Rebecca Conant Email and Phone Number

I manage 1,000 people events, train and support volunteer staff, supervise exhibit development, build community relationships, develop programming, and plan strategically for future support for the Pullman National Historical Park.

• Develop new Visitor Services Program welcoming visitors and checking reservations. Generates over $1000/week in new donations. • Direct and shape educational programs and policies to engage 40,000 annual visitors, enhance existing programs, and develop new ones.• Professionalized volunteer program by updating trainings, creating professional development and team building opportunities, and recognizing volunteer service for over 100 active Docents and Greeters.• Transformed six-week Docent training, making it more active and interpretive by combining lecture and skills-based learning. Trained 45 new docent annually.• Pioneered new Greeter Program successfully training, and supporting 30 new volunteers who bring in an additional $200/week in revenue. Building on the Greeter Position to develop a Visitor Service Department (in progress)• Created four nature-based, hands-on curricula encouraging children and adults to take risks, gain skills, and explore the natural world.• Post weekly horticulture highlights of a plant in the Lincoln Park Conservatory, Nature Play activities, and virtual tours to the Conservancy social media platforms. • Co-Managed the virtual sale and distribution of 600 poinsettias intended for the winter show at the Lincoln Park Conservatory when the show was canceled due to Covid-19 closure.• Co-Managed the 2021 online Auction for Lincoln Park, generating $150,000 revenue.• Worked collaboratively and across departments managing events that draw audiences of 10 to 900 people, establish membership benefits, and develop new Nature Playspace - a playground incorporating natural elements.

• Collected observational dwell time data and interviewed visitors in the temporary Boats Experience.• Analyzed visitor engagement and perception of Boats experience, comparing it to previous temporary exhibits and providing preliminary analysis of engagement in representational vs. abstract exhibits. • Participated in Concept development and Design development meetings for two new exhibits contributing incites and suggestions as appropriate. • Compiled and standardized dwell time data six exhibits (four temporary and one permanent), creating baseline data and setting up opportunities for future assessments.

• Provided strategic planning (including coordinating jobs and teams) and assisted with financial management and site evaluations.• Ensured on-site conditions that promoted efficient and artistic results.• Organized materials, cut brick, prepared wall, mixed mortar, constructed scaffolding and forms, tuck-pointed and plastered surfaces, poured concrete.

INTERPRETATION TEAM MANAGER (April 2011-March 2015)• Oversaw daily operations, scheduling, training, and management of staff and volunteer programs that provided engaging visitor experience to nearly 500,000 annual visitors.• Transformed public-facing program facilitators into a cohesive team, motivated to engage museum guests through self-directed, fun, and interactive programs that added value to their experience. • Served as Hiring Manager onboarding 150 new part-time and seasonal staff and five full-time assistants, and growing the team from three to four facilitators per day to six to eight facilitators per day.• Conducted daily staff meetings sharing museum updates, facilitation-skills development, team building activities, and new program training.• Performed human resources and payroll functions approving time-sheets and conducting annual reviews for all full and part time staff who stayed for over a year. • Developed and lead customer service, facilitation skills, and basic orientation trainings, including 2 week-long, 2 full-day, and 3 hour-long workshops for new and existing staff.• Researched, developed, piloted, trained-on, and evaluated over 30 floor programs. Trained staff on eight regular, and 20 special exhibit programs. Used data to modify, enhance and otherwise enrich and develop programming.• Collaborated with two interdepartmental teams planning and developing interpretive and interactive public exhibits. SENIOR GRANT IMPACT RESEARCHER (2010 – 2011)• Developed and implemented plan evaluating change in student knowledge and interest in science and teacher instruction techniques after participation in after school science club.• Co-wrote final evaluation paper assessing the success of school and teacher programs and recommending changes to the program.• Held position concurrently with the Interpretation Team Manager for 6 months.

• Coordinated field dates, data collection and sampling materials at 5 US museums for evaluation of educational value of "One World, One Sky"​ planetarium show.• Lead Internal Review Board (IRB) training at each site with field sampling personnel.• Approached parents & teachers about their and their children's participation in pre- & post-intervention surveys.• Supervised data collection and Interviewed participants.

INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS COORDINATOR, NATURE BOARDWALK (March 2009-October 2010)• Liaison between Education, Research, and Collections departments to create 
intellectually solid and creative interpretive programs for the Nature Boardwalk• Managed curriculum development team generating 5 interactive programs highlighting biology, ecology and history, including materials; personally developed 3 of the programs. • Developed & implemented volunteer facilitator and internship programs.• Trained staff and volunteers to present programs, and evaluated program success.• Managed & mentored 15 interpretive volunteers, staff and interns, working in Farm, Garden and Nature Boardwalk programs. • Lead daily meetings, created daily schedules, & monitored staff & volunteer's activities. • Trained staff and volunteers to handle animals (goats, cows, rabbits, chickens, barn owls). • Created script, shot video, edited footage for Farm in the Zoo training video.SEASONAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR, FARM IN THE ZOO (2008 – 2009)• Supervised 50 facilitation volunteers per season in Farm, Garden and Ecology programs.• Trained volunteers to facilitate programs and handle animals.• Lead daily meetings, created daily schedules, and monitored staff & volunteer's activities.• Certified volunteers on content and facilitation of programs.• Gathered and verified volunteer hours and program numbers.• Researched, wrote, trained-on and evaluated 2 to 4 floor programs per season.

• Developed & taught 2 alternating nine-month science & health curricula for 7th & 8th grades.• Multi lesson units emphasized critical thinking skills & increased scientific literacy.• Lessons took many forms, including lectures, labs, & seminars.• Introduced & built upon concepts of chemistry & biology, earth science & physics, nutrition, sex education & drug abuse.• Classroom activities focused on hands-on activities & group work.Junior Great Books training (2005)A Montessori Orientation to Adolescent Studies (Ages 12-15) (2004)A Mind at a Time training (2003)

• Developed and implemented work plans and reports monitoring subsurface conditions & natural attenuation parameters on 50 sites at two former Air Force Bases in the Midwest.• Field Sampling Plans, Monthly Status Reports (budgets & activities), Technical Reports, Procurement, 45-Day Reports & site specific fact sheets.• Supervised and directed drilling teams, data collection and logging and general site operations, including sampling soils and installing temporary and permanent groundwater monitoring wells.• Returned several sites to private control when soil and ground water determined to be uncontaminated.Employee of the month February 2001Four times commended for outstanding effort in monthly office newsletter (2001)Build the Future (Young Professionals Management training) (2001)OSHA Hazwoper (2000)

GRANT COORDINATOR, INTEGRATED MATH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (IMSAT) PROJECT (September 1999 - November 2000)• Managed curriculum development team creating 3 curricula connecting new math and technology lessons to existing science lessons.• Program development included classroom lessons, teacher development workshops and hands-on program materials. • Piloted lessons in 6 Chicago Public School classrooms, visiting the classroom on a weekly or biweekly basis.• Administered delivery, collection and tracking of pre/post written & hands-on assessments of over 50 students.• Wrote year-end reports and renewal applications to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).Presented hands-on workshops at Illinois State Science Teacher Association (ISTA) (2000)Presented best-practices techniques at Science Wise/Science Whys Kickoff, Kansas City, MO conferences (2000)OUTREACH EDUCATOR, SCIENCE ON THE GO! (SOG!) (February 1999 - November 1999)• Taught 150 classroom lessons impacting 35 Chicago Public School teachers and 850 students, visited each classroom every other week. • Co-facilitated 5 teacher professional development workshops training teachers to teach hands-on science. • Lesson and workshops were designed to make science fun, interesting and accessible to both students and teachers.

COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT/RESEARCH ASSISTANT, FOSSIL INVERTEBRATES (11/1998 to 2/1999)• Gathered resources, compiled data & prepared information for professional presentations.• Re-housed, organized & stored individual fossils in the collection.• Packaged fossils for shipping & replaced collection materials upon their return to the museum.COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT, FOSSIL MAMMALS (ACTING INTERIM MANAGER (1/98 to 11/98)• Created individualized, archival-quality mounts for each fossil mammal specimen.• Repaired broken & damaged specimens & executed some fossil preparation to preserve the integrity of the fossil as a research specimen• Moved the collection into a state-of-the-art storage facility• Acted as the interim manager for a three-month period • Trained the incoming managerRESEARCH ASSISTANT (10/97 to 12/97)• Gathered resources, compiled & entered data, mapped data & prepared information for presentations

• Developed & presented hands-on entertaining & educational after school & summer programs for primary & middle grade students (K-6).• Produced & published calendars, press releases, signs, & brochures describing upcoming events.• Created interactive, informative & decorative bulletin boards, posters & other displays.• Managed the reference desk, answering reference questions & providing reader’s advisory.• Scheduled use of public display case.Recognized by patrons & staff for creating outstanding displays & publicity