Who we are

Welcome to the Children's Museum of Eau Claire, a place where learning and play come together in a safe and inclusive environment! Our museum is dedicated to providing children with interactive exhibits that foster social and academic growth while ensuring a fun and engaging experience.

2000

It All Started

3,500 +

Family Members Served

37 +

Staff & Volunteers

Meet our talented crew

Dreamed of Being A
Firefighter
Michael McHorney
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Graduated UWEC in 2007, Michael is from Eau Claire, WI and has been at the Museum since 2015.

Dreamed of Being A
Veterinarian
Jenny Nustad
Chief Operations Officer (COO)

Graduated from UW-La Crosse in 2010, Jenny is from La Crosse, WI and joined the museum team in 2022.

Dreamed of Being A
Police Officer
Mike Lee
Chief Learning Officer (CLO)

Graduated from UW-Stout with an Ed.D. in Career and Technical Education in 2018, Mike is from Eau Claire, WI and joined the team in 2023.

Dreamed of Being A
Concert Pianist
Lexie Newman
Play Experience Manager

Graduated from the University of Evansville with a BA in English and Education and earned an MLS at Indiana University Bloomington. Lexie is from Chicagoland and joined the museum team in 2023.

Dreamed of Being A
Psychologist
Chrissy Johnson
Operations Manager

Proud lifelong resident of Eau Claire, WI and graduate of Memorial High School, with over 15 years of on-the-job management and customer service experience. Joined the museum team in 2023.

Dreamed of Being A
Mom
Lydia Ekenstedt
Endeavor School Director, Owner of Peace Tree

Originally from Bloomer, Wi. Graduated from UW La Crosse in 2013, and have been working with the museum since 2021.

Board of Directors

Past President

Marianne Klinkhammer

Gator Garb Promotions
Retired Educator + Community Volunteer

Past Chair

Jason Munz

TrustPoint
Vice President, Eau Claire Office

Secretary

Becky Seelen

Security Financial Bank
Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications

Treasurer

Tanner Thompson

Nohre
CPA | Account Manager

Grant Beardsley

Royal Credit Union
EVP – Chief Legal Officer

Jennifer Phillips

US Bank
Wealth Management Trust Advisor

Jerry Kuehl

Northwestern Bank
SVP – Sales + Marketing

Justin Harings

CCF Bank
Commercial Banker

Chair

Kasey Lemke

Market & Johnson
Director of Pre-Construction

Kirstin Rossi

University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire
Assistant Professor of Special Education

Linda Dunham

Premier Group of the Chippewa Valley, LLC, Coldwell Banker Brenizer
Exclusive Buyers Agent

Tony Benedict

Benedict Refrigeration
Owner

Volunteer With Us

Inspire Our Tomorrow's Leaders

View Current Openings

"Our volunteers are what makes our work possible, and they are indeed our unsung heroes. They tend to be selfless and engaging, which is crucial to what we do here. Day in and day out, the volunteers at CMEC inspire our children through the world of educational play thereby ensuring our future is in good hands."

Michael McHorney
‍CEO | Children's Museum of Eau Claire

“Volunteering at the Children's Museum of Eau Claire was one of the highlights of my college career at UWEC. The staff were wonderful and welcoming. I enjoyed being creative and resourceful as I prepped daily activities for the children and assisted with special events. I had the opportunity to interact with and watch children thrive in a safe, clean, and uplifting environment. They could let their imaginations run wild. I highly recommend volunteering at the Children's Museum. You’ll feel like a kid again!”

Caroline Hehir