Stables Manager

Indiana-born horse rancher. Fiercely cares for & protects our herd; credited with growing them from under 40 head when he took over in 2011, to over 70 strong today. Passionate about adopting and training wild horses who would have otherwise been lost to a kill pen.