Who’s Who at the Museum
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Carrie has long looked to the past to help understand the present. Her early exposure to history included trips to historic sites, visits with her great-great aunt who was born in 1878 in the Dakota Territory, and many grade school books about Abraham Lincoln and the U.S. Civil War. Carrie began working at the Chippewa Valley Museum in 2000 as Curator. She came with a BA in History from Marquette University and a MA in History from the University of Minnesota. As the Executive Director, Carrie works to make the Chippewa Valley Museum a welcome place for all, where many stories are told and remembered.
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Frank comes to us from a 58-bed hospital in Madison, where he was the Director of Plant Operations. Before that he worked as the Facilities Engineer at a local 85-room hotel. With a generous amount of experience in the trades, most of Frank’s professional career was in the Medical Industry. He worked as an Executive Director of Radiology for three separate hospital corporations, purchasing and installing CTs, MRIs, and radiographic machines. Lastly, as a 23-year veteran of the US Navy, Frank spent 10 years in the Submarine Service. Among his many duties, he served as an Independent Duty Hospital Corpsman, Medical Service Corps Officer (specializing in radiation physics), and a submarine repair and docking officer.
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This old timey base ball player, host of metal concerts, and fan of fantasy horror films came to Chippewa Valley Museum from the Greater Menomonie Area Boys and Girls Club. With an MA in Public History from UWEC, Dustyn has been the Education & Programming Coordinator for Dunn County Historical Society as well as the Executive Director of Downtown Menomonie, Inc.
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Kenzie first ventured into the museum as a Teen Guide all the way back in 2012. She volunteered at CVM throughout high school, went away to college, then came back and worked as a Museum Assistant at the Wisconsin Logging Museum in the summer of 2024. She's now moved into the Visitor Services Coordinator role, which includes managing the volunteer program. Kenzie has a BS in Classical Humanities from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and specialized in Ancient History & Archaeology. She loves supporting the local community and is ecstatic to be back at the museum, especially to work with the Teen Guide program from this new perspective!
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Among Jodi’s earliest memories are hours spent sitting on her grandmother’s lap begging to hear stories from her family’s past. That interest in family history naturally expanded to include the Chippewa Valley, where her family has lived for six generations. Jodi holds an MA in Library and Information Studies from UW-Madison’s iSchool and comes to the Chippewa Valley Museum with a background in public libraries. Her experience also includes work in the archives of Barron County’s Pioneer Village Museum. She loves to ask and answer questions, which means it’s her pleasure to help researchers access the stories and images of the Chippewa Valley.
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Karen was an elementary school teacher in Chippewa Falls for six years prior to filling the Museum Educator position in 2003. She jokes that her classroom has changed sizes from an average of 20 students to now over 4,000! Karen relies upon the talents of many volunteer Docents and other museum ambassadors to provide a wide variety of learning experiences for visitors, ages PreK-Adult.
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Once the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Logging Museum (2021-2022), Rachel came to Chippewa Valley Museum when we merged with the logging museum at the end of 2022. She has an MA in Public History with a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to joining the Wisconsin Logging Museum, Rachel worked at the Pabst Mansion and Guardian Fine Arts Services in Milwaukee. In her spare time, she coaches the UWEC Women’s Rugby team, giving back to the university where she earned her BA.
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Diana grew up surrounded by history in central Pennsylvania. Her children and grandchildren also developed a love of the past, and museums are part of every vacation itinerary. Graduating from UW-Eau Claire with a BA in English, most of her career was spent as a free-lance editor. She is honored to help care for the artifacts and present the joy-filled and heart-rending stories of the Chippewa Valley that they represent
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Trained as a classical musician, Olaf has spent most of his professional life in communications and marketing for small to mid-size corporations and nonprofits. With a BA in Philosophy from University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Olaf often entertains questions like “What is history” while walking through the museum. Working to connect people with the stories of the Chippewa Valley gives him a chance to be a part of sharing the ideas and events that have shaped our region.
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Jill came to the Chippewa Valley Museum in 2009 as the Operations Assistant. She has a BA in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a MA in History with a focus on Public History from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. In 2011 she became the Volunteer Coordinator and currently is the Operations Manager. Jill has always enjoyed history and loves to be able to work in an environment where she can be a part of the community and local history of the Chippewa Valley.
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A recent graduate of UWEC’s Creative Writing program, Declan took on the Public Health AmeriCorps role to scratch his local history itch while helping the Chippewa Valley at the same time. From playing guitar and performing, to publishing his writing in local journals, Declan loves to keep his creativity flowing.
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Jeanne Nyre | Contract Exhibit Designer
J.Nyre@cvmuseum.com
From small cases to displays that cover thousands of square feet, Jeanne loves the challenge of exhibit design. After receiving a BFA in Advertising and Design from University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in 1984 she spent time working in design in Minneapolis. In 1986 she became Exhibit Designer at Chippewa Valley Museum. Jeanne tries to see things through the visitor’s eyes and take them on a journey to provoke memories or to experience something new.
Chippewa Valley Museum Board
Kevin Anger
Realtor
Donnellan Real Estate
Samuel Bach-Hanson
Attorney
Weld Riley, S.C.
Lynn Bieritz
General Manager
Mid-West Family, Eau Claire
Heather Costley
Nurse Administrator
Mayo Clinic Health System
Kevin Dague, Secretary
Attorney
Herrick & Hart, S.C.
Kevin Dallas
Project Manager
Market & Johnson
K. Brewer Doran
Retired
UW-Eau Claire
Maxwell Kaiser, Treasurer
Owner
Banbury Place/ Cigan Properties
Melissa Peterson, President
Market President
Frandsen Bank
Phil Rechek
Project Coordinator
Menard Center for Constitutional Studies, UW-Eau Claire
Travis Schroeder
Project Architect
Wendel Companies
Jeff Stevens
Independent Consultant
Julie Thoney, Vice President
Community Services and Economic Development Manager
Xcel Energy
Curt Van Auken
Regional President
Security Financial Bank
Chippewa Valley Museum Foundation Board
Justin Andrews, Weld Riley, S.C.
Andrew Balthazor, Prevail Bank
Kelly France, River Prairie Wealth Partners - Ameriprise Financial Services
Lance Genrich, Royal Credit Union
Melissa Janssen, Royal Credit Union
Sara Larsen, Four Peas Consulting, Secretary
John W. W. Mann, UW-Eau Claire
Nicholas Pedersen, Nicolet Bank, Vice President
Dustin Olson, Mabel Tainter Theater, President
David Schian, CLA Eau Claire, Treasurer
Melissa Seyffer, M3 Insurance