NORTH NEWTON - Key Persons


Andi Schmidt Andres

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Director, Kauffman Museum
About Andi: Andi has worked at Kauffman Museum since 1993. In her role as Director, she is responsible for special events such as fundraising dinners and receptions, educational programs for children and families including Uncle Carl's Camps and Celebrate Kansas Day!, managing the museum store, coordinating the volunteer program, supervision of student employees and Kauffman Museum administrative duties.

Austin Prouty

Job Titles:
  • Exhibition Assistant
About Austin: Austin's collaboration with Kauffman Museum began while working on Campaign for a New China as part of his Bethel College senior seminar project. Since 2020, Austin has served in the role of Exhibition Assistant, focusing on exhibit fabrication, graphic design, and photography and videography.

Barbara Bunting

Job Titles:
  • Community Volunteer
  • Member of the Board of Directors

Bob Simmons

Job Titles:
  • Master Gardener

Brad Schmidt

Job Titles:
  • Bethel College, Director of Alumni Engagement

Chris Conrade

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

Christine Downey-Schmidt

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Retired Educator

Chuck Regier

Job Titles:
  • Curator of Exhibits
About Chuck: Chuck began work at Kauffman Museum in 1985 as an exhibit builder and craftsmen. Working closely with Robert Regier, Bethel College art instructor and Kauffman Museum exhibit designer, Chuck gradually took on a larger roll in exhibit design. Chuck has led Kauffman Museum's consulting work for a number of other museums, including permanent exhibits at the Stauth Memorial Museum in Montezuma, KS and the Penrose Heritage Museum in Colorado Springs.

Cindy Wiens

Job Titles:
  • Secretary of the Board of Directors

David Kreider

Job Titles:
  • Museum Technician
About David: David began work at Kauffman Museum in 1985 as an exhibit builder and craftsman working together with Chuck Regier to fabricate and install the permanent exhibit, Of Land and People. Dave left Kansas in the fall 1988 and returned to KM in the summer of 2000.

Debra Hamm

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Retired Educator & Administrator

Donna Becker

Job Titles:
  • President of the Board of Directors

Jenny Masias

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Bethel College, Adjunct Instructor of Spanish

Johann Reimer

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Hesston College, Director of Engineering Education

John Fast

Job Titles:
  • Visitor Services Coordinator
About John: John joined Kauffman Museum at the beginning of 2022 as the Visitors Services Coordinator. John brings 38 years of experience in education as a Teacher, Curriculum Director, Principal and Superintendent to Kauffman Museum. After completing his doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2005 from WSU he served as superintendent at Goessel, USD 411 until taking early retirement. Over the years he has served as a volunteer at Kauffman Museum helping with Kansas Day, fundraising projects and served two terms on the Board of Directors.

Julian Gonzalez-Salamanca

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Bethel College

Kendra Burkey

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Owner, Salted Creamery

Kristin Schmidt

Job Titles:
  • Museum Assistant
About Kristin: Kristin began working at Kauffman Museum as the part-time bookkeeper in 1999. This evolved into museum assistant when her hours were increased to half-time providing oversight of the custodial needs of the museum, assisting with the Museum Store, Museum Bus Tours, front desk docents and other needs as they arise.

Linda Moyo

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Associate Member, Undergraduate Student

Loretta Wiens

Job Titles:
  • Membership

Marianne Eichelberger

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Retired Library Director

Rachel Epp Buller

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Associate Professor of Visual Arts & Design, Bethel College

Steve Friesen

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors