Executive Director, Daniel M. Finley
Dan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Geography from the University of Wisconsin. He formerly served as the president and chief executive officer of the Muzéo Museum and Cultural Center in Anaheim, California; the Autry National Center of the American West in Los Angeles, California; and the Milwaukee Public Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is noted for his development of innovative programs, team-building skills, fiscal management, fundraising ability, and for creating strategic alliances with staff, board members, volunteers, and the community.
Deputy Director and Curator, Mary Ann Igna
Since graduating from Duke University in 1972 with a BA in art history, Mary Ann has spent her career as an arts administrator. Her first job was at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., followed by a stint at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as curator of its Bicentennial exhibition. She then moved to Michigan to become curator of exhibitions at Cranbrook Academy of Art before heading west for 13 years at the Denver Art Museum and 12 at the Aspen Art Museum where she was twice Interim Director.
Adjunct Curator of History, Dr. Eduardo Pagán
Dr. Pagan, Arizona State University’s Bob Stump Endowed Professor of History, will spend a portion of each week working on special projects, exhibitions, and programs for the Museum. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in U.S. history. In addition to authoring numerous books on the history of the Southwest, he was one of the hosts of History Detectives (PBS), a historical consultant with American Experience (PBS), and has appeared in national and international documentaries and television shows.
Director of Business Operations, Hillary Harnasch
Hillary has a B.S. in Business Marketing from Indiana University. Her career has included accounting, office management, and event planning . Hillary previously worked at DCWM as the Visitor Services Manager.
Director of Development, Kathy Clark
Kathy and her family reside in Wickenburg and she has worked at the Museum since 2016. She is responsible for coordinating the Museum’s special event fund raising, grant writing, annual appeals, planned giving programs and all levels of membership. Previously she worked at Princeton University in HR, Molecular Biology, and Annual Giving departments with the Annual Giving campaigns, alumni events, supporting research scientists, and support with the Board of Director’s meetings.
Executive Assistant, Camille Hazeldine
Camille holds a B.A. in History from Weber State University and is currently working on a Master’s degree in Museum Studies from City University of New York – School of Professional Studies. A native of Utah, she began her museum background at the Hill Aerospace Museum in Roy, Utah in 2021 as a curatorial intern and then as the administrative assistant and social media manager. After moving to Arizona in 2023, she worked as the event coordinator at the Martin Auto Museum in Glendale until beginning here at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum.
Director of Marketing, Caesar Chaves
Caesar was previously the Creative Director for the Heard Museum in Phoenix since 2007 and Marketing Director from 2017-2019. There he managed diverse range of projects that included: exhibition design, social media campaigns, print, outdoor and web advertising, and the redesign of a sculpture garden. Caesar earned his B.F.A. in Graphic Design from Corcoran College of Art + Design (now part of the George Washington University) in our nation’s capital. His professional design work has been seen in public institutions such as the Public Museum in Grand Rapids, Virginia Historical Society in Richmond, The Textile Museum in Washington, DC and Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.
Director of Education, Emily Gordon
Emily holds a B.F.A. in Drawing and Minor in Art History from Ball State University. She began her museum background by serving as an Education Intern at the David Owsley Museum of Art in 2015, leading her to continue on as a Visitor Services Associate, Docent, and Collections Management Intern until her graduation in May 2017. After moving to Congress, AZ she began working as a part-time Visitor Services Associate for DCWM and now works full time as our Director of Education.
Director of Facilities, Noah Gordon
Noah Gordon began his career in the trades after graduating from Calumet Welding Center in Indiana in 2015. He then worked as a certified Welder & Fabricator until he moved to Arizona fall of 2017. Noah worked for Johnson Lumber in Wickenburg for several years while operating his Arizona Mining Claims business.
Collections Manager, John Kyritsis
John holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science and a Master’s in Library Science. He began as an intern at DCWM, assisting with a remodel of collection storage spaces. He now oversees the collections database and care for the art and history pieces owned by the Museum as well as those that come on loan for exhibitions and Cowgirl Up!
Preparator, Bill Rix
Retail Operations Manager, Pam Wildman
Pam Wildman is originally from the famous HGTV “Hometown”, Laurel, Mississippi. She has two beautiful daughters, Allie and Abbie Wildman. Allie is currently a freshman in college in Mississippi and Abbie is a freshman at Wickenburg High School. Business Administration and Paralegal studies are her career degrees. Several Business Administrative/Office Manager positions in law offices, CPA offices and public service positions have prepared her for this time in her career. Customer relations/services are extremely important to her both professionally and personally. If you are in Wickenburg, please drop in Ranch Dressing and see the new products arriving daily.
Visitor Services Manager, Tarah Reed
Tarah is an AZ native who grew up around all things western. Whether she is traveling from rodeo to rodeo or training horses, she truly lives the Western lifestyle. Some of her accomplishments in the rodeo arena include, making the finals in the Grand Canyon Professional Rodeo Association in the breakaway roping and winning the breakaway roping at the biggest open rodeo of the year in Pinedale, Wyoming. Tarah can often be seen wearing her favorite buckle that she won for breakaway roping at a rodeo in Camp Verde, AZ. Working at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum brings together her love for history, art, and the cowboy way of life. Tarah says it makes the museum a perfect workspace for her.
Assistant Director of Education, Jessica Kuemerle
Jessica is a native Arizonan that grew up in Wickenburg, and she holds a Bachelor’s degree from Grand Canyon University. Jessica’s passion for creativity and education stems from raising her four children. She returned to Wickenburg in 2020 and joined the Museum in 2022.
Senior Visitor Services Associate and Weekend Supervisor, Marilu Rix
Marilu began in business in 1968 working in accounts receivable for Spencer Foods in Spencer, Iowa. From 1973 to 1986 she was a co-owner of Rudy’s Stateline Club in Spirit Lake, Iowa. From 1986 to 2004 she was employed as the Manager for the America Inn Hotel and Restaurant while also becoming a member of the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce, the Soroptimist International Organization, board member for the Wickenburg Community Services Corporation and a member of the Wickenburg Ducks in a Row Foundation.
Marketing Assistant, Amanda Shain
Accounting Assistant, Patricia Wilkinson
Patricia is from Duluth, MN and has resided in AZ for eight years. She has spent the last 15 years as a bookkeeper for two small businesses. One in Minnesota and the other in Arizona. She currently lives with her partner Jim in Wickenburg, AZ and has four children and four grandchildren. One of her many hobbies is history, therefore, learning about the Southwest from Desert Caballeros Western Museum is an honor.
Visitor Services Associates
Maisye Anderson
Jackie Oliver
Michelle “Shelli” Stibbens
Abbie Wildman
Housekeeping/Events Assistant, Tonia Barker
IT Consultant, AZ Comp
Graphic Design Consultant, Eddie Medrano
Digital Advertising Consultant, Northern AZ Social, LLC
