HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Mimi Meredith has joined the Cosmosphere’s senior management team as Vice President of Development. In this role, Meredith will plan, direct and coordinate all development activities, major fundraising activities, and special projects at the Cosmosphere.
Meredith brings more than 25 years of public relations and nonprofit development expertise to her role, including eight years with the Training and Evaluation Center of Hutchinson and two years as Marketing Development Director with the Boys & Girls Club of Hutchinson.
In 1999, Meredith, her husband Greg and their three children moved from Hutchinson to Phoenix, where she served as Director of Public Relations and Internal Communications of Bashas’ Inc., a privately owned supermarket company. Meredith later launched a speaking and consulting practice which provided nonprofit communication strategy and board development for many organizations, including DrugFreeAZ (Partnership for a Drug Free America’s Arizona affiliate). She also served on several non-profit boards and was an elder of Horizon Presbyterian Church, where she served as stewardship chairman.
Meredith returned to Hutchinson in April of 2012 and worked as an Account Manager for Luminous Neon Art & Sign Systems for two years before starting a private consulting practice, which offered services in the areas of strategic communication, facilitation and training. Her clients included Fee Insurance, Disability Supports of the Great Plains, Hutchinson Recreation Commission, the Greater Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce, the Cosmosphere and the HutchWins! campaign. Following her acceptance of the position as Vice President of Development, Meredith resigned her position as a member of the Cosmosphere Board of Directors. She is involved as an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hutchinson, PEO Chapter CM and will be directing the 2015 Hutchinson Follies.
Meredith is a graduate of Cottey College, a two-year liberal arts college in Nevada, Mo., and the University of Kansas School of Journalism. She has certification in fundraising programs provided through the Institute of Charitable Giving.
“Mimi brings great enthusiasm, a wealth of experience and – most importantly – passion to this position,” Cosmosphere CEO Richard Hollowell said. “We are excited to have her join the team.”