Our Team

Kathleen Bodenlos, Executive Director, has over 25 years of executive management experience working for both corporations and museums. She is passionate about the role museums play in creating curious thinking and sparking the joy of learning.

In her current role, Kathleen provides strategic direction and is responsible for the success of the museum’s mission as well as overseeing finance, exhibits, education, marketing, operations, and philanthropy. Her museum experience includes serving on the executive management teams of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati Museum Center, and The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. She is frequently asked to speak at various conferences on relevant museum topics. She earned a BA from Thomas Edison University and an MBA from Eastern University. Kathleen is passionate about hiking, art, and travel.

Bio coming soon

Heath Garner has over 15 years of experience in finance and accounting, having served as an Internal Auditor in the Banking industry, an Assistant Controller for a large newspaper and a Controller for a construction company. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Utah Valley State College and his Master of Accountancy Degree from DeVry University. Heath takes great pride in his ability to juggle many tasks, improve company efficiencies, reconcile complex accounts, and keep a well-balanced budget. In his spare time, Heath enjoys playing golf and spending time with his wife and  two teenaged children.

In 3rd grade, Sky Hatter raised some red flags when she wrote “E is for dolphin because dolphins use echolocation”. in an alphabet book assignment. It was clear early on that she was going to be doing something that combines her two loves: art and science. 

She earned her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and began a career in graphic design that spanned editorial, books, and scientific exhibit design. In 2019 she co-founded S.T.E.A.M.punk Academy and became the Chief Creative Officer. These days she has her dream jobs: being the Co-founder and Creative Director of S.T.E.A.M.punk Academy and the Exhibit Manager of Discovery Gateway Children's Museum.  She also does freelance graphic design work for various non-profits and paints pet portraits by commission.

Branna Riding, Development Manager, has worked over a decade with non-profit organizations. Her background has been focused on outreach education and she was promoted from Discovery Gateway’s School Programs team, where she spent her time visiting schools across the state of Utah to teach engaging science programs in the classroom. She is excited to cultivate relationships with new and existing corporate sponsors to help achieve DGCM’s goals. She has a B.S. in Biology and a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana. In her free time, Branna enjoys hiking, kayaking, bouldering, painting, reptile keeping, and homesteading with her husband and their growing dairy goat herd.

Dawn Smith, Operations Manager, has a background in education and a passion for the role museums play in enhancing the education of children and adults. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Weber State University. She previously worked as a Discovery Gateway Outreach Educator and loved helping to teach science in elementary schools across the state of Utah. She now works inside the museum helping to coordinate events and support the Imagination Facilitators in enhancing the guest experience.

Victoria Sohm graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of Utah.  Since then, she has worked in science and informal education both locally and abroad.  She completed a summer internship at a local AZA-accredited facility here in Salt Lake City, later working at that same zoo; she has participated in citizen science projects and done outreach education for conservation causes; conducted field surveys throughout central Utah; worked onsite at a macaw sanctuary in Costa Rica and with Australian National University in their field research in South Australia.  She is continuing to grow her skills in education outreach at DGCM.

Bio coming soon