top
Office building with a blue metal roof and a sign reading PLM Great Lakes Division, with four parked pickup trucks in front.

Get To Know PLm

Built on Science. Proven in the Field.
Contact US

founded in 1979 by Dr. and Mrs. Gregory Cheek in Detroit, Michigan.

PLM Lake & Land Management Corp., commonly known as PLM, was founded in 1979 by Dr. and Mrs. Gregory Cheek in their home in Detroit, Michigan. From the beginning, PLM was built on a simple but powerful belief: inland lakes and managed landscapes deserve responsible, science-based care, not shortcuts or temporary fixes.

What began as a small, family-operated business quickly grew through expertise, personal investment, and consistent results. As demand expanded, PLM outgrew its home office and established its headquarters in Alto, Michigan in the summer of 1984, a location that continues to serve as the company’s home more than 40 years later.
Two people outdoors smiling and giving thumbs up, one standing on grass holding a paper and the other with one foot on a blue boat.
Holistic Approach
Science driven solutions
Licensed & Trained
Preventative Care

Over the decades, PLM has steadily expanded its reach to meet client needs across the region and beyond

The company opened branches in South Carolina (2000), Brainerd, Minnesota (2001), North Carolina (2005), Tennessee (2016), and Shakopee, Minnesota (2017), along with additional Michigan locations in Morrice (2008), Evart (2012), and Gaylord (2023).
Today, guided by PLM’s Board of Directors, the company remains family owned and operated, continuing its longstanding commitment to staff, service excellence, and leadership within the aquatic management industry.

The People Behind the Work

PLM’s strength is its people. Our team includes biologists, foresters, ecologists, certified applicators, and experienced field crews. Many of our team members have spent their careers at PLM, bringing deep local knowledge and hands-on experience to every project.
Select a team:
Meet the Midwest Region Team.
These people serve Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, & North Dakota.
Patrick Selter
Vice President
Shakopee, Minnesota
David Hillstrom
Senior Regional Manager
Brainerd, Minnesota
Thomas Rapatz
Assistant Regional Manager
Shakopee, Minnesota
Drew Baker
Assistant Regional Manager
Brainerd, Minnesota
Jay Holland
Pond & Terrestrial Manager
Brainerd, Minnesota
Ashlee Haviland
Environmental Technical Service Manager
Kristy Hoge
Administrator
Brainerd, Minnesota
Lindsie Heitzman
Administrator
Shakopee, Minnesota
Meet the Atlantic Region Team.
These people serve Tennessee & North Carolina.
Tracy Thompson
Regional Manager
North Carolina
Damien Laws
Regional Manager
Tennessee
Ashlee Haviland
Environmental Technical Service Manager
Jacqui Gorczewicz
Administrative Assistant
North Carolina
Meet the South East Region Team.
These people serve South Carolina.
Robert Cernuda
Senior Vice President
South Carolina
Shane Powers
Regional Manager
South Carolina
Ashlee Haviland
Environmental Technical Service Manager
Julie Rogers
Administrator
South Carolina
Meet the Administrative Team.
These people work with all of the PLM branches.
Jason Broekstra
President & CEO
Michigan
Amanda VanderWeele
Senior Manager of Administrative Services
Amanda Burns
Human Resources Manager
Melissa Bosley
Administrative Manager
Mike Benzie
IT Manager
Jacqui Gorczewicz
Administrative Assistant
North Carolina
Karen Feley
Administrator
Michigan
Kristy Hoge
Administrator
Brainerd, Minnesota
Lindsie Heitzman
Administrator
Shakopee, Minnesota
Julie Rogers
Administrator
South Carolina

Industry-Certified Specialists

Backed by trained specialists and certified applicators who meet strict regulatory and safety standards.

Environmental Organization Members

Engaged with APMS, MAPMS, MLSA, NALMS, AERF, and other industry groups. Learn more about our memberships and certifications here.

State-Licensed Professionals

Proud members of RISE, the Better Business Bureau, and the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce.
Man giving a presentation to an audience seated at round tables in a rustic room with a window and decorative plants.

Licensed & Certified Applicators Across Multiple Regions

PLM’s services are delivered by licensed, state-certified applicators operating in:
Our teams work in accordance with:
  • State and local regulations
  • Label requirements and best management practices
  • Environmentally responsible application standards
Circular badge with text 'Guaranteed Performance' and 'Committed to Quality' surrounding a lake scene with a flying duck, a fish, trees, and grass, featuring the letters PLM.

Guaranteed Performance. Committed to Quality.

At PLM Lake & Land Management Corp., we stand behind the quality, integrity, and professionalism of all our work. Every project is unique with its own site conditions, goals, and environmental variables. Our teams use industry-leading practices and science-based strategies, combined with years of expertise, to deliver dependable, accurate and result driven services tailored to each client’s needs. We are committed to quality in every aspect of our performance. If any part of our work does not meet the expectations outlined in our agreement, PLM will promptly address the concern and take corrective action as needed. We take pride in our accountability, our follow-through, and our company wide promise:
“Guaranteed Performance. Committed to Quality.”

Join the PLM Team

PLM is built by people who care about the work they do and the environments they manage. We invest in our employees through training, safety, and long-term career opportunities, because experienced teams deliver better results.

If you’re looking to build a career in aquatic or terrestrial management with a company that values expertise, integrity, and stability, we’d like to hear from you.
Explore Careers at PLM
Three men on a blue airboat on a lake surrounded by green trees.Large group of diverse men and women standing indoors in front of a beige wall with two windows and decorative plants.

Looking Ahead

PLM has been a leader in the Aquatic Industry for over four decades and has no intent to join the conglomerate market which is over taking the industry.  PLM values sustaining our experienced staff, as well as our sustained client relationships and balanced ecosystems for decades to come.
Get in Touch

Search for something