Cosmosphere Staff

Steven Birdsall joined the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center as finance manager in August of 2005. Steven manages the Cosmosphere’s accounting and human resource departments. He also manages 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 along with the inspiration that comes from being part of the organization.

Mimi Meredith oversees the organization’s fundraising efforts. Over the past 25 years, she has held leadership roles in marketing, public relations and development for a variety of organizations in Kansas and Arizona. She is a seasoned communication strategist and has consulted with a variety of nonprofit boards regarding development and effective fund raising. Meredith is a graduate of Cottey College and the University of Kansas School of Journalism. She is certified in fundraising programs through the Institute of Charitable Giving.

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.

Michele McCartney is the Vice President of Marketing and Creative at the Cosmosphere. She oversees all of the organization’s marketing, creative and branding efforts. She has been instrumental in designing galleries and exhibits for the museum, as well as print and digital materials for operations and marketing. Michele began her career with the organization in 2008 as the Creative Design Manager.
 
During this time, Michele has participated in a number of significant projects for the Cosmosphere. Some of the notable projects in which Michele has been involved include the design work for an exhibit, commissioned by Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos' company, Bezos Expeditions, showcasing the recovery and conservation of F-1 engines from the Apollo program. She designed the gallery and exhibit plan for the B-29 Doc Hanger and Education Center in Wichita, Kansas. In early 2019 she began work on a TEAM II grant funded by NASA.
 
Michele holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and 3D Design from the Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO.

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.