The organization that manages Oswego Lake is turning to an insider to lead its next chapter.

The Lake Oswego Corporation on July 20 appointed Operations Manager Gabe Winfrey as general manager, replacing John Sterbis, who is leaving the area for family reasons.

Winfrey has worked for the Lake Corporation since 2009, when he started as a seasonal operations crew member. He became operations manager in 2013 and was promoted to assistant general manager in 2025, when Sterbis took over as general manager.

In the operations role, Winfrey oversaw the lake's aeration system, powerhouse and dam.

New Board President Doug Woodcock, who also announced he is replacing Justin Harnish in the board's top seat, shared the leadership changes in a message to shareholders.

"Personal circumstances have led John and his family to re-evaluate their priorities, which involves a move out of the area," Woodcock wrote. "We are incredibly grateful for John's hard work, leadership, and stewardship of the lake during his tenure."

Sterbis had held the general manager position since 2025, when he replaced longtime manager Jeff Ward upon Ward's retirement.

Woodcock and his wife Charlotte have lived on the lake for 34 years.

What the Lake Corporation does

The Lake Oswego Corporation, formed in 1942, manages 415 acres of Oswego Lake and Lakewood Bay.

According to the LOC's website, its shareholders and easement members number more than 4,000 local households. The organization operates three dams, a power generation facility, a safety patrol, water-quality monitoring programs and a marina.

Its annual budget exceeds $3 million, funded entirely by assessments on 690 shareholders and 1,200 easement holders, according to a March 20, 2026, commentary Sterbis wrote in the Lake Oswego Review. The LOC receives no taxpayer funding.

In that commentary, Sterbis described the organization as operating "much like a homeowner's association, but with responsibilities that far exceed those of a typical HOA." He noted the LOC also conducts lake drawdowns so the city of Lake Oswego can maintain the sewer-line system that runs beneath the lake.

The role ahead

The general manager oversees day-to-day operations and supervises the office manager, operations manager and patrol manager, according to a 2025 executive search posting for the position. That posting listed a salary range of $160,000 to $175,000 with a potential year-end bonus, though Winfrey's compensation has not been disclosed.

The Lake Corporation has not announced a specific effective date for the transition or a timeline for Sterbis's departure.