Daily Inspiration: Meet Jack Greve

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Greve.

Hi Jack, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Lakeshore Keepers’ Story: In 1987, a small group of local Ludington residents dedicated to restoring and preserving Big Sable Point Lighthouse, located in the beautiful Ludington State Park. This organization was formed as the Big Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers Association and became a 501(c) (3) organization in 1991. Since 1991, the organization has grown to include four additional shoreline landmarks: White River Light Station, Little Sable Point Lighthouse, Ludington North Breakwater Light, and Manistee North Pierhead Light. As an organization that covers five historic lighthouses, the group has adopted the assumed name Lakeshore Keepers, accompanied by the tagline “Illuminating West Michigan’s Lighthouses.”

Today, we include over 300 active volunteers from 22 states. By providing volunteer lodging for one-week tours, individuals give their time to the West Michigan communities by operating our lighthouse gift shops, sharing historical information with our guests, and keeping the lighthouses clean.

In 2025, Lakeshore Keepers welcomed over 43,000 guests to climb to the top of our lighthouses to take in Michigan’s landscape and the inland sea of Lake Michigan.

Personal Story: As the youngest Executive Director of the organization, I’ve had to enter this position utilizing my background. Previously, I was the Executive Director of the North Berrien Historical Museum in Coloma, MI. Operating this site for seven years after graduating from Western Michigan University with a BA in Public History taught me how to engage with large populations, grow attendance, and share the “greatest hits” of history.

My professional background certainly aided in my hiring with Lakeshore Keepers, but my experience with the water also played a role. I have been competitively racing sailboats since I was 7 years old. I had spent every summer living aboard a 34′ sailboat in Muskegon and learn the importance of water safety and respecting Mother Nature. I still compete in regular racing in Ludington, and continue to sail in the Chicago to Mackinaw race (finishing 2nd in our section in 2025).

Working as the Executive Director of Lakeshore Keepers is a dream job for me. It combines many of my life experiences and provides a fun and rewarding challenge.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Restoring historical structures is never a smooth road. Maintaining the provenance of historical sites requires significant funding, knowledge, and resources. We are thankful for the support from the DNR at the Ludington State Park and Silver Lake State Park, National Park Services, and MI State Historic Preservation Office. These entities provide us with significant knowledge in order to restore West Michigan’s Lighthouses.

Promoting our tower climbs and gift shop spaces generates some funding, but grants, private donations, and fundraising efforts bring their own unique challenges. Lakeshore Keepers relies on all avenues of funding in order to continue our mission.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Working for a non-profit has many rewarding features. At Lakeshore Keepers, our mission is to preserve, promote and educate the public and make our lighthouses accessible to all.

We preserve to the standards of historical architects. An era of importance is determined for each site, and it is our responsibility to ensure that our lights remain standing for generations to come.

We promote by being an active organization in our community and our region. Social media is a major component in promoting our lights and attracting guests to West Michigan to spend their vacation. With 43,000 guests at our towers in 2025, these are also 43,000 lunches, dinners, and overnight stays in the communities we serve.

We educate by giving free activity booklets to all students, regardless of whether they are paid climbers. Our volunteers are trained to educate all ages while on-site and we know that education of the historic structure will mean that generations will continue to care about the lighthouse after the current leaders of Lakeshore Keepers are gone.

We give access to all in a unique way. Because our sites are between 100–150+ years old, we will not be able to accommodate all guests to physically climb to the top. Although by using technology, we can add live feed cameras which allow guests from our backyard to across the globe to experience the views digitally. Since October 2024, Lakeshore Keepers has added cameras to the White River Light Station, Ludington North Breakwater, and Big Sable Point. By the summer of 2026, we anticipate having cameras at Manistee North Pier and Little Sable Point, completing our accessibility push.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
As a nonprofit, you need a strong mission that you believe in. Practice your mission every day. Finally, share your story. If you follow this pattern, others will follow, donations will come in, and you will be a growing organization. Do not be afraid to take risks and always bet on your organization.

As a working professional, these same ideas can be used. I have a strong belief that I never want to be bored at my job and always want to have fun while working. I’ve practiced this at every job, volunteer opportunity, and through hobbies. As an individual, I have been able to glow and use my story to find a job that directly aligns with my passions. Finally, do not be afraid to take risks and always bet on yourself.

Pricing:

• $8 per Adult tower climber
• $5 per Student (17 and under) tower climber
• Veteran and Active Service climb for FREE
• $30 Associate Membership will allow you to climb all towers

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lakeshorekeepers.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakeshorekeepers/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lakeshorekeepers.org/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakeshoreKeepers