The Team

The organization is supported by its team of nearly 175 staff and 300 volunteers and docents. From our guest services to finance, to educators and facilities, from development/ marketing, conservation, IT, and grill, to historic and living collections staff, we all work together to reach our mission.

Kurt Strand
Kurt Strand President & CEO
Andy Allison
Andy Allison Vice President of Living Collections & Education
Nate Breitsprecker
Nate Breitsprecker Director of Sales & Guest Services
Jennifer Drayna
Jennifer Drayna Director of Education
Tommy Lange
Tommy Lange Vice President of Finance & Operations
Paula Neuhaus
Paula Neuhaus Director of Grants
John Oglesby
John Oglesby Director of Facilities
Wendy Scardino
Wendy Scardino Vice President of Development & Marketing
Nathan Smith
Nathan Smith Director of IT & AV
Emma Sundberg
Emma Sundberg Director of Curatorial Services
Vicky Sutter
Vicky Sutter Director of Donor Engagement

2023 Dubuque County Historical Society and National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Board of Directors

Tom Woodward Chair President & CEO, Woodward Communications, Inc.
Jim Gantz Vice Chair President, Lime-Rock Springs/Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. (retired)
Francis A. "Chip" Murray Secretary Senior Advisor of Trust & Investment Services, Fidelity Bank & Trust
Sarah Hasken Treasurer Community Leader
Lori Thielen Past Chair President, Rainbo Oil
John M. Bickel Senior VP, Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, P.L.C. (retired)
Carol Bitter Legal Assistant, Bitter Law Firm (retired)
Gina Blasen Lecturer, University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Kathy Buhr VP of Human Resources and Continuous Improvement, DRA and Q Casino (Ex-Officio)
Tim Butler Vice President, Cottingham & Butler Insurance (retired)
Mayor Brad Cavanagh Mayor, City of Dubuque (Ex-Officio)

Poppy Conlon Vice President of Business Development, Conlon Construction

Mark Dickson VP & Factory Manager-Dubuque & Davenport, John Deere Dubuque
Ken Furst Partner, RSM (retired)
Teri Goodman Director of Strategic Partnerships, City of Dubuque
Wendy Knight Founder and Collaborative Strategist, Focus Forward LLC
Tyson Leyendecker President, Capra Bank
Stephanie Meyers President, Giese Roofing Company
Ernestine Moss Community Leader
Jeremy Putman President, Riverview Boat Store & Tug Storage
Chuck Schrup Co-Chairman of the Board & Chief Development Officer, American Trust & Savings Bank (retired)
Dean Wilgenbusch Market President - Business Banking Team Manager, US Bank
Chad Wolbers President, founder, & Consultant, DaraGroup Consulting

Emeritus Board Members


John Walsh
Paul Woodward

Dubuque County Historical Society Bylaws Article V: Officers, Section 9: Salaries states that “No officer shall receive any salary for acting as an officer of the Corporation.” DCHS bylaws adopted May, 6 2012.