* Photograph by Shane Van Boxtel / Image Studios
The GameBoard
Lynn Potyen has spent the last two decades proving tabletop games are serious business.
It all began when her son Erik was diagnosed with a severe speech delay as a child. Potyen discovered that European board games, which emphasize critical thinking, were an effective and fun method of strengthening his decision-making and communication skills.
“I never intended on opening a business. This was never my plan,” says Potyen, who opened The GameBoard in Sheboygan in 2006. “I was just a mom trying to make sure my kid was not going to be alienated in the classroom; that he was not going to be socially marginalized because he had a different way of communicating.”
Potyen quickly realized the power of purposeful play and the ability of games to improve cognitive function in people like her son, who now holds a computer programming degree and works as a quality assurance engineer.
“Now I hate playing games with him because he’s really good,” Potyen says with a laugh. “He leveled past me years ago.”
Nominator Candice Boldt said Potyen has created more than just a retail store in The GameBoard. She’s established a “third place” that serves as a vital community hub.
“Lynn stands out among her peers through her unique vision of transforming traditional retail into a vehicle for community wellness and education,” Boldt said. “While many business owners focus solely on sales and profits, Lynn has pioneered an approach that positions tabletop gaming as a powerful tool for brain health, education and social connection.”
The store on N. 8th Street features 1870s mahogany woodwork and 15-foot ceilings. The sounds of 1940s jazz music and the smell of freshly brewed coffee hang in the air. And there’s more than games for sale — there’s candles, soaps and cutesy towels decorated with profanities.
“This is not just a place you’re gonna come and buy a game,” Potyen says. “This is gonna be a place where you have an experience.”
Potyen has garnered national recognition for her expertise. Potyen’s story was archived in the Library of Congress in 2020, and she contributed a chapter on brain health to the globally distributed book “What Board Games Mean to Me.”
A particularly meaningful recognition for Potyen was being honored with the 2024 Outstanding Contribution to the Games Industry award through the Game Manufacturers Association.
But Potyen’s local influence is just as deep. She has served on the business advocacy committee for the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce and recently joined the Sheboygan Harbor Centre Business Improvement District board. She also serves on multiple nonprofit boards, including A Million Dreamz Inc., which provides affordable 24/7 child care. She has also worked with the Aging and Disability Resource Center and the Dementia Care Network.
“What truly sets Lynn apart is how she’s integrated her business success with community service and advocacy for brain health,” Boldt said, “creating a uniquely powerful sphere of influence that touches education, health care, family support and economic development throughout the New North region.”
One of Potyen’s latest missions is breaking the stereotype that games are only for people of certain ages.
“Games are not just for children. Games are for everybody,” Potyen says. “When you look at our aging population, it’s how we’re going to fight off cognitive decline. It’s how we will help our society be better — by playing games.”
