Who We Are
Steven (Skip) Karby, the founder of MLP, earned a B.S. Degree in Biology from Ohio University. Upon graduating, Skip taught high school biology and physical science, as well as coached football and golf. He later moved to Florida to study marine biology and in 1976 he purchased an aquatic weed management company in the Tampa Bay area. In 1989, Skip and his family relocated to Western North Carolina where he founded Mountain Lake & Pond Management and grew the business from the ground up. Skip passed away in 2021 and his son, Stephen Karby, took over as President of Mountain Lake & Pond Management. Having worked alongside his father, Stephen was well equipped to take over the family business.
Tom Sargent: General Manager
MLP has a team of qualified spray technicians that is managed by Tom Sargent, general manager of MLP. Tom has been with MLP for 16 years. He plays many roles including scheduling, managing employees, ordering materials, customer relations, all while being out in the field performing treatments, or waist deep in the muck of a pond while pump dredging, installing SOX material, etc. Needless to say, we are happy to have Tom as the face of MLP.
James Walawender: Spray Technician
Tom’s right hand man, James Walawender has been back with MLP since 2018. James grew up with Stephen and was involved with MLP during his high school and college years while attending Western Carolina University. Once he moved back to the area in 2018 he returned to the MLP team and has been an asset ever since.
Tyler Queen: Spray Technician
Tyler has been with MLP for 8 years. He is qualified a spray technician. He currently works part-time in the winter months helping out with SOX projects, dredging jobs and aeration systems installations.