Provider: Andrew Mizsak – Government Affairs Consulting Firm of Mizsak, Feinberg, Phillips, Bruckman, and Wade.
Andrew Mizsak is the Principal of the Government Affairs Consulting Firm of Mizsak, Feinberg, Phillips, Bruckman, and Wade. In his many roles, political campaign management, debate preparation, research, and messaging are four of the services he provides to clients. Mizsak has served as a senior staffer on numerous campaigns, including county-wide, state legislature, and congressional, and has been a part of several presidential campaigns. He is also an experienced legislative advocate at the state and federal levels. In addition to his professional work, Mizsak is an avid historian with his area of interest being the politics of the mid-19th Century.
The Government Affairs, Community Planning, and Political Consulting Firm of Mizsak, Feinberg, Phillips, Bruckman, and Wade LLP
Provider: Nancy Hollister
Nancy Putnam Hollister was Ohio’s first female governor. She served on the Marietta City Council from 1980 until 1984, and she then became mayor of Marietta, holding this office until 1991. In 1991, Governor George Voinovich appointed Hollister as the director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia. In 1994, Hollister won election as Ohio’s lieutenant governor. Upon Governor Voinovich’s resignation to become one of Ohio’s two United States Senators, Hollister became Ohio’s first female governor. Her term was a short one, however, lasting only eleven days from late December 1998 to early January 1999. Upon leaving office, Hollister won election to the Ohio House of Representatives. She remained in this office until 2005. Since then, Hollister remains active in many community-service initiatives.
Provider: Dr. John R. Patterson, Jr.
John is a former state legislator from a rural district, reelected the maximum three times. He has passed 15 pieces of bipartisan legislation, including overhauling the state education funding system, cleaning up Ohio waterways, expanding healthcare for rural residents, and strengthening the future of agriculture in the state. John was previously a public high school history teacher, Model U.N. advisor, and athletic coach who, for three decades, inspired rural students in a small school district nestled in northeastern Ohio. He was also a twenty-year chief negotiator for local teachers’ unions.
Provider: Director Kimberly Murnieks – State of Ohio Office of Budget and Management
Kimberly Murnieks was appointed Director of the Office of Budget and Management by Governor Mike DeWine in 2019. Her office develops, coordinates and monitors the individual budgets of state agencies, provides the Governor and administration with policy analysis, and reviews all financial transactions made with public funds. From January 2011 – 2018, Director Murnieks was Chief Operating Officer for the Ohio Attorney General’s office. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s leadership team, Director Murnieks served in senior staff roles at the Ohio Department of Education from 2000 to 2010, including Executive Director.
Her career in public service began as a Budget Analyst with the Office of Budget and Management in 1996. Director Murnieks is a graduate of Marietta College with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and The Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs with a Master of Public Administration. She is an American Mensa member and volunteers with Girl Scouts of the USA as a troop leader. Director Murnieks is originally from Washington County, Ohio and currently resides in central Ohio with her husband and three children.
Provider: Michelle Waters
Michelle Waters is a working fine artist and portrait, lifestyle and documentary photographer in the Mid-Ohio Valley. While she has a Fine Art Degree from the University of Akron, she feels anyone can be an artist, and we all have creativity inside of us. Michelle also teaches art for the ArtCart elementary school art program through Artsbridge, as well as adult and children’s art classes at the Parkersburg Art Center
Provider: Victoria Smalls, National Park Ranger – Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
As a proud Gullah Geechee native of St. Helena Island, South Carolina, Victoria Smalls serves as a National Park Ranger for the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park in Beaufort County, S.C. In this park, Ranger Victoria shares Reconstruction Era, 1861 through 1900, the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, economic, and labor systems. The people, places, and events in Beaufort County, South Carolina, reflect on the most important issues of this tumultuous time. Ranger Victoria currently serves as a State Commissioner with the SC African American Heritage Commission, as a Maven with the Art of Community-Rural SC, an initiative of the SC Arts Commission, she is a Leo Twiggs Arts Leadership Scholar, and is also a Fellow with the Riley Institute Diversity Leadership Initiative at Furman University.
About the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park:
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park is located in Beaufort County, South Carolina, and was established in January of 2017 to tell the story of the Reconstruction era in the United States through the lens of the Port Royal Experiment in the Sea Islands during the Civil War.
Provider: Dawn Hewitt, Editor- Bird Watcher’s Digest
Dawn Hewitt is editor of Bird Watcher’s Digest, North America’s oldest popular magazine for bird watchers, which was founded in Marietta in 1978. She is also editor of its sister publication, Watching Backyard Birds. The magazines have tens of thousands of subscribers across North America and around the world. Dawn has been a birder for more than 40 years and has traveled across the country and abroad just to see new bird species.
Provider: Kyle Yoho, Education Director – The Castle
Kyle Yoho has served as the Education Director for The Castle since 2015 and is an Adjunct Professor of Museum Studies for Marietta College. He received his BA in History from Marietta College and MA in Public History from Wright State University. Kyle has planned museum public programs for all ages for 15 years.
Provider: Andrew Rowand, Museum Assistant – Eric Sloane Museum
Originally from West Virginia, where he received his BA in Social Studies Education from Shepherd University, Andrew Rowand comes to the Eric Sloane Museum with experience working at public history sites like Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park, South Mountain State Battlefield for the Maryland Park Service, and Henricus Historical Park managing their 17th century Virginia tobacco farm. In his spare time, Andrew is an avid agriculturalist and supporter of historical trades and may be found working aboard tall ships. He and his wife are thrilled to be living in New England in a small timber-framed farmhouse with their two pups and cat. Andrew is honored to be a steward of one of Connecticut’s valuable cultural resources.
Provider: Anneliese Meck – Manager of Community Lifeways at the Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford, NY
Anneliese Meck is the Manager of Community Lifeways at the Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford, NY, and has worked as a historical interpreter since 2014. She holds a B.I.S. in costume technology and textile arts from Kent State University, and enjoys creating historical clothing and educational programs. She honors her Chinese and American heritages by providing an accurate, informative, diverse, and inclusive interpretation of history and material culture.
Please note: This bonus session, like the classes for this camp, is geared toward students entering 3rd – 6th grade, but open to those age 18 and younger. These sessions are limited to this age range for educational purposes as well as to create a safe digital learning environment for our young campers.
We hope to offer sessions like this as a part of our “All Ages History Camp” in February 2022.
Provider: Jerrie Berentz, Volunteer – The Castle
Jerrie is retired from the Marietta City Schools where she served for many years as an elementary guidance counselor. From the time she was very young Jerrie loved sewing and fabric arts especially making cloth dolls. She has been associated with The Castle since 2016 where she serves as a docent, volunteer liaison, and works on curatorial inventory.
Provider: Terri Marlow, Volunteer – The Castle
Terri Marlow is a Castle volunteer, serving as a docent and a member of the Educational Task Force. After her 40+ years as a high school Spanish teacher, Terri now enjoys learning Marietta history with younger students during “Day at the Castle” activities as well as exploring various aspects of US history during History Camp.
Provider: Wesley Clarke, Collections Manager & Archaeologist – The Castle
Wesley Clarke is a Registered Professional Archaeologist with training in historiography, art history, and material culture analysis. He has conducted field research in Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee, Thailand, and Cambodia, and is currently excavating the 1808 Clark Pottery site at The Castle Museum.
Provider: Leslie Wagner, Historian – Dawes Arboretum
Leslie Wagner is the Historian at The Dawes Arboretum in Newark. She creates a new exhibit every year from artifacts in The Arboretum’s historic collections. Leslie has a BA and MA in American Studies from Youngstown State University and Bowling Green State University.
Kyle Yoho has served as the Education Director for The Castle since 2015 and is an Adjunct Professor of Museum Studies for Marietta College. He received his BA in History from Marietta College and MA in Public History from Wright State University. Kyle has planned museum public programs for all ages for 15 years.
Provider: Roving Rogue Productions
Roving Rogue Productions is a theater troupe based out of Northeast Ohio which focuses on new and unique forms of entertainment. Branching from a background in historical interpretation and traditional theater, the Rogues strive to provide a wide range of entertainment options, including live and virtual performances, audio dramas, and social media storytelling. The troupe also offers educational outreach and community opportunities to cultivate a love for theater and explore a variety of passions and mediums.
Kyle Yoho has served as the Education Director for The Castle since 2015 and is an Adjunct Professor of Museum Studies for Marietta College. He received his BA in History from Marietta College and MA in Public History from Wright State University. Kyle has planned museum public programs for all ages for 15 years.
Provider: Cristie Thomas, Executive Director – Marietta Main Street
Cristie Thomas is the Executive Director of Marietta Main Street and as such, oversees all of Main Street’s internal and external operations. Cristie is from Long Island, NY. She earned her BA from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA and her MA from SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, VT. With a strong background in organizational management, nonprofit governance, community development, strategic planning, communications, and civic engagement, Cristie strives to build community, always, and to do all she can to contribute to Marietta’s vibrancy as a thriving town in rural Appalachia.
Provider: Dr. Linda Lockhart – Marietta College
Linda Lockhart first discovered her love of public speaking in 4th grade when she was asked to give a presentation for visitors of a poem the class was learning. As a student at Marietta College, she earned a BA in public relations and a certificate in oral communication. She also was the winner of the Jewett Prize for oration, for which she was awarded the opportunity to give the commencement address in 1994. Linda also has an MS and a PhD from Ohio University, in strategic communication and historiography. She is now an assistant professor of communication at Marietta College where she is the director of the fundamentals of communication course and the Communication Resource Center, which provides support for students who want to improve their oral communication skills.
Provider: Dagmar Kupsche, The Cook’s Shop
Dagmar Kupsche, owner of The Cook’s Shop in Marietta Ohio, discovered the joy of cooking as a child while helping her mother in the kitchen and watching Julia Child on TV. Her other talent, sewing, led her to an Apparel Design degree from Rhode Island School of Design, a career as a knitwear designer with The Limited and her own custom bridal gown business. Over the last ten years she has had the opportunity to be trained as a chef by Dave Rudie, a friend and mentor.
Kyle Yoho has served as the Education Director for The Castle since 2015 and is an Adjunct Professor of Museum Studies for Marietta College. He received his BA in History from Marietta College and MA in Public History from Wright State University. Kyle has planned museum public programs for all ages for 15 years.
Provider: Terri Marlow, Volunteer – The Castle
Terri Marlow is a Castle volunteer, serving as a docent and a member of the Education Task Force. After her 40+ years as a high school Spanish teacher, Terri now enjoys learning Marietta history with younger students during “Day at the Castle” activities as well as exploring various aspects of US history during History Camp.
Provider: Professor Lori Smith – Marietta College
An assistant professor of communication at Marietta College, Lori Smith also advises the college chapter of the American Advertising Federation, coordinates student internships, and is involved with teaching in the first-year student program. Smith is the grant coordinator for WMRT/WCMO, securing underwriting grants from community organizations to help fund programming. Prior to working in education, Lori worked for 15 years in the newspaper industry and still serves as a volunteer editor. She also is on the board of directors of The Castle Historical House Museum.
Provider: Sergeant First Class Joshua Mann, Historian – Ohio Army National Guard
Sergeant Mann is the Historian for the Ohio Army National Guard (OHARNG), a position he has held since 2005. In addition, he serves as the curator of the OHARNG Historical Collections. He enlisted in 1995 and served in the Scout Platoon of the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry before assuming his present assignment.
He was a member of the Ohio World War I Centennial Committee, the Ohio War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, and a working group member of the Ohio Civil War 150 Commission.
Provider: John Connors, Military Musician and Music Historian – Readiness NCO, 122nd Army Band
A native of northeastern Ohio, John Connors has been in the Ohio Army National Guard since 2007 and serves full-time as the Readiness NCO and as a trombone player with the 122nd Army Band of Columbus. Earlier in his military career, he performed the solemn duties of Funeral Honors bugler, sounding Taps hundreds of times each year. Connors graduated in 2019 with a Master of Music degree (with licensure) in Music Education from the University of Akron. He is also a 2014 graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, where he earned a Master of Music degree in Trombone Performance. Prior to that, he received a Bachelor of Music degree, magna cum laude, in Trombone Performance from Ohio University in Athens.
Marietta Welfare League
The Marietta Welfare League has provided grant funding to support this year’s supply kits
Marietta Community Foundation
The Marietta Community Foundation has provided monetary supports for this year’s speakers
Dorothy A. Oyster Fund – Marietta Community Foundation
The Dorothy A. Oyster Fund provides financial assistance for our Virtual History Campers