Our Story

Hey, I'm Josh, I'm the lead game designer on the team. I started making games and very quickly realized that my zero artistic talent did not translate to good looking games, which is where some of the other team came in. I'm the resident science nerd with a degree in chemistry and a minor in physics and have made my partner spend several days worth of time in Johnson Space Center and going to museums about space exploration. I have also been the dungeon master of the group for several years worth of campaigns and still struggle to come up with fake names. I have two wonderful (on occasion) dogs and I'm really looking forward to making, sharing, and playing some board games!

Hello friends (and friends I haven’t met yet)! I’m Paige, a artist and game developer at Lake Effect Games. I’ve been a tabletop enthusiast since childhood, and am so excited to be on the team! I’m a classically trained artist with a BA in Graphic Design, so when our CEO Josh came to us with a game idea I jumped to offer my talents. And after finishing our first game, I was hooked! I’m finally putting my thousands of hours playing tabletop games to good use, and making games that I want to play.
When I’m not making games, I spend my days as a medical receptionist at a pediatric clinic and those kids inspire me every day. When I’m off the clock, I indulge in my many hobby’s; DnD, music, painting, hiking, and streaming so, so many shows. I am your prototypical midwesterner, and genuinely love my hometown, Racine. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do if it wasn’t for the love and support of my family and friends.

Hey! I’m Natalee, a game-of-all-kinds lover, and artist. I went to college for art and graphic design. Over the years, I’ve been proud to add many different projects to my art conquests, and I’m happy to say that now includes board games! When Josh approached us with a board game he invented on scraps of paper, I was anxious to offer art assistance. Finally all my gaming expertise from years of playing video games, tabletop games, and card games has turned out to be useful! When I’m not playing/making games with the other members of Lake Effect Games I make my living teaching art to elementary schoolers (yes, I know I'm crazy). I also love playing all genres of video games, listening to music, playing more video games, hiking, and hanging out with my family and friends in Southeastern Wisconsin.
We are all really proud of Lake Effect Games and hope you like the stuff we come up with!

Hiya! I'm Sam and I work more on the business ends of things here at Lake Effect Games, in marketing and management, but that doesn't mean i don't love gaming as much as the others! It's our favorite past time to play board games together, when we aren't already playing DnD, so this was the natural course of action!
A fun fact about me is my other love, cosplaying. For 10 years now I've gone to every con I could and showed off the costumes I make, and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. Some of my favorite cosplays that I've made are my Astrid from How To Train Your Dragon and Wind Master from Heaven Officials Blessing.
I'm also currently in school right now to study marketing. (Useful huh?) As well as being a cohost on The Fandom Effect podcast. And I can be found singing my heart out at karaoke once a week.
We hope you stay around and try our games out!

Head Game Piece Muncher: When we notice the game is missing a token we can usually find this little guy chewing away until it is taken from him. He ensures that each piece he finds meets his strict sniff and lick testing and is the reason that our games come with spare parts. When he is away from work he enjoys barking at people who walk by his house, sniffing around the yard, hoarding his toys away from his brother, and chewing his bone.

Vice President of Marketing and CEO (Chief Eating Officer) Ash is really the heart and soul of this whole endeavor, providing expert consultation on the most delicate of subjects. When he is not hard at work he enjoys very long walks, an additional walk after that one, and talking up all the room in his parent's bed.

Obviously the most important member of the team (if he were the judge of that). As the head of Human Resources he provides emotional support and frequently has to remind the team to take a breaks to give him pets. A long time member of the team, he’s been present at most of our sessions of dnd, only disrupting occasionally to his credit. His greatest love in life is food, and he enjoys napping in the sun, knocking glasses off tables, and looking at birds through the window.