Tom Schleif
Executive Director
Tom Schleif is a native of North Central WI. He received a BS in Anthropology with an emphasis in archaeology from UW Oshkosh. He has done archaeological work in Wisconsin and on the coast of Massachusetts. Previous museum experience included Curator of Exhibits at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and Executive Director of the Marathon County Historical Society Museum, both in Wausau. He spent over 25 years organizing events in the Wausau, WI area, started two Blues Festivals and organized and ran one of the largest living history festivals in the northern part of the State. He also spent 10 years working in the computer multi-media field and produced interactive displays for the Field Museum in Chicago and an award-winning piece for the Marathon County Historical Museum on the history of the lumber industry in the Wisconsin River Pinery.
Donald Shepard
Director of Operations/Volunteer Coordinator
Don Shepard, Director of Operations, first came to the museum in 1986 after retirement from almost twenty years of employment with an international company. Don has had the pleasure of serving the Kenosha County Historical Society for twenty years since his "retirement". He thought he would stay with the museum for about five years and then start his own consulting business. Now, some twenty years later, he may have given up on that idea. People ask him how long he is going to continue working and his remark is, "until I'm no longer having fun or my work is done."
Don remarks, "I feel very lucky in the sense of where my imagination can go, developing new and exciting exhibits. We at the Kenosha County Historical Society have a large collection and, I like to tell people, we're all story tellers and there are lots of stories to tell - also, that we're the best kept secret in Kenosha!"
Don's strong points are exhibit design and organization of space. He likes people very much and tries to talk to most visitors whenever possible. He also tries to find the good in all people and make each day all that it can be.
One of the many "hats" that Don wears is Volunteer Coordinator. Don takes each person's talents and matches them to the museum's needs for a win-win situation. When away from work, Don enjoys doing odd job and working in his yard and around the house. Don also enjoys concerts and the love of antique shops.
Cynthia Nelson
Curator of Collections/Archivist/Educator
Cynthia Nelson is a native of Racine, Wisconsin. Cynthia received her B.A. degree in Anthropology with an emphasis in museum studies, art history and archaeology from Beloit College and did graduate work at UW-Milwaukee and professional training at Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies. Her previous experience includes Wright Art Center, Logan Museum of Anthropology, Whitney Museum of American Art, The Field Museum, Wisconsin State Historical Society, and Mathis Gallery of Fine Art. Professional interests include Ethnographic art, modern architecture and furniture, children’s education, museum-college partnerships, and local history.
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