The mission of the Stuhr Museum Foundation is to raise unrestricted funds, special project funds, and endowment funds to benefit the living history, education, and preservation programs of the Stuhr Museum.
Executive Director
Bonnie Smith joined the Stuhr Museum Foundation as Executive Director in June of 2018. Prior to joining the foundation, Bonnie served 7 years as the Development Director for the Heartland United Way. Bonnie is actively involved across the community having served as President of Grand Island Noon Rotary, Vice-President of Christmas Cheer, PR Chair of Overland Trails Council Boy Troop 119, and graduating from Leadership Tomorrow (Class 27). Bonnie currently serves on the Grand Island Children’s Museum Board, Christmas Cheer Board and remains an active member of Rotary. She also has extensive experience in the for-profit world, having worked at Principal Financial Group in Retirement and Investment Services, attaining her Series 6 and Series 7 securities licenses. While at Principal, she served as the Loaned Executive to the Heartland United Way, as well as serving as one of the founding members of the Principal Diversity Employees Resource Group. Originally from “The Biggest Little City in the World” (Reno, Nevada), she has called Grand Island home for the past 25 years. She is married to her best friend and favorite word-Smith, has five children, two grandchildren, and loves to spend time travelling to connect with old friends, new friends, and her rapidly growing family.
Foundation Giving Director
Sam joined the Stuhr Museum Foundation as the Communications Coordinator in December of 2019, her talents were quickly revealed and she was promoted to Foundation Giving Director after just one year. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Nebraska Wesleyan University in May of 2016, and began working with the Department of Agriculture, doing outreach and data organization. Born and raised in Lincoln, she appreciates the warm welcomes and caring gestures of her new Grand Island peers.
Development Coordinator
Administrative Coordinator
Vicky Rivera is originally from Los Angeles and has called Nebraska home since she was twelve. She is the proud mother of two daughters. In her spare time, she enjoys upcycling and making over furniture. She comes to the Stuhr Museum Foundation with extensive customer service and administrative experience and is fluent in Spanish. Vicky loves interacting with people one-on-one and helping others.
Jan Cook is serving her second term on the Stuhr Museum Foundation Board of Trustees. She is a retired educator having taught in the Grand Island Public School for 38 years. She currently is supervising teacher candidates for the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Jan has volunteered for many community organizations including president of the Board of Directors for Heartland CASA, a member on the Moonshell Arts and Humanities Council, served as Council President of St. Pauls Church and chairman of the AOK Ladies organization. She currently is on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Lied Center in Lincoln. Jan just completed serving as Vice Chairman of four year term on the International Executive Board of Alpha Delta Kappa, an organization for outstanding women educators. In Alpha Delta Kappa, Jan conducted workshops and seminars for teachers, as well as serving on several committees to develop leadership in other members.
Liaison to Museum Operating Board
Don Deitemeyer Real Estate Leasing Manager for Lamar Advertising in Grand Island. Born and raised in Lincoln Nebraska moving to Doniphan in 1974. Worked in manufacturing for 30 years in Lincoln and Doniphan. Graduate of University of Nebraska with Comprehensive Business Administration Degree. Have never found a project or volunteer opportunity that I don’t like because of the wonderful giving people of Hall County. Enjoy being on the Stuhr Board as the Stuhr Museum provides an incredible quality of life value to living in the community.
Born and raised in Grand Island, Kay has a BS in Art Education from the University of Nebraska Lincoln. She followed up her BS with an MS in Art Education with an emphasis in Ceramics from University of Nebraska Kearney. She also has an endorsement in Gifted Education. She spent forty years in Education teaching Junior High and Senior High Art in Grand Island and Brighton, CO. She also coordinated the HAL (High Ability Learners) program in Grand Island during her last few years in Education. She is also member of Studio K Art Gallery in Grand Island.
President
Grant Harden is a tax accountant with Schroeder & Schreiner, P.C. His areas of expertise includes income tax preparation for individuals, partnerships and corporations. He is experienced in financial statement preparation, compilation, and review procedures for small businesses. He is also experienced in recordkeeping accounting services, use of accounting software systems and all aspects of the payroll function. Grant graduated with a double major from Doane University in December 2016. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in both Business Administration and Accounting. He and his wife Katie reside in Grand Island and are the proud parents to two fur babies, Finneas and Gimley. Grant is a member of the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals, a QuickBooks Online Pro Advisor and an active member of Third City Christian Church.
Dr. Marcie Kemnitz serves as the president for the Grand Island campus as well as the Vice President for Enrollment Management, Student Success and Health Science divisions at Central Community College. Dr. Kemnitz is a South Dakota native having moved to Nebraska in 2009. She is a graduate of South Dakota State University and earned a Master of Science degree in Administrative Studies as well as a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership from the University of South Dakota.
Dr. Kemnitz is active in the community and is currently serving on several boards including the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce, CHI St Francis Medical Center Community Board and was a former chair of the YWCA Board of Directors. She and her husband, Chris, have two grown sons and two daughters-in-law.
Shane is an Intern Architect with CMBA Architects with a bright future here in Grand Island, aspiring to move into a leadership position with the company. Shane originates from Hastings, Nebraska and received his Master’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Since moving to Grand Island, he has been driven to become involved in the community, being named to the Chamber of Commerce’s Top 35 Under 35 in 2018 and serves as the Chair of the Young Professionals group for 2019. Outside of work, Shane stays active as a soccer referee, having worked State High School Championships, NAIA and NCAA collegiate soccer games, and was selected to officiate a National Championship tournament in Kansas City this summer.
Upon graduation from Doane University, Erin and her husband, Andy, returned to their hometown of Grand Island where she worked for Principal Financial Group for 18 years. In March of 2017, she left Principal to join Andy in their family business, Keystone Properties, where they own and manage multi-family rental property. They have two children, McKenna and Colton.
Erin is a graduate of Hall County Leadership tomorrow and serves on the Board of Directors of the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation. She also enjoys volunteering with the Grand Island Literacy Council, the St Pauls Lutheran Church Community Christmas Dinner, and as a scholarship reviewer for the Grand Island Community Foundation. While at Principal she served as the United Way Loaned Executive.
She is excited to serve the Stuhr Museum Board of Trustees where her family has a long history with the museum. She and Andy have twice served as the Annual Fund Drive Co-chairs, hosted development events, and done clean up work on museum grounds while also serving on the Special Events committee.
Past-President
Anthony May is an owner and digital director at IdeaBank Marketing in Hastings, NE. With more than a decade of web experience, Anthony and the IdeaBank team deliver beautiful, functional, and effective websites for businesses and organizations across Nebraska.
Anthony is focused on helping clients meet their goals with integrated marketing strategies combining mobile, email, search, and social marketing techniques. Constantly monitoring the rapidly-changing world of marketing allows Anthony to provide cutting-edge strategies which boost business and visibility for IdeaBank’s clients.
Anthony holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism from Hastings College. Anthony is a former adjunct instructor of Graphic Design and Advertising at Hastings College and one of the founders of Steeple Brewing Co., located in Downtown Hastings. IdeaBank Marketing is a full-service agency that has been providing comprehensive marketing and advertising services for business and industries in Nebraska and surrounding states since 1982. The agency employs a staff of 13 in its historic, downtown Hastings location.
Treasurer
Richardson is Community Bank President and Chief Lending Officer of Equitable Bank and serves on the Board of Directors of Equitable Financial Corp. He graduated from University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor’s Lending School of Banking in 2003, the Ag Lending School of Banking in 2005, and the Advanced School of Banking in 2016. He has served as the President of the Heartland United Way Board, Chairman of the Board for Trinity Lutheran School, Board President for the CHI St Francis Foundation, and past President of the Kiwanis Club of Grand Island. A graduate of Hall County Leadership Tomorrow, Richardson also serves on the Trinity Lutheran Foundation Board. Richardson and his wife, Rachel, have three children.
Matthew Schultz was born and raised in Grand Island, Nebraska. He graduated college from Oklahoma City University. Out of college he traveled as a Senior Consultant for a Non-Profit International Fraternity (Lambda Chi Alpha). He was then recruited to be a Landman in the North Dakota oil boom and specialized in lease negotiation. Finally, he was the Director of Training and Development for a large multi-state company before being recruited to be a Financial Services Representative with Principal.
Schultz is married to Stephanie and has 3 children. When they have the time they enjoy traveling, being active, going to the mountains to hike or ski, and going to the lake to water ski. Faith and family are top priority.
Schultz currently is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Group. He is also a part of a partnership with Home Federal Bank to run their Investment Center. In his past he has been Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Chair, Top 35 under 35, member of Grand Island Little Theatre Board, Economic Vitality Committee for the Downtown Business Improvement District and Worship Leader at Third City Christian Church. Currently he serves on Stuhr Museum Foundation Board and is part of the Sherwood Foundation’s Community Catalyst program.
Gina Suchanek was raised on a farm outside of Cairo, and lives in Grand Island. She’s been with Principal Financial Group since 1990 in a variety of roles.
Gina is married to Mike, and they have two sons, a daughter-in-law, a granddaughter, with another grandchild on the way.
Gina has been on the Trinity Lutheran School Board, Heartland Lutheran High School Board, been a Boy Scout Leader, and a current member of the Stuhr Museum Foundation Board. She is a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Stuhr Museum and Grand Island Liederkranz.
The Stuhr Museum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the purpose of supporting the Stuhr Museum. We serve as a philanthropic corporation that assists in the development and expansion of the facilities of Stuhr Museum. The Foundation also provides funds each year to the Museum for special projects and underwrites several programs involving a wide range of initiatives, focused on education, volunteer support, special events, and promotional efforts.
Giving |
Annual Fund Drive |
Scholarships |
We are grateful for the support of our generous donors and steadfast members. With your support we can continue our efforts to serve Stuhr Museum and its continued growth.
Stuhr Museum Foundation3133 W. Highway 34 Foundation Staff
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