Meet the CSPM's Staff
Matt Mayberry
Cultural Service Manager/Director
719.385.5636 | matt.mayberry@coloradosprings.gov
Matt Mayberry has served as the director of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum since 2002. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in history. He has published scholarly and popular articles on a variety of topics, ranging from tuberculosis treatment in the Pikes Peak region to how museums can effectively use eBay to further their missions. In addition to his duties at the CSPM, Matt is involved with numerous boards and commissions and volunteers for the American Alliance of Museums to help similar institutions around the country to evaluate their performance relative to established standards of excellence. Matt received the Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History in 2022 for being a transformative leader throughout his career in the field of state and local history.
Leah Davis Witherow
Curator of History
719.385.5649 | Leah.Witherow@coloradosprings.gov
Leah Davis Witherow is the Curator of History for the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. She graduated with a B.A. in History and a Certificate in Eastern European and Russian Studies from California State University, Long Beach and an M.A. in History from University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Additionally, she has taught American History at UCCS since 2000, specializing in the history of Colorado, the Progressive Era, Labor and Women. In 2014 Leah was selected as the UCCS College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Outstanding Lecturer of the Year, and in 2018 was selected as a “Woman of Influence” by the Colorado Springs Business Journal. Leah currently serves on the Board of Directors for Colorado Humanities, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to humanities education in Colorado.
Kelly Murphy
Exhibit Designer
719.385.5641 | kelly.murphy@coloradosprings.gov
Kelly Murphy is a native of New Hampshire but has lived in Colorado Springs since 1971. As a work-study student in the spring of 1998, she began what would become a long career at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. Shortly after her start date, she was offered the opportunity to become the Archives Assistant and eventually transitioned into the position of Research Coordinator. In 2009, Kelly stepped into her dream job as Exhibit Designer for the CSPM. Ms. O’Hara received a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a Minor in Gallery Management, and a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Colorado Springs.
Diane Barber Stine
Development Director
719.385.5633 | diane.stine@coloradosprings.gov
Diane oversees the fundraising and marketing efforts of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. Diane graduated with a B.A. in History from Florida State University and an M.A. in Museum Studies from George Washington University with a concentration on Museum Management and Leadership. Diane has fundraising experience for several institutions including the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and Ford’s Theatre Society. In 2022, Diane was selected as a “Rising Star” by the Colorado Springs Business Journal and received the Association of Fundraising Professionals Young Fundraising Professionals Award.
Meg Yevara
Program Coordinator
719.385.5631 | meg.poole@coloradosprings.gov
Meg Yevara has managed interpretive programming and educational initiatives for the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum as the Program Coordinator since May 2014. She graduated with her B.A. in Anthropology from Colorado College and her M.A. in Museum Studies from The University of Oklahoma. While attending Colorado College, she first found a passion for interpretation as a student educator at their contemporary art gallery, the I.D.E.A. Space. After completing her undergraduate degree, she served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member teaching at-risk youth in Washington DC. In 2011, Meg started her journey with the CSPM as the lead Museum Educator. In 2013, she accepted a position as Cultural Interpreter at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Before returning to CSPM in her current role of Program Coordinator, Meg planned and led naturalist programs as the Interpretive Program Coordinator for El Paso County’s Bear Creek Nature Center. In 2023, Meg was selected as a “Rising Star” by the Colorado Springs Business Journal.
Hillary Mannion
Archivist
719.385.5650 | Hillary.Mannion@coloradosprings.gov
Hillary Mannion is the Archivist at the Starsmore Center for Local History, the archives and special collections department of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. She graduated with a B.A. in History from the State University of New York at Fredonia and an M.A. in Museum Studies, with a concentration in American Studies, from The George Washington University. Hillary has worked within a diverse set of archival and object collections throughout her career. This includes work at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, The White House Historical Association, Colorado College’s Southwest Collection, and the Bob Moog Foundation.
Caitlin Sharpe
Registrar
719.385.5654 | caitlin.sharpe@coloradosprings.gov
Caitlin Sharpe holds a B.A. in History and Minor in Anthropology from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota and M.A. in Public History with a concentration in Museum Studies from University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. She began her career as Visitor Services Manager at Historic Columbia, then moved to Colorado in May 2014 where she served as Curatorial Assistant at the Aurora History Museum. As registrar at CSPM, Caitlin oversees collections care and management of the museum’s three-dimensional objects and artifacts.
Haley Davis
Development Technician/Events Coordinator
719.385.5653 | haley.davis@coloradosprings.gov
Haley was born and raised in Colorado Springs. After earning her B.A. in Anthropology and History at the University of Northern Colorado in 2010, she became involved as a volunteer docent and Assistant Curator at the McAllister House Museum until 2012. In 2011, Haley began volunteering at the CSPM. Shortly thereafter, she became the Events Coordinator and Administrative Assistant.
Casey Kaza
Museum Customer Specialist
719-492-1326 | casey.kaza@coloradosprings.gov
Casey is a Colorado Native and has lived most of her life on the Eastern Plains. She graduated from Pikes Peak Community College in 2016 and holds an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. She started her career with the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum as a Museum Customer Specialist in 2019. She is one of the friendly faces you will see as you roam the museum as she continually greets visitors and monitors the exhibits.
Joshua Cogar
Maintenance Technician
719.492.1325 | joshua.cogar@coloradosprings.gov
Joshua has always been fascinated with the history of our region. Prior to working at the CSPM, he welcomed thousands of visitors as a Ranger at Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain. When the position of Museum Customer Specialist came up, he wanted to use his customer service skills to support our community’s local history museum. Many of you probably saw Joshua welcoming you at the Museum and later at the temporary annex. During the HVAC and Building Restoration Project, staff participated in a variety of tasks and activities outside of their roles to ensure that the capstone project moved forward. Joshua maintained the museum’s maintenance work. He enjoyed contributing towards the museum’s mission by taking on tasks that allowed him to work with his hands. As the Maintenance Technician, Joshua will be responsible for overall care of the building and provide a support role in exhibit construction.
Cydele Duquette-Reich
Marketing Assistant
719.385.5637 | cydele.duquette@coloradosprings.gov
Originally from Buffalo New York, Cydele Duquette-Reich graduated with a B.A. in History from the State University of New York at Albany and started her career in nonprofit marketing. She began her career supporting the Delaware Historical Society as the Read House & Gardens Marketing and Events Coordinator subsequently as the Society’s Communications Coordinator. Moving to Colorado Springs in 2023, she has fallen in love with the Pikes Peak region. As the Marketing Assistant, she supports the marketing initiatives of CSPM.
Valerie Schmitz
Education Assistant
719.385.5635 | valerie.schmitz@coloradosprings.gov
Valerie Schmitz is a 12th generation Northern New Mexican and has always been fascinated by the history of the Southern Rocky Mountain Region. She attended New Mexico State University and worked as a student aid at the library where she had access to archival documents and special collections. She later worked at Laughlin Air Force Base Library and gained experience with family programs. In 2019, Valerie volunteered with the National Park Service at White Sands National Park and began interpretive training. She also had the opportunity to work at the historic visitor center employed through the Western National Parks Association, a non-profit education partner of the NPS. Valerie has been part of the Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department since 2022. She has loved connecting with visitors as a seasonal park ranger at Garden of the Gods and is looking forward to continuing making meaningful connections through sharing our city’s history as a Museum Education Assistant at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum.
Brayan MontesDeOca
Museum Technician
719.385.5616 | brayan.montesdeoca@coloradosprings.gov
Brayan MontesDeOca is the Museum Technician at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. Brayan was born and raised in the Colorado Springs area. He is currently earning his B.A. in History, with a minor in Museum Studies and Gallery Practice, at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS). Along with his formal education, Brayan has learned best practices in object handling, collections management and cataloging through internships at the Heller Center for Arts & Humanities at UCCS, and at the CSPM. Brayan is looking forward to assisting the collections team in the preservation of CSPM’s extensive artifact and archival collection.
Board of Directors
Sam Eppley, President
Nancy Bernard, Vice President
Steve Post, Treasurer Danielle Gaffney, Secretary
Barbara Bates Melissa Bernal
Gary Feffer Amy Kohout Sandra Meagher
Lynn Peterson
Christopher Schofield
Ellen Thommesen
CSPM Foundation Board of Directors
Bill Nelson, President
Steve Post, Treasurer
CJ Moore, Secretary
Blake Wilson
Barbara Winter