Sharing
the Vision
Accomplishments to Date
Press Room
Meet the Team Behind CMSJ
CMSJ's Founding Committee Gets the Ball Rolling
This project began in February, 2007: Kathy Weed and Wendy Philcox were riding together to a birthday party in Jacksonville and wondering why they had to travel so far out of town to a kid-friendly destination. Both had recently visited the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry in Charleston, S.C., and remarked on how much their kids loved it and what a great thing it would be to have a similar institution in St. Johns County. Hence, CMSJ was born!
By April, three more committed professionals had joined
Wendy and Kathy to form the founding committee—Susan
Connor, a professional fundraiser on hiatus from her
career in university fundraising to raise her two small
children; Jenni Jackson, a preschool teacher working
towards her masters degree in early childhood development;
and Kathy Marquis, a retired teacher with more than 30
years of teaching experience in every grade level and
a masters degree in early childhood development. Collectively,
the group has a tremendous amount of professional expertise
to draw upon: in education, marketing, public relations,
publishing, fundraising, and business management, and
got the project off to a solid start.
CMSJ's Board of Directors
In September of 2007, CMSJ held
its first Board of Directors meeting and continues to
develop its
board, a talented and dedicated group of
community leaders, who will help guide the museum through
its start-up phase and lay the foundations for its future.
The Board of Directors includes:
Jennifer Koppman, President
Jennifer is an attorney that moved to St. Augustine from
Baltimore in August 2007 with her husband, John, and
their two children, Ben and Charlie. She is a graduate
of the University of Arkansas and from Southern Methodist
University School of Law. Jennifer practiced law in New
York for six years before taking time off to stay home
with her children. She is on the Board of Directors for
Sea Colony Neighborhood and enjoys staying busy with
her hobbies of photography and exercising at the YMCA.
Susan Connor, Vice President
Susan has 13 years of experience as a fundraiser for
universities across the country, including the University
of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA, the University
of Richmond in Richmond, VA, and Stetson University
in DeLand, FL. She holds a bachelor’s degree
in English from the College of William and Mary in
Williamsburg, VA and a master’s degree of public
administration from the University of Southern California.
Since moving to St. Augustine in December 2005, she
has enjoyed being a full-time mom to her two young
children, Griffin and Bridget.
Sue Lucas, Treasurer
Sue Lucas has 25 years of experience in not-for-profit
financial management. She worked as finance director
for the Cultural Council of Jacksonville, Jacksonville's
official Local Arts Agency, for 14 years. In addition
to serving as the organization's chief financial manager,
she was in charge of administering the City of Jacksonville's
program to re-grant more than $3 million annually to
eligible arts organizations in the First Coast area and
consulted with applicant arts organizations. She recently
worked as comptroller for the Hammock Dunes Country Club
and Marsh Creek Country Club and currently is employed
as finance manager for the Women's Center of Jacksonville.
A native Floridian and longtime First Coast resident,
she is married and lives in St. Augustine.
Renee Sickels, Secretary
Renee is the Branch Coordinator/Branch Manager for the
Bank of St. Augustine. Renee and her family moved to
St. Augustine from Colorado where she had been active
with the Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber and
CASA. Renee is originally from New Jersey where she attended
Campbell University. She likes reading, outdoor activities
and spending time with her husband and two daughters.
Kathy Carson Weed, Immediate Past President;
Chair, Strategic Planning Committee; Volunteer Coordinator
Kathy has more than 20 years of experience in sales and marketing. She was a
major account executive in Miami, Fl for IKON Office Solutions for 8 years. Prior
to this, she worked at the Charleston Post and Courier as an advertising account
executive. She is a graduate of Southwest Texas State University with a bachelor’s
degree in journalism. She is the children’s committee chair for her neighborhood,
a Sunday school teacher at Memorial Presbyterian Church, and the mother of three
beautiful children: Jason, Grace, and Carson.
Mary Ann Dufresne, Chair, Site Selection Committee
Mary Ann has an undergraduate degree from the University
of Dayton and a Masters from Loyola University. She has
worked in a diversionary program at Montgomery County
Juvenile Court (Ohio), as a Marketing Director, and as
a Youth Coordinator for the past 27 years. She also has
created a summer camp program for junior high students
and a service program for senior high students. The service
program has become a book ready for publishing. She is
the mother of seven and grandmother of two. She is currently
retired which leaves more time for CMSJ!
Charlene Cross, Chair, Exhibits Committee
Charlene has a background in graphic design, website
building, and exhibit design. She worked for eleven years
as a science museum exhibit developer at the Maryland
Science Center on science based hands-on interactive
exhibits that were both permanent and some that traveled
to other locations.
Jennifer Jackson, Chair,
Education Committee
ennifer has a bachelor’s of science degree
in nutrition with a minor in chemistry. She currently
completed a master's degree in curriculum and instruction.
She is a teacher at Presbyterian Day School and is certified
to teach preschool and elementary age children in the
state of Florida. She previously taught at the Bolles
School. Jennifer has two boys: Joshua, who is 7, and
Luke, who is 22 months old.
Elena Laguardia, Liaison, Presidential Advisory Council
Elena moved to St. Augustine in 2006 with her husband,
Dan Gassert, and their two young children. Prior
to becoming a Mom, she worked in marketing for a variety
of organizations including Frito Lay, American Express,
and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Elena
earned her undergraduate degree from Duke University
and her MBA from New York University?s School of Business.
She is a member of the Junior Service League, and enjoys
traveling and spending time with her family.
Beth Lambert
Beth is a graduate of Auburn University in Theatre and
Mass Communication, Beth began her career in Jacksonville
writing, directing, producing, and hosting Backstreet
Video Magazine. Beth has had extensive experience in
writing, acting and, directing from Atlanta to Jacksonville
and finally to St. Augustine where she is the founder
of KIDZ fACTory which has helped to further educate the
children in our community through outreach programs and
productions they perform in at the Limelight Theatre.
Beth is in her fifth season as the Artistic Director
of the Limelight.
Kathy Marquis
Kathy has more than 30 years experience in education
including teaching classes in preschool, elementary,
middle, and high school levels as well as special education.
Her most recent teaching experience was at the Florida
School for the Deaf and Blind where she taught a 5th
grade blind class. She has a bachelor’s
degree from Florida State University and a master’s
degree in early childhood education from the University
of North Florida. Kathy has one son who is now attending
college and working in Colorado Springs, CO.
Amy Peterson
Amy was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL. She attended
Rollins College and then transferred to UNF Jacksonville.
She is married and is the mother of two young children.
Amy enjoys exercise, Yoga, healthy cooking, and nutrition.
She and her family attend Good News Presbyterian Church.
John Peterson
John is a commercial Real Estate Agent for Coldwell Banker
Commercial MacGuinnuess Properties. He was born and raised
in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia
in Athens and then transferred to Flagler College. John
enjoys golf, fishing, and taking his wife Amy out to
fun places. John has two young children and is a member
of Good News Presbyterian Church.
Wendy White Philcox, Chair, Marketing
Committee
Wendy is the owner of Publishing Partners, Inc., publisher of The Restaurant
Times and Galleria—local guides to restaurants and galleries. Her background
includes serving as editor of a national monthly magazine for professional
chefs. In her roles working for the American Culinary Federation and Jacksonville’s
Cultural Council, her background includes expertise in public relations, marketing,
event planning, publication development, and fundraising. She is a Jacksonville
native, a University of North Florida graduate, and proud mother of a young
son, Andrew.
Nancy Thompson
Nancy was formerly the Director of Alumni & College
Relations at Flagler College, where she worked for 7
years beginning in 1998. She graduated with degrees in
Communication and in English from Flagler, and has lived
in St. Augustine since 1991. Nancy has been happily married
to Brian for more than 10 years, and their daughter,
Amelie, was born in December 2005. They reside in Lincolnville.
Cindy Wilson
Cindy is the owner of Cindy Wilson Design, an internationally
recognized graphic design studio located in St. Augustine.
She has been a graphic designer for over 30 years and
has lived in St. Augustine for 18 years. Cindy is a member
of the St. Augustine Sunrise Rotary Club. She enjoys
sailing, gardening, and spending time with her 5-year-old
granddaughter. Cindy and her husband have two grown children.
CMSJ's Presidential Advisory Council
The Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) is comprised
of individuals with the knowledge, influence, and personal
commitment to help us make the Museum into a reality
for both our community’s residents and visitors.
These community leaders have agreed to play an integral
role in helping the Museum to achieve its over-arching
goal: to become a bricks-and-mortar institution in the
next 3-5 years.
Katherine Batenhorst
Judy Burnett
Mina Bustamante
Christine Chapman
Meg DiBella
Betty Ann Frederick
Donna Kelley
Howard Serkin
Paul Williamson
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