CLV Employee Spotlight: Debbie Burkeen

In the 18 years that Debbie Burkeen has worked for CLV she has seen and heard her share of strange things.

The strangest thing she remembers is a woman walking through the front gate one day and making a beeline for the lake. Debbie called the town marshal who talked to the woman while standing on the shore of the lake.

“Come to find out she had just been released from a mental hospital and God had told her to walk on the water at Christmas Lake,” she said. “The police talked to her and tried to get her into their cars,” but she refused and insisted on walking out of the village herself.

“That lady walked out of the village with two police cars following her. That was pretty strange!”
Debbie started at CLV in September of 1987 as a fill-in guard at the gate. Her job used to involve more law enforcement responsibilities but over time it has evolved into more of a hospitality position.

When CLV was smaller people would call the front desk for all kinds of things. “We used to even patch people through to the town marshal before there was 911.”

“It’s kind of neat when you physically go out there and meet someone who’s looking at this place to buy,” Debbie mentioned. “We keep a list of hotels, plumbers, utilities, all kinds of things,” that people can call the front gate and get the information for.

When not working at CLV, Debbie is “highly involved” with the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Princeton, Indiana. She is the vice-president and helps book entertainment for the organization. “We do things to support The Salvation Army and the Ronald McDonald House,” she said. “We do parties for the kids at Halloween and Christmas.”

Debbie is also a member of the Santa Claus Legion where she serves on some committees as well.
Debbie grew up in Washington, Indiana and then lived on Lake Holly for about 13 years. She has three children, two of whom still live in the area and seven grandchildren.