Ground Control
Meet the dedicated staff at the controls of the Cosmosphere.
Jim Remar
President and Chief Executive Officer
620.665.9310 | jimr@cosmo.org
Favorite Artifact: 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 Cosmosphere as curator in 2000. After eight years at the Cosmosphere, Remar joined the team at Gregory, Inc as Vice President of Operations. In 2012, Remar returned to the Cosmosphere as President/COO where he was responsible for all operations of the organization, including SpaceWorks, the department of the Cosmosphere responsible for the restoration of artifacts as well as the fabrication of exhibitry and high fidelity replicas. The Cosmosphere’s governing board named Remar CEO of the organization January 2018.
A variety of organizations have benefitted from Remar’s 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’s degree in History and Political Science from Washburn University; his master’s 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’t 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
Steven Birdsall
Senior Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer
620.665.9358
stevenb@cosmo.org
Favorite Artifact: The Apollo 13 Odyssey
Steven Birdsall joined the Cosmosphere as finance manager in August of 2005. He is now the Senior Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer. Steven manages the Cosmosphere’s accounting and human resource departments. He also oversees the accounting for the Cosmosphere Foundation. Steven began his career in public accounting as a staff accountant/auditor. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Kansas State University in 2003. He enjoys the variety in his role at the Cosmosphere and the inspiration from being part of the organization.
"The Cosmosphere brings variety to the work day that you won’t find anywhere else. If you are ever tired of what you are working on, you can take a break and experience the exhibits. I find it inspiring thinking about all the hard work and dedication that went into the space program."
Steven Birdsall
Senior Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer
620.665.9358
stevenb@cosmo.org
Claire Ludes
Senior Vice President of Development and Strategic Relationships
620.665.9339
clairel@cosmo.org
Claire Ludes is the Senior Vice President of Development and Strategic Relationships at the Cosmosphere. Previously, she was the Executive Director for the Salina Area United Way in Salina, KS. She held that role for 4.5 years. Prior to that, she was the Director of Mobility Management for OCCK Transportation in Salina, KS. She received her Bachelor’s 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’s 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. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, attending her children’s activities, traveling, and being outdoors.
Claire Ludes
Senior Vice President of Development and Strategic Relationships
620.665.9339
clairel@cosmo.org
Jack Graber
Vice President of Exhibits and Technology
620.665.9330
jackg@cosmo.org
Favorite Artifact: The Russian Rocket Engine RD-107. “The 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.”
Jack Graber is the Vice President of Exhibits and Technology at the Cosmosphere. He oversees the museum’s collection and artifacts, the IT infrastructure, SpaceWorks—the Cosmosphere’s restoration and replication division and general building maintenance. Jack began his career with the organization in 1998 as the Technology Director. During his time, Jack has participated in a number of large-scope projects in the museum and for SpaceWorks. Some of the notable projects Jack has been a part of include: the restoration of Liberty Bell 7, Gemini 6, Gemini 10, Gemini 12, Apollo 13 and the V2 rockets. 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
Joanna Strecker
Vice President of Education
620.665.9319
joannas@cosmo.org
Favorite Artifact: Redstone Rocket.
Joanna Strecker
Vice President of Education
620.665.9319
joannas@cosmo.org
Don Aich
SpaceWorks Technician
620.662.9301
Don Aich, SpaceWorks Technician, is pictured with astronaut Gus Grissom’s 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 Cosmosphere’s SpaceWorks Restoration Team.
Don Aich
Gage Anthony
Maintenance Associate
Gage Anthony, Maintenance Associate, stands in front of a Mercury spacesuit worn by Wally Schirra on MA-8/Sigma 7.
Gage Anthony
Steve Barnum
Retail Operations Manager
620.665.9348
steveb@cosmo.org
Steve Barnum, Retail Operations Manager, stands in front of the actual Gemini X. Gemini X was designed to achieve the objectives for the last two missions –rendezvous, docking and extravehicular activity (EVA).
Steve Barnum
Hillary Barragan
STEAM Educator
620.665.9323
hillaryb@cosmo.org
Hillary Barragan, STEAM Educator, stands in front of the German Wall.
Hillary Barragan
Tammy Bolin
Education + Volunteer Coordinator
620.665.9360
tammyb@cosmo.org
Tammy Bolin, Education + Volunteer Coordinator, stands in front of the International Space Station display in the Fee Family Learning Center.
Tammy Bolin
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’s fastest spyplane.
Dale Capps
Stefan Carlin
STEAM Content Specialist
620.665.9351
stefanc@cosmo.org
Stefan Carlin, STEAM Content Specialist, stands before a flown Soviet Vostok.
Stefan Carlin
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
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.
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
Box Office Operations Manager
620.665.9304
samanthah@cosmo.org
Samantha Hyman, Box Office Operations Manager, 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
Michele McCartney
Director of Marketing
620.665.9303
michelem@cosmo.org
Michele McCartney, Director of Marketing stands in front of a replica of Chuck Yeager’s X-1, “Glamorous Glennis” that was used in the film The Right Stuff. Yeager was the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound in “Glamorous Glennis.”
Michele McCartney
Chuck McClary
Digital Specialist + PR Coordinator
620.665.9340
chuckm@cosmo.org
Chuck McClary, Digital Specialist + PR Coordinator, stands with two lunar space suit models that were used for training during the Apollo missions.
Chuck McClary
William Morrell
Maintenance Associate
William Morrell, Maintenance Associate, stands in front of the remains of the Mercury-Atlas 1 rocket that exploded 58 seconds after launch on July 29, 1960. The Cosmosphere reconstructed the spacecraft from the salvaged wreckage, which can be seen in the Cosmosphere’s Kennedy Theater.
William Morrell
Jason Niffen
Education + Volunteer Coordinator
620.665.9360
jasonn@cosmo.org
Jason Niffen
Lesa Paulsen
Director of Sales
620.665.9362
lesap@cosmo.org
Lesa Paulsen, Director of Sales, stands in front of Dr. Goddard's Lab.
Lesa Paulsen
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
Lily Swinea
STEAM Educator
620-665-9345
lilyc@cosmo.org
Lily Swinea, STEAM Educator, stands on the wing of the full-scale replica of the space shuttle Endeavour that adorns our Grand Lobby.
Lily Swinea
Sherry Treece
STEAM Educator
620.665.9367
sherryt@cosmo.org
Sherry Treece, STEAM Educator, sits in Cosmosphere Camp's Mission Operations Control Room in the Science Education Center.
Sherry Treece
Cody True
Retail + Box Office Assistant Manager
620.665.9316
codyt@cosmo.org
Cody True, Retail + Box Office Assistant Manager, stands before the OMEGA watch display in the Cosmosphere's Grand Lobby.
Cody True
Bill Tucker
Plant Services Operations Manager
620.665.9331
billt@cosmo.org
Bill Tucker, Plant Services Operations Manager, stands in front of an actual V-2 rocket that resides in our German Gallery. The V-2 rocket was the first long-range guided ballistic missile and was created as a weapon of mass destruction.