FOUNDER
“The crews were always friendly and responsive, cannot say enough about the people you have been able to hire in the summer to do this work. I would be remiss if I didn’t also note that Derek has been great to work with, could not be happier with working out the service needed, timing, responsiveness to call, etc.”
— Jerry V, Lake Owasso
Tom Suerth
Tom started Waterfront Restoration, which provides lake weed removal services, in 2003 when he was still in high school. Frustrated by the weeds and invasive species preventing his family from enjoying the lake, he tried pulling them by hand instead of depending on chemicals or mechanical harvesters. The results were longer-lasting and more complete, and as his family’s property became the envy of the bay, word spread!
Over the years, Waterfront Restoration has expanded its services and service area while keeping abreast of the latest invasive species concerns and best practices. Today, over 500 regular clients rely on Waterfront Restoration to clear and maintain their lakefront properties.
Waterfront Restoration is locally owned and staffed by courteous, borderline-obsessive lake lovers. Waterfront cares about our neighbors and the lakeshores they represent because, frankly, we can’t wait to dive in for ourselves at the end of the day. Our 20+ year track record and hundreds of happy clients speak volumes about our commitment to excellence. We’re about improving our lakes through our lake weed removal services —as well as helping clients enjoy their summer—one visit, one weed, one shovel at a time…and we can’t wait for you to experience the Waterfront Restoration difference for yourself!
We proudly lead the industry in safe lake weed removal, providing expert training and equipment for our team to ensure every project is completed safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards.
WHO ELSE WILL YOU WORK WITH AT WATERFRONT RESTORATION?
SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR
Derek Lee
Derek began his career with Waterfront Restoration as a diver in 2008 and now serves as the sales and marketing director for the company. Derek oversees everything from customer satisfaction to marketing initiatives. His passion for the water and helping others has made his work with Waterfront Restoration a natural fit.
Derek was born and raised in Minnesota and grew up with weekend ventures to his lakeside cabin on Mille Lacs. His time spent there was the foundation of his love for the outdoors and the lakes of Minnesota.
When he's not working, Derek is also a volunteer firefighter for the city of Long Lake. In his free time, Derek loves to spend time out on the lake or near the lake with his friends and fiancé, Taryn. He even proposed to Taryn along the shores of Lake Minnetonka near the excelsior commons boardwalk in the fall of 2016. He lives in Orono and has a “fur family” consisting of a Siberian husky named Eskimo and a cat named Finnley.
Due to Derek's never-ending passion for helping people and for serving the lakefront community, he is constantly listening and learning from thousands of lake homeowners. With almost a decade of work in this field, he has earned the trust and respect of clients and gained insights into the needs of lakefront homeowners. This expertise has allowed him to best teach Waterfront Restoration's staff of highly-trained divers how to provide the best solution and best customer experience to any lake homeowner. Derek stands behind Waterfront Restoration's promise of being the highest quality cleaning option for any lakeshore property.
“I can’t tell you how nice it is to enjoy a weed-free Lake Minnetonka experience. Thanks again for providing us with such a great service!”
— Michael J, Smithtown Bay, Lake Minnetonka
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Ben Brandt
Ben Brandt joined the Waterfront Restoration Team during the fall of 2018. After 8 years of leading operations at a big box retailer, it was time to get back to the great outdoors! Ben was born and raised in Rochester, MN (one of the only counties in MN with no natural lakes), but enjoyed spending as much time as possible at the family cabin in Wisconsin on Bone Lake. It was on Bone Lake that he developed a love of boating, skiing, tubing, and enjoying everything about the water. Ben took his passion for the water further 13 years ago when he got SCUBA certified, and has been diving ever since. As a new resident of Mound, MN, Ben, his lovely wife Lauren, and their 2 year old son Henry are happily surrounded by the many beautiful bodies of water that MN has to offer and enjoy.
As the Operations Manager at Waterfront Restoration, Ben is responsible for managing all of our hard-working and passionate employees to deliver high quality results day in and day out. As someone who spent many weekends at the family cabin Ben knows how preciously short the summer lake season can be in MN, and is committed to leading our crews to do everything within our power to ensure our clients can fully enjoy every minute possible on the water.
Ben is also an authorized Watercraft Inspector and oversees the company’s Watercraft Inspector services and staff. There is so much to do to protect and preserve the health of our water bodies that this is a vital component to Waterfront Restoration’s core values and commitment to the environment.
“Overall the results were excellent. They did what they said they would do and a bit more.”
Jim E., Echo Bay, Lake Minnetonka
Operations Project Manager
Ripp Baker
Ripp is the Operations Supervisor having started as a Crew Leader back in 2017. He helps with recruiting, hiring, improving training, updating policies and procedures as well as ensuring the crews have their equipment needs met.
Ripp grew up in central Minnesota spending a lot of time fishing Lake Mille Lacs and the surrounding waters. He spent a good amount of his years playing sports and spending time outside.
Ripp then graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with his degree in Exercise Science. He has a passion for health and fitness as well as the waters of Minnesota. Spending his free time staying fit as well as Scuba diving and traveling.
"Since those first days the team has been back every year making sure we have a beautifully clean beach area. We wouldn't think of starting a summer of water activities without Waterfront Restoration's schedule on our calendar! We and our grandchildren, ages 2 to 12, love jumping off the dock into completely weed free water!!!!!!"
Sue
OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR
Jake Petersen
Jake joined the team in February 2025 as the Operations Supervisor. He helps with recruiting, hiring, training, and day-to-day operations. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Sports Management and Communication Studies. Before joining Waterfront Restoration, Jake worked in the operations department for multiple sports teams in the Twin Cities.
Jake grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, but spent the majority of each summer at his family cabin in Richmond, Minnesota, on Horseshoe Lake. He has an understanding of our clients from his time spent each summer removing aquatic weeds from his lakeshore with the rest of his family. While on the lake, Jake enjoys jet skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, and sunset boat rides. He also enjoys hiking, traveling to various parks, ice fishing, and is an avid sports/racing fan.
“Great service have tried other methods of weed control but none of them were as effective as having them pulled by you.”
Ryan S., Lower Prior Lake
SALES MANAGER
Nick Lee
Nick is our Sales Manager as of 2023. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a degree in Marketing. Nick is responsible for providing accurate and fair estimates for existing and new clients. Nick’s focus is building strong relationships between clients and the company. Before coming to Waterfront Restoration, Nick was the Regional Manager for Wheel Fun Rentals in Milwaukee and Chicago, a popular bike and boat rental company.
Nick grew up in Burnsville, Minnesota, and for as long as he can remember, he has spent his free time at his cabin up in Barnes, Wisconsin, on Middle Eau Claire Lake. Nick’s cabin has been in his family for over 60 years and is a special place to him and his family. His passion for the outdoors stemmed from all his time at his cabin. While up north, Nick enjoys swimming, boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, and creating roaring bonfires. When not at the lake, Nick enjoys ice skating and snowboarding during the winter and golfing during the summer.
“I was very happy with the job done by the team that came to my house. I would use them again. They were polite and efficient.”
Regina H.
SALES AND MARKETING PROJECT MANAGER
Tracie Padula
Tracie Padula joined Waterfront Restoration in June of 2025 as the Sales and Marketing
Project Manager. She plays a key role in supporting marketing projects and enhancing
the customer experience, helping teams stay organized and aligned across initiatives.
Tracie graduated from Metropolitan State University and brings a people-first mindset to
everything she does. Her approach is rooted in clear communication, relationship-
building, and a drive to improve processes wherever possible. Outside of work, Tracie enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids. She loves being outdoors, especially when it involves fishing, golfing, or hiking with her family.
“Our beach and waterfront looked awesome when we arrived at our cabin! Thank you.”
Scott W.
customer service liaison
Sue Zobel
Sue joined Waterfront Restoration in 2022 and now serves as a customer service liaison building past and future relationships.She loves building relationships and believes in Waterfront Restoration’s purpose- making clients happy, bringing joy, and living a better life. With the understanding that time is precious- parents,grandparents and friends can enjoy and play in the lake, swim around, take their kids on the raft,and float on the water right in their own yard with and not have to be concerned about weeds.
Sue is passionate about boating, jet skiing, kayaking and being on the water. She has spent her whole life on the water- the day she came home from the hospital, her Dad took her for a boat ride. In addition, she grew up on a small lake infested with lake weeds, so she is familiar with our clients' challenges with weeds.
"Waterfront Restoration lives up to its name...my shoreline and beach are look fantastic! Thank you!"
Sandy R.
Administrative Manager
Hieu Pham
Hieu has been with us for over eight years and has made significant contributions in administration, IT, and finance. Hieu is all about precision and efficiency, and he’s helped us make our operations run better. He’s also great at handling data and reports that we need for smart business decisions.
In his free time, Hieu loves to travel and has been to lots of different places, learning about various cultures. This enriches his global perspective and makes him a more well-rounded problem solver. These qualities definitely help him succeed at Waterfront Restoration.
"Good work, friendly crew. Job was done as agreed to."
Mark R.
communications intern
Aliza Kresha
Aliza joined Waterfront Restoration in 2026 as our Communications Intern. She is currently pursuing a degree in Strategic Communications at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Following high school, Aliza spent a year serving with AmeriCorps, an experience that strengthened her passion for communication, community engagement, and people-focused work.
Originally from central Minnesota, Aliza developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors through countless days spent on the lake. Growing up surrounded by Minnesota’s natural beauty inspired her love of outdoor recreation and active living. She is a motivated and personable individual who is excited to continue developing her communication skills while helping create positive experiences for Waterfront Restoration clients.
In her free time, Aliza enjoys staying active through weightlifting, running, and Nordic skiing, as well as spending time with friends and family.
marketing & communications intern
Mia Schwartz
Mia joined Waterfront Restoration in 2026 as our Marketing and Communications Intern. She recently graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Political Science. During her time in Iowa City, Mia spent two years working in leasing and marketing for residential properties, where she gained valuable experience in customer service, client communication, and marketing strategy. She is excited to apply her skills to create engaging content and help connect customers with Waterfront Restoration’s mission.
Originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota, Mia spent her summers enjoying the lakes around the Twin Cities, including fishing, boating, and sailing. Growing up around Minnesota’s lakes fostered a strong appreciation for the outdoors and the importance of preserving waterfront environments. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, working out, exploring new coffee shops, and spending time with family and friends.
sales intern - Twin cities
Tommy Quinn
Tommy joined Waterfront Restoration in 2026 as our Sales Representative Intern for the Twin Cities area. He is currently pursuing a degree in Marketing at Miami University and is eager to spend the summer helping homeowners improve their lakefronts while gaining valuable experience in sales, customer relationships, and business development. Tommy is excited to connect with clients, learn from the team, and contribute to creating positive experiences for waterfront property owners.
Originally from Minnetonka, Minnesota, Tommy spent countless summer days swimming, boating, and enjoying life on Lake Minnetonka with friends and family. Growing up on the lake gave him a deep appreciation for Minnesota’s waterways and the importance of maintaining healthy, enjoyable lake environments. In his free time, Tommy enjoys staying active, spending time outdoors, and making the most of Minnesota’s short but unforgettable summers. He is excited to combine his passion for lakes and the outdoors with his interest in sales and customer service at Waterfront Restoration.
sales intern - brainerd
Drew Larson
Drew joined Waterfront Restoration in 2026 as our Sales Representative Intern for the Brainerd Lakes Area. He is currently a junior at the University of Wisconsin–Superior, where he is pursuing a degree in Business Management. Drew is excited to gain hands-on experience in sales, customer service, and relationship building while helping lakefront property owners improve and enjoy their waterfronts.
A lifelong resident of the Brainerd Lakes Area, Drew has developed a deep appreciation for Minnesota’s lakes through years spent at his family cabin and on the water. His connection to the local community and passion for lake life make him especially excited to help homeowners maintain clean, healthy shorelines. In his free time, Drew enjoys spending time outdoors, being on the lake, and making the most of everything the Brainerd Lakes Area has to offer. He is proud to serve the community he calls home and looks forward to making a positive impact throughout the summer season.
Sales intern - Detroit Lakes
Jack Courneya
Jack joined Waterfront Restoration in 2024 and is returning for his third season with the team in 2026 as our Detroit Lakes Sales Representative Intern. A recent graduate, Jack has spent the last three summers helping lakefront property owners throughout the Detroit Lakes area enjoy cleaner, healthier shorelines. His dedication to customer service, strong local knowledge, and passion for lake life have made him a valuable member of the Waterfront Restoration team.
Having grown up in the Detroit Lakes area, Jack developed a deep appreciation for Minnesota's lakes and outdoor lifestyle at an early age. He enjoys spending time on the water with family and friends and understands firsthand the importance of maintaining beautiful, usable waterfronts. When he's not helping homeowners with their lakefront projects, Jack enjoys golfing, fishing, and taking advantage of everything the Detroit Lakes area has to offer. He is excited to continue serving the community he calls home and helping more families make the most of their time on the lake.
Watercraft Inspections - Operations Intern
Alexis Dupont
Alexis joined Waterfront Restoration in 2026 as our Watercraft Inspections Operations Intern. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus in Management and a minor in Equine Science at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. In her role, she assists with scheduling, customer questions, contracts, and the day-to-day operations that help keep our watercraft inspection programs running smoothly. Alexis is excited to gain hands-on experience in operations, customer service, and environmental stewardship while supporting Minnesota's lakes and waterways.
Originally from Otsego, Alexis has always enjoyed spending time outdoors and appreciates the importance of protecting Minnesota's natural resources. Her passion for the outdoors, combined with her strong organizational skills and customer-focused mindset, makes her a valuable member of the Waterfront Restoration team. In her free time, she enjoys fishing, horseback riding, watching hockey, camping, and gardening. She is excited to spend the season helping lake property owners and contributing to the success of Waterfront Restoration's watercraft inspection programs.
Let's Get Started
Schedule your FREE Weed Removal Analysis
Watch our divers make your weeds disappear
Enjoy your worry-free summer by the lake!
