DAVENPORT, IOWA (July 16, 2021) — The Putnam Museum and Science Center has expanded its leadership team to include a Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Leslie Klipsch, and Vice President of Museum Experiences, Ben Johnson. “The Putnam is emerging from the pandemic stronger than ever. Not only has the facility been re-imagined, but we’ve been able to rebuild our staff,” said Putnam President/CEO Rachael Mullins. “We’re pleased to welcome two new leaders to the Putnam who both bring an incredible expertise that will further our growth and relevance to our Quad-City community.”
Leslie Klipsch is a communicator, connector, author, and entrepreneur. She is a founder and co-owner of COWORKQC, a coworking space in downtown Davenport, and, until recently, the Director of Communications for Empower Tanzania, an NGO working to sustainably improve quality of life in rural Tanzania. Over the last decade, Leslie helped launch a fair-trade brand, wrote and published hundreds of articles, and co-led a team of women that raised nearly a half million dollars for clean-water solutions across the globe — an experience she chronicled in her book, Mama Bear’s Manifesto: A Moms' Group Guide to Changing the World, published in 2017. Leslie has a Bachelor’s in English from the University of Iowa and a Master’s in writing from DePaul University. She loves life in Davenport with her husband and their three children.
Ben Johnson joins the Putnam team after spending the past five years as Executive Director of the Glenn Curtiss Museum in upstate New York. A native of eastern Nebraska, Ben earned his Bachelor of Arts in History and Religion from Nebraska Wesleyan University, and a Master of Arts in US Military, Diplomatic, and Foreign Relations history from the University of Nebraska. He began his museum career as a college intern and has held a wide variety of positions over his nearly 20 years of museum experience. Along with his wife Adrienne and their dog Buddy, Ben greatly appreciates his return to the Midwest and looks forward to exploring the culinary delights of the Quad Cities.
“From the facility and exhibits, to the programming and staff, the Putnam looks very different than it did in January 2020,” Putnam President/CEO Rachael Mullins said. “I’m excited to see what these phenomenal career professionals will bring to the Putnam team for our next steps into the future.”
About the Putnam
The Putnam Museum brings to life a sense of place, time, and purpose to ignite human potential and inspire our diverse community to learn about and care for our world and all its people. For more than 150 years, guests have experienced the Putnam’s permanent exhibits like Unearthing Ancient Egypt as well as an array of programs and internationally-recognized traveling exhibits. The Putnam is dedicated to helping guests discover and explore in a friendly and engaging atmosphere.
For more information about events and exhibits, visit www.putnam.org.
