Who We Are

Staff Directory and Phone Numbers

Fred W. Goss • Director
785-587-2729 ext. 206
Fred began his employment with the City of Manhattan’s Parks and Recreation Department on May 2, 2013 and is responsible for the daily operations of the FHDC and supervision of its staff in addition to assuring that the FHDC objectives of tourism attraction, education, and recreation are carried out at the highest professional standards. Fred also serves as the liaison to the FHDC Foundation and its board, the FHDC’s Advisory Board, in addition to serving regional stakeholders, and the general public.
He has held several positions including that of Consultant with the Cultural Resource Management Group; Director of the Greensboro Historical Museum in Greensboro, NC and Chief Executive Officer of the Stuhr Museum in Grand Island, Nebraska. His career path provided him with the opportunity to work in the positions of Assistant Director, Interim Director and Graduate Student Internship/Farm Manager at Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS and a interpretation supervisor at Living History Farms in Urbandale, IA. Goss holds a MA in Historic Administration from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Fred is a Great Plains Native and looks forward to learning about and becoming involved in the greater Manhattan community.
goss@cityofmhk.com 

Susan Adams • Volunteer/Visitor Services Manager
785-587-2729 ext. 201
Susan is responsible for both a dynamic volunteer program and excellent customer service here at the Flint Hills Discovery Center. Susan handles recruitment, training and supervision of the more than 100 volunteers who support programs and activities. She also manages all aspects of customer service. Previously, Susan worked for Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan as the Director of Volunteer/Guest Services for more than five years.
adams@cityofmhk.com

Roy Garrett • Exhibits/Operations Manager
785-587-2729 ext. 209
Roy Garrett serves as manager for the 10,000 square feet of permanent exhibits on display at the facility. He supervises building operations and is responsible for the implementation and development of engaging temporary exhibits. Roy is a seasoned museum veteran, having worked for 15 years at the Corpus Christi Museum of Natural History. He is a Kansas State University alumnus and a proud parent.
garrett@cityofmhk.com

Jared Bixby • Curator of Education
785-587-2729 ext. 202
Jared serves as the Curator of Education at both Sunset Zoo and the Flint Hills Discovery Center. Jared is well-known for his knowledge, creativity and effectiveness as an educator in the areas of animal and natural sciences. He supervises a staff of education specialists, as well as volunteer interpreters, to ensure a rich and stimulating education program at the Flint Hills Discovery Center. 
bixby@cityofmhk.com

Richard Dean Prudenti • Membership/Special Events Coordinator
785-587-2729 ext. 208
Richard is charged with development and implementation of the membership program for the Discovery Center and he coordinates all special events and facility rentals. Richard is a Manhattan-transplant, most recently from Rogers, Arkansas where he served as Executive Director for Rogers Little Theatre. He is also an accomplished journalist.
prudenti@cityofmhk.com

Pamela Kulokas • Outreach Coordinator
785-587-2729 ext. 213
Pamela serves as the outreach coordinator for the Flint Hills Discovery Center, and is an experienced public relations specialist. She is responsible for the strategic development of a wide variety of internal and external communication materials to support and promote FHDC. Pamela enjoys maintaining strong relations with local and regional media outlets to facilitate a positive flow of information, and she is always looking for opportunities to share the mission of the FHDC with the community. Pamela earned her Bachelor of Arts in English education and Theatre from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In addition to her outreach duties, Pamela provides administrative support to the entire staff of the Flint Hills Discovery Center.
redford@cityofmhk.com

Diane Bruce • Retail Coordinator
785-587-2729 ext. 214
Diane serves as the Store Coordinator and maintains all aspects of the operations of the store. Diane has a passion for retail and an incredible knack for driving business! In addition to being a wife and mother of four, Diane is the founder of BECOMING Girls, a non-profit program for elementary age girls.
bruce@cityofmhk.com

Travis Young • Education Specialist - History/Culture
785-587-2729 ext. 204
Travis is one of two Education Specialists tasked with assisting the Curator of Education with the development of educational programs with a historical and cultural focus, as well as coordinating with volunteers to ensure accurate delivery of information to guests. Born and raised in Missouri, Travis was a high school history teacher before enlisting in the Army. He has resided in the Manhattan/Fort Riley area since 2004, except for two years during his military duties. For the past two years he has worked as a substitute teacher in the Flint Hills area. 
youngt@cityofmhk.com