Staff
Meet our Staff Bloggers! Twice a week, they provide a behind-the-scenes view of life and work at Conner Prairie. Read blog posts here: Staff Blog
Name: Ellen M. Rosenthal
Title/Role: President and CEO
Why are you blogging for Conner Prairie? I blog for two reasons. Blogging provides an outlet for my opinions about the important role museums play in the American educational system. I believe that museums encourage curiosity and excitement about learning – and that these qualities positively impact classroom achievement, creativity and problem solving.
I also blog to share my insider’s perspective on Conner Prairie. After eleven years here, I know some of the most beautiful spots and fun things to do.
What do you enjoy in your free time? At the top of the list are traveling and learning about other places and cultures. I love visiting museums (not surprising), theater, movies and reading fiction. Being outdoors, either hiking or cross country skiing are also favorites. I love to see wildlife in their natural habitats.
What is one interesting skill you possess? I can assess the age, style and authenticity of most American antique furniture – a skill I acquired while getting my first master’s degree at the Winterthur Museum, Delaware.
What was your childhood nickname and why? Several of my childhood friends began calling me by my middle name “Marcy” when we were in high school. They still call me Marcy today.
If you could meet one historical figure, who would it be? Just one? But, there are so many women groundbreakers I’d like to meet. It would be great fun to talk to Hatshepsut, the only woman pharaoh in ancient Egypt who presided over a long period of growth and prosperity. I’d ask why she thought she had such success. Also, I’d want to know how she balanced work and family (if she had a family), and whether she liked being pharaoh.
Learn more about Ellen: President's Page
Name: David Allison
Title/Role: General Manager for Experience Delivery
Why are you blogging for Conner Prairie? I love what I do at Conner Prairie and I love to write, so blogging is a great way to combine those passions!
What do you enjoy in your free time? Watching Bollywood movies, competing in airsoft battles, listening to soul, funk, neo-soul and jazz fusion, playing 4-square and pretending, laughing and dancing with my wife and two daughters
What is one interesting skill you possess? I am a passable, but perhaps not tolerable, beatboxer.
What was your childhood nickname and why? The Beef. I was talking to one of my friends on a marching band trip in a loud bus. He asked me a question and my response sounded like "Beef" so he began calling me that...
If you could meet one historical figure, who would it be? Malcolm X, perhaps. Or maybe the Venerable Bede, just because his name is so amusing.
Name: Tim Crumrin
Title/Role: Experience Delivery Director/Senior Historian
Why are you blogging for Conner Prairie? Ellen ordered me too.
What do you enjoy in your free time? Reading (history, biography, British mysteries), writing, obsessively following New York Yankees, bicycling, and spoiling any child I come in contact with.
What is one interesting skill you possess? Ability to store and regurgitate amazing quantities of historic or popular culture trivia
What was your childhood nickname and why? Buck, given to me by my grandfather, shortened from Timbuktu (it’s not as interesting as my current nickname: The Curmudgeon.)
If you could meet one historical figure, who would it be? Winston Churchill (we could have shared brandy and cigars and discuss how he was able to be a force in the 20th century while being, in essence, a Victorian.)
Name: Adrianne Glidewell
Title/Role: Annual Fund Manager
Why are you blogging for Conner Prairie? I am blogging to give readers/members a bit of insight into Development at Conner Prairie
What do you enjoy in your free time? I love to travel, I am a runner and I love to read… at least a book a week!
What is one interesting skill you possess? I am really good at keeping facts and figures in my head… I do not keep any kind of written budget, because I am able to keep a pretty accurate tally in my head.
What was your childhood nickname and why? Adie, shortened version of my name.
If you could meet one historical figure, who would it be? I would like to meet Amelia Earhart.
Name: Paula Guernsey
Title/Role: Clothing Coordinator
Why are you blogging for Conner Prairie? I was asked to do something I’d been thinking about doing; saying, “Yes” was a no-brainer.
What do you enjoy in your free time? I knit, read and Facebook, right now…in a month I could move on to mosaics or beading, who knows?
What is one interesting skill you possess? Spinning—making yarn out of fluffy fibers
What was your childhood nickname and why? I never had a nickname which was sort of sad, but I guess it’s better than a mean nickname.
If you could meet one historical figure, who would it be? Jane Austen, because her books (and the movie adaptations) got me interested in historic clothing.
Name: Aili McGill
Title/Role: Assistant General Manager for Guest Experience
Why are you blogging for Conner Prairie? I really enjoy the opportunity to write and share my insider’s perspective on how Conner Prairie works.
What do you enjoy in your free time? I moonlight as an improv comic at Comedysportz Indianapolis, I keep an organic garden, and I love to draw and do yoga! I also am slowly but surely overhauling my fixer-upper home, and have learned how to do everything from replace electrical outlets to rebuilding an exterior wall!
What is one interesting skill you possess? I have to admit that I’m a pretty phenomenal charades player.
What was your childhood nickname and why? My family called me Yaya growing up because as a toddler my little brother had a hard time saying my real name. Of course, some people think that this nickname was actually his response to all the big-sisterly advice I showered upon him – how else can a little brother respond to a big sister if not by saying, “Yeah, yeah . . .”?
If you could meet one historical figure, who would it be? As strange as it sounds, I used to daydream about meeting the Marx Brothers. My back-up choice would be Eleanor of Aquitaine.
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Name: Melissa Raveed
Title/Role: Manager, School Services
Why are you blogging for Conner Prairie? A majority of our guests and people in the community have memories of Conner Prairie via their field trip experiences when they were in school. I want to let them in on what it takes for us to provide a great field trip experience for the over 50,000 school guests who visit us every season!
What do you enjoy in your free time? I love to travel, watch movies, yoga, dance and cook
What is one interesting skill you possess? I speak near-fluent Spanish (“near fluent” for lack of practice)
If you could meet one historical figure, who would it be? The Mercury 13- the 13 women who secretly tested to be NASA astronauts in the 1950’s, but were never admitted or acknowledged by the United States Space Program.
Name: Heather Richey
Title/Role: Communications Assistant
Why are you blogging for Conner Prairie?
I want to let the community know what an amazing place Conner Prairie is for people of all ages.
What do you enjoy in your free time? I love to read. Gregory Maguire is my favorite author. I also have a slight shopping addiction and watch movies frequently.
What is one interesting skill you possess? I like to cook when I have the time and I once made a cornucopia out of breadsticks for Thanksgiving.
What was your childhood nickname and why? Heather is almost impossible to shorten, so I’ve never really had a nickname that my friends called me and stuck.
If you could meet one historical character, who would it be? I adore Audrey Hepburn. She is wonderful and her movies are fantastic. I love My Fair Lady and Funny Face. I’d also love to have a long conversation with Queen Elizabeth to see where she found her enormous strength. Finally, Jane Austen, because her writing is so engaging but still about every day life.
Name: Dan Schoeneberg
Title/Role: General Manager, Experience Resources
Why are you blogging for Conner Prairie? To help our guests gain a better understanding of the historical world around them.
What do you enjoy in your free time? Reading, playing guitar, travel, cooking.
What is one interesting skill you possess? I cook a pretty mean omelet.
What was your childhood nickname and why? I didn’t have one.
If you could meet one historical figure, who would it be? There are too many interesting people to choose just one. I’d invite a bunch of them over for brunch, and make omelets.
Name: BJ Sullivan
Title/Role: Chief Pilot - 1859 Balloon Voyage
Why are you blogging for Conner Prairie? I am blogging for Conner Prairie in an effort to give our guests an insider’s perspective on balloon operations, during both operating and non-operating hours.
What do you enjoy in your free time?
My true passion and favorite thing to do in my free time is to fly hot air balloons (or fly anything for that matter). Flying hot air balloons is a complex challenge for the mind and an intense rush all at the same time. Certain aspects are instrumental, slow and peaceful while other parts can be fast-paced, exciting and demanding. For these reasons, and more, I love flying hot air balloons. In addition to owning my own hot air balloon, I am currently the youngest commercial hot air balloon pilot in Indiana, and operate a commercial hot air balloon business outside of work on my free time. In addition to flying hot air balloons, I also enjoy traveling the world, listening to music, lounging by the pool on a hot summer day, fishing, climbing/hiking (but not so much in Indiana, though!), and snowboarding in the winter season.
What is one interesting skill you possess?
One interesting skill I possess is the ability to play music by ear and learn almost any instrument at a somewhat accelerated pace.
What was your childhood nickname and why?
My childhood nickname, which many still call me to do this day, is “Beej.”
If you could meet one historical character, who would it be?
Just like our president at Conner Prairie, Ellen M. Rosenthal, there are so many! I’d love to pick the brains of the Montgolfier Brothers, who were the first individuals to take flight by means of a “hot air balloon.” Of course, I’d have to learn French. The late Randy Pausch, author of “The Last Lecture” would be another person I’d love to have a cup of coffee with. The list could go on and on…
Name: Yvonne Todd
Title/Role: Catering and Banquet Sales Manager
Why are you blogging for Conner Prairie? I want to be a resource for those who are seeking different venues and wish to get the word out that we do do that.
What do you enjoy in your free time? In my free time, as little as it is, I enjoy painting and reading and I always try to take in an auction or two to add those necessary collectables to my collection.
What is one interesting skill you possess? I am able to pack efficiently and effectively - a product of my transient upbringing and adult job transfers.
What was your childhood nickname and why? I did not have a childhood nickname other than Sissy because neither my younger sister nor her friend could say my name. As an adult, I have been called many versions of my name, including, but limited to: Yo, Yovo, Y, YT, Bon and Ebon.
If you could meet one historical figure, who would it be? The more and more I learn of Mr. Eli Lilly in my time here at Conner Prairie, his vision for this facility would be one that I would like to hear firsthand. I love old things and wish that more of us took care with what we have now so that future generations can learn from where they came.