The Center’s Beating Heart
The team behind the scenes
Tracy Bennett
Executive Director
Tracy refers to herself as the Center’s “Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.” She finds herself in all types of jobs daily from welcoming the over 35,000 visitors annually to the Center to doing the last-minute laundry, to working on grants that support the Center’s operations to the next fiscal year. Stop by and visit her: she will always have a smile waiting for you!
Kristine Bornholtz
Assistant Director
Kristine was formerly the Executive Director of Women Aware and Kristine has a Master’s Degree in Education and spent a decade as the Director of Studies at a language and training institution in Prague, Czech Republic. She enjoys travelling around the world, music, and history.
Lori Tagg Snow
Development Director
Lori’s background is in sales, marketing, grant writing and building partnerships. This experience serves the Center well with businesses/guests and asking for sponsorships to sustain our existence. And she adapts to any situation required. We hope to build some relationships that will help the Center thrive long-term.
Joe Hlas
Facility Manager
Joe has been a farmer for 35 years. And since 2021, he’s also responsible for the daily maintenance and upkeep of the Center and its campus. He finds joy in discovering how things work and repairing them wherever he can He is motivated by a desire to keep the Center looking fresh and new.
Theresa Jackson
Administrative Assistant
Theresa was an English Instructor at Western Iowa Tech Community College for close to 30 years and came to work at the Center after taking early retirement. Theresa’s teaching and writing experience helps her with many of her duties. She primarily an assistant to the Executive Director in all Center operations but assists all the staff with various projects.
Elizabeth Albright
Michael Hlas
Education and Events Coordinator
Events Assistant
Her primary duties will include assisting with producing year-round children’s programs and activities, assist with group and school tours, and weekend programs. She has spent the last 10 years as an elementary teacher and currently substitutes at Lawton Bronson Community Schools. She lives in Lawton with her husband, three sons, and a Bassett hound named Rudy.
Michael is our brilliant go to person for solving a variety of problems from website issues to posting events on all the local calendars.
He has many interests. He keeps us up to date on the weather by reading the clouds and he belongs to the Sioux City Gem and Mineral Society.