The passionate People Behind Your Blue Ridge Mountain Weddings & Events

Celebrate life's special moments at the Mountain Lake Lodge. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, it's a place where family and friends gather and create unforgettable memories. Our passionate people and creative teams work closely with you to ensure that your weddings and special events are everything you envisioned. We love sharing this place with you and being part of your story.

Lyndsi Hale, Vice President of Sales

Meet The Team Lyndsi-Hale at Mountain Lake Lodge, Pembroke

Having over a decade of Sales & Catering Experience, Lyndsi Hale has served as the Director of Sales & Catering for Mountain Lake Lodge since 2013.

As a member of the Mountain Lake Team, Lyndsi knows event coordination can be an intimidating process, and there are many tasks that can be overlooked. Her experience provides a wealth of information for brides and event planners, which translates into a smooth, efficient planning process and an extraordinary experience for any occasion! Her warm, enthusiastic personality, and flawless attention to detail has helped to create many Fabulous Weddings, Corporate Meetings, Retreats and a variety of other successful events over the years.

She currently resides in Christiansburg with her husband and Boxer Dogs. When she's not coordinating fabulous events at Mountain Lake Lodge, you can find her gardening, kayaking on the New River, traveling or spending time with family and friends.

Contact Lyndsi with any questions regarding your upcoming wedding, family reunion, or social event at LHale@mtnlakelodge.com.

Raechel Kiefer, Director of Catering

Aleta Luther, Bus Tour Sales Manager & Catering Coordinator

Meet The Team Aleta Luther at Mountain Lake Lodge, Pembroke

Aleta Luther, a graduate from Radford University with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Parks, & Tourism with a Concentration in Tourism & Special Events, started as an Intern with Mountain Lake Lodge. Aleta assists brides and meeting planners with the planning process. She assists every step of the way including the plan for mealtimes and event designs, vendor recommendations, menu selections, activities scheduling, and "day of" logistics. Altea's main goal is for your vision to come to life!

When Aleta isn't on the Mountain you can find her traveling the world with her partner and their 3 cats, frequenting the local plant nurseries, tending to her own miniature rainforest in her home, or taking refuge in her local coffee shop with her next community service outreach project with a good cup of joe.

AJ Stephens, Vice President of Food & Beverage

AJ Stephens has served as a member of the Mountain Lake Lodge team since 2015. He has had over a decade of experience in the Food & Beverage industry, originally started at Mountain Lake as a banquet bartender, and enjoys the unique, fast-paced environment that the hotel industry offers. Whether it's a conference, wedding, or Dirty Dancing Themed Weekend, he loves to provide a once in a lifetime guest experience.

AJ currently lives in Blacksburg, VA and enjoys spending time on the river and lake or working on home projects when he is not providing excellent service to Mountain Lake Lodge guests.

Michael Porterfield, Executive Chef

Meet The Team Michael Porterfield at Mountain Lake Lodge, Pembroke

Chef Michael Porterfield began his career 34 years ago as Mountain Lake's garde manger. After leaving the lodge in 1992 as the Executive Sous Chef, he spent 5 years working locally in Blacksburg and another 5 years as the Chef de Cuisine at Roanoke College. In 2015, Porterfield returned to Mountain Lake with innovative culinary expertise and a dedication to sourcing quality farm fresh local ingredients. The Porterfield family owned the lodge for more than 30 years in the early 1900s.

Fun Fact! During the 1987 filming of Dirty Dancing, Chef Michael gave Patrick Swayze a ride to the store on the back of his motorcycle!

Jeremiah McKendree, Vice President of Retail & Recreation

Jeremiah McKendree is a passionate lover of outdoor activities and takes pride in his roots, having been born and raised in the stunning and serene West Virginia. He considers himself fortunate to be a part of the dynamic team at Mountain Lake Lodge and is grateful for the opportunity to pursue his greatest passion as a career.

With his vast expertise gained from working with some of the most reputable names in the industry such as Walt Disney World, The Greenbrier Resort, ACE Adventure Center, and The Resort at Glade Springs, Jeremiah brings a wealth of experience to the table.

Jeremiah is not just a dedicated professional but also a devoted family man. When he is not working, you can find him and his loved ones exploring the great outdoors, indulging in their shared obsession for outdoor adventures.

Mike Goetz, Clays at the Overlook Manager

Meet Mike Goetz, a passionate outdoorsman with over 25 years of clay shooting experience and an impressive master class status. With a deep love for the sport, Mike has dedicated himself to teaching new shooters the proper techniques and methods for shooting a shotgun.

When he's not sharing his expertise and knowledge with his students on the mountain, you can find Mike honing his own skills on the sporting clays course or out in the field upland hunting. He's also a skilled sailor and enjoys racing sailboats in his free time.

With a wealth of experience and a love for the great outdoors, Mike is the perfect guide and mentor for anyone looking to improve their shotgun shooting skills and experience the thrill of clay shooting.