Meet our leadership.

Chris Makowske

President

Chris Makowske leads Lakewood in fulfilling our mission to serve families and our bold vision to reimagine the role of a cemetery in modern life. His thoughtful and collaborative approach to leading, supported by his grounded knowledge in nonprofit management and his entrepreneurial spirit, make Chris the ideal leader to begin Lakewood’s journey into our next 150 years.

Chris joined Lakewood in 2009 and has served in a variety of roles, including strategic planning, advising families, helping to oversee grounds and operations, and managing Lakewood’s finances, marketing and outreach initiatives.

Previously, he served in management positions for Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and School in Minnetonka and the Churches of Saint Michael and Saint Mary in Stillwater. Earlier in his career, he worked in product development, marketing and fund development.

Chris earned an MBA from the University of Saint Thomas with a concentration in Venture Management. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Saint Thomas with majors in Philosophy and English and a minor in Business Administration. He is President of the Minnesota Association of Cemeteries and past president of the Twin City Association of Cemeteries.

Paul Aarestad

Director of Arboretum and Greenhouses

Paul Aarestad leads the team that cares for Lakewood’s 250 acres of urban memorial parkland. His creative vision has brought innovation, sustainable practices, and breathtaking gardens to Lakewood. Most recently, Paul led the effort to Lakewood becoming an accredited arboretum.

Paul spent most of his summer Saturdays as a child with his grandfather, an avid gardener. He remembers how a lone peony or small clump of tulips brought so much pleasure and excitement to his grandfather — and today, he feels the same anticipation and excitement when the tulips pop up at Lakewood in the spring.

Paul graduated from Anoka Hennepin Technical College with a specialty in horticulture, and he’s been working at Lakewood ever since (more than 40 years!). Paul’s creations include the harp and garden temple topiaries and the introduction of more sustainable and diverse plant and tree species at Lakewood. He’s also our resident historian – and you’ll learn something new every time you talk with him.

Abby Entrikin

Director of Operations

Abby Entrikin brings a unique blend of compassion, expertise, and deep personal connection to her role on Lakewood’s Leadership Team. A licensed funeral director with a Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota, Abby began her Lakewood journey in 2019 as a Family Services Advisor, helping families with property and memorial planning.

With years of experience in both full-service funeral homes and managing a direct cremation provider, Abby is committed to improving work environments through servant leadership and operational efficiency. She’s known for her attention to detail, high standards of care and for recognizing the strengths each team member brings to our collective work.

For Abby, Lakewood is more than a place of employment—it’s part of her family’s story. That connection began in 1922, when her first relative was laid to rest here. Now, as a fifth-generation Lakewood family member, Abby brings a heartfelt dedication to ensuring this sacred space is beautifully cared for and that every family served feels supported and honored.

Julia Gillis

Director of Marketing & Outreach

Julia Gillis leads the development of marketing and outreach programs that support Lakewood’s vision to make memorialization more relevant, accessible and inviting. This includes creating meaningful and engaging events, content and experiences for Lakewood’s families and the broader community.

Julia’s journey with Lakewood began in 1997, when she joined a boutique agency that helped Lakewood with its PR and outreach (the owner of the firm led the creation of Lakewood’s history book in the 1990s). Since then, she has worked with Lakewood on outreach activity and communications as part of an agency, and later as an independent consultant, until 2020, when she took on this full-time leadership position.

Previously as an independent consultant, Julia worked in marketing communications for a variety of organizations in the health care and retail industries. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Minnesota.

Kelly Leahy

Director of Product and Service Development

Kelly Leahy leads the development of Lakewood’s products and services – bringing together meaningful memorialization options and a cohesive approach to how families plan, choose, and engage with Lakewood.

With a deep passion for guiding families through end-of-life decisions, Kelly brings both professional expertise and a thoughtful, innovative approach to her work. She spent nearly 12 years as a funeral director before joining Lakewood in 2015 as a Family Services Advisor. In 2019, she became a Director on Lakewood’s leadership team.

Kelly holds degrees from UW-Eau Claire and the University of Minnesota. She lives near Lakewood and was married in its Memorial Chapel – an experience that deepens her personal connection to its mission, beauty, and legacy.

Kelsie Mateski

Director of Finance & Administration

As a steward of Lakewood’s nonprofit resources, Kelsie Mateski helps ensure Lakewood makes thoughtful financial choices so that we can continue to serve families and the community long into the future. She is also responsible for HR/talent management and identifying technologies that can best support the customer and visitor experiences at Lakewood.

After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Luther College, Kelsie worked as a certified public accountant (CPA) for Baker Tilly, LLP, specializing in not-for-profit and higher education. It was in this role that Kelsie “fell in love with Lakewood” on her first visit in 2010.

She served on the external auditing team for Lakewood for almost eight years, and was thrilled when she officially came on-board as Lakewood’s Director of Finance & Administration in 2018.

Seth Kaltwasser

Director of Family Services

Seth Kaltwasser leads the Family Services team in offering warm and professional end-of-life planning, care and services to families and individuals.

Seth is deeply committed to helping individuals and families ensure their decisions thoughtfully reflect and celebrate the priceless legacies they wish to preserve. Since joining Lakewood in 2020, he has been instrumental in advancing approaches that thoughtfully support families’ experiences and needs, leading his work with empathy, care, and a deep sensitivity to the challenges families face during difficult and emotional time.

Drawing on his background in nonprofit fundraising and arts management, Seth has developed a deep appreciation for the importance of legacy. He is inspired by Lakewood’s rich local history and the meaningful stories each family adds to its community.