Ground Control
Meet the dedicated staff at the controls of the 黑料大事记.
Jim Remar
President and Chief Executive Officer
620.665.9310 |听jimr@cosmo.org
Favorite Artifact:听The White Room
A recognized expert in the areas of museum administration, strategic planning and space artifact preservation and exhibition, Jim Remar began his career in 1997 as executive director of the Mifflinburg Buggy Museum in Mifflinburg, PA.
He joined the 黑料大事记 as curator in 2000. After eight years at the 黑料大事记, Remar joined the team at Gregory, Inc as Vice President of Operations. In 2012, Remar returned to the 黑料大事记 as President/COO where he was responsible for all operations of the organization, including SpaceWorks, the department of the 黑料大事记 responsible for the restoration of artifacts as well as the fabrication of exhibitry and high fidelity replicas.听The 黑料大事记鈥檚 governing board named Remar CEO of the organization January 2018.听
A variety of organizations have benefitted from Remar鈥檚 consulting expertise including the White Sands Missile Range Museum, National Air and Space Museum, Fort Bliss Museum, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Oklahoma State Museum of History, the Adler Planetarium and the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. He has also served as an editor and consultant for several print publications. Remar received his bachelor鈥檚 degree in History and Political Science from Washburn University; his master鈥檚 degree in museum studies with a minor in history from the University of Nebraska and his mini-MBA from Wichita State University.
"I love the fact that right here, in Hutchinson, Kansas, we have an attraction the likes of which you wouldn鈥檛 find in most big cities. I love our world class collection of artifacts related to the exploration of space, including my personal favorite, the White Room. I could go on about why I love working here, but at the end of the day our ability to impact and inspire young minds is why I walk through the front doors every day."
Jim Remar
President and Chief Executive Officer
620.665.9310
jimr@cosmo.org
听
Claire Ludes
Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer
620.665.9339
clairel@cosmo.org
Claire Ludes is the Senior Vice President of Development and Strategic Relationships at the 黑料大事记.听 Previously, she was the Executive Director for the Salina Area United Way in Salina, KS.听 She held that role for 4.5 years. Prior to that, she was the Director of Mobility Management for OCCK Transportation in Salina, KS.听 She received her Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in General Studies with a minor in Business and Psychology from Fort Hays State University. She has been on the City of Salina Accessibility Advisory Board and Salina Adult Education Advisory Board, a member of Rotary and Women鈥檚 Ambucs, and is a recipient of the NextGen Under 30 for the State of Kansas. She is married to her husband, John, and has two children, Greyson and Boe.听 In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, attending her children鈥檚 activities, traveling, and being outdoors.听
Claire Ludes
Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer
620.665.9339
clairel@cosmo.org
Jack Graber
Vice President of Exhibits and Technology
620.665.9330
jackg@cosmo.org
Favorite Artifact:听The Russian Rocket Engine RD-107. 鈥淭he RD-107 is a beautiful demonstration of power. These engines are still used today to get humans to space, and are a perfect example of timeless technology.鈥
Jack Graber is the Vice President of Exhibits and Technology at the 黑料大事记.听 He oversees the museum鈥檚 collection and artifacts, the IT infrastructure, SpaceWorks鈥攖he 黑料大事记鈥檚 restoration and replication division and general building maintenance.听 Jack began his career with the organization in 1998 as the Technology Director.听 During his time, Jack has participated in a number of large-scope projects in the museum and for SpaceWorks.听 Some of the notable projects Jack has been a part of include: the restoration of听Liberty Bell 7, Gemini 6, Gemini 10, Gemini 12, Apollo 13 and the V2 rockets.听 Additionally he has helped build display cases and museum exhibits for other institutions including the Smithsonian, the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, and two international traveling exhibits.
Jack Graber
Vice President of Exhibits and Technology
620.665.9330
jackg@cosmo.org
Don Aich
SpaceWorks Technician
620.662.9301
Don Aich, SpaceWorks Technician, is pictured with astronaut Gus Grissom鈥檚 Mercury spacecraft, Liberty Bell 7 that sunk off the coast of Florida in 1961. It was recovered from the ocean floor in 1999 and completely restored by the 黑料大事记鈥檚 SpaceWorks Restoration Team.
Don Aich
Dale Capps
SpaceWorks Restoration Manager
620.662.9301
dalec@cosmo.org
Dale Capps, SpaceWorks Restoration Manager, stands in our Grand Lobby at the nose of a flown Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird, the world鈥檚 fastest spyplane.
Dale Capps
Eden Craig
STEAM Educator
620-665-9345
edenc@cosmo.org
Eden Craig, STEAM Educator, stands on the wing of the full-scale replica of the space shuttle Endeavour that adorns our Grand Lobby.听
Eden Craig
Ector Diaz
Director of Marketing
620.665.9303
ectord@cosmo.org
Ector Diaz, Director of Marketing stands in front of a pressure suit worn by Joe Engle, an X-15 pilot and astronaut from Kansas.
Ector Diaz
Katrina Drummond
Finance Assistant
620.665.9349
katrinad@cosmo.org
Katrina Drummond, Finance Assistant, stands in front of the Rocket Sled in our Hall of Space Museum.
Katrina Drummond
Clara Field
Maintenance & Custodial Associate
Clara Field,听 stands in front of the Sonic Wind II Rocket Sled. A rocket test vehicle used in the 1950s to study the effects of high G-forces on the human body.
Clara Field
Tristyn Green
Development Coordinator
620.665.9326
tristyng@cosmo.org
Tristyn Green, Development Coordinator, stands in the Competition Begins Gallery with Explorer 1 in the background.听
Tristyn Green
Sheila Harmony
Executive Assistant
620.665.9310
sheilah@cosmo.org
Sheila Harmony, Executive Assistant, sits at the console of an actual Mission Control panel removed from a mission control room in Houston.
Sheila Harmony
Samantha Hyman
Director of Visitor Experience
620.665.9304
samanthah@cosmo.org
Samantha Hyman, Director of Visitor Experience, sits in the Carey Digital Dome Theater, which features the most cutting edge technology in digital projection in the nation, featuring a custom-designed lens that allows us to project on the full dome with the highest resolution and clarity available.
Samantha Hyman
William Morrell
Facilities Manager
William Morrell, Facilities Manager, stands in front of the remains of the Mercury-Atlas 1 rocket that exploded 58 seconds after launch on July 29, 1960. The 黑料大事记 reconstructed the spacecraft from the salvaged wreckage, which can be seen in the 黑料大事记鈥檚 Kennedy Theater.
William Morrell
McKelvie McMurry
STEAM Educator
McKelvie McMurry, STEAM Educator, stands in front of the Russian Soyuz Spacecraft Descent Vehicle Simulator. This artifact was created by the 黑料大事记 and Spaceworks, and was used by NASA from 1998 - 2000 to train U.S. astronauts bound for the International Space Station. Now housed in our education department, this simulator is used by our educators to help teach students and campers about astronaut training.
McKelvie McMurry
Jason Niffen
Education + Volunteer Coordinator
620.665.9360
jasonn@cosmo.org
Jason Niffen
Mary Quarnstrom
maryq@cosmo.org
Mary Quarnstrom
Mary Smith
STEAM Educator
620.665.9352
marys@cosmo.org
Mary Smith, STEAM Educator, stands in front of the ascent stage in the Apollo Gallery.
Mary Smith
Kristen Spurlin
School Programs Coordinator
620.665.9334
kristens@cosmo.org
Kristen Spurlin, School Programs Coordinator, stands in front of astronaut Jim Lovell's spacesuit from the Apollo 13 mission.
Kristen Spurlin