Challenger Learning Center Full Time Staff
Michelle Personette
Director
Email Michelle
850.645.7827
Michelle Personette received her bachelor's degree in English from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Fla. and received her master's degree in mass communication with a concentration in advertising and public relations from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Michelle has worked on promotions and marketing for the Florida Everblades, an ECHL Hockey Team and Florida Gulf Coast University in the Office of Recreation and Leisure Services in Fort Myers, Fla. In Orlando, Michelle continued her public relations work for Curly & Pynn Public Relations Management, Inc. on accounts for Universal Orlando, Holiday Inn Family Suites and others. Additionally, Michelle received much of her fiscal experience when working for the University of Central Florida in the Budget Office of the College of Arts and Sciences. Michelle moved to Tallahassee and was hired as the Challenger Learning Center's marketing and sales manager in 2001 to plan the pre-opening promotions, marketing and fundraising efforts of the center. In 2005, Michelle was promoted to the center's director and oversees all aspects of the Center’s operation.
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Susan Borland
Co-Education Manager
Email Susan
850.645.7787
Susan Borland received her bachelor's degree in Health Education and began her masters degree in Science Education at SUNY Cortland and continued her masters program at SUNY Stony Brook. She has over 20 years experience teaching science in New York and Florida. She began her career with the Challenger Learning Center in Tallahassee in February 1999 and was involved in all aspects of planning of the center. Susan has had extensive experience in curriculum and workshop development. She currently serves as Education Manager of the center and is involved in curriculum planning and alignment to standards, workshop preparation and delivery, camp coordination, grant writing and all facets of managing the education department. In addition to her duties at the Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee, Susan serves as a network consultant and mentor for the Challenger Center for Space Science Education network, is on the Champions Board for the Caring Tree program of Big Bend Hospice and for High School/High Tech in Tallahassee. She was one of the 2008 Children's Champions for Kids Incorporated of the Big Bend.
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Harry Hawbecker
Co-Education Manager
Email Harry
850.645.7774
Harry J. Hawbecker received his B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from Texas Christian University.
After graduation, he moved to Tallahassee were he took graduate physics courses from Florida State
University. During the same time period, he instructed Astronomy, Physics I, and Advanced Placement
Physics classes for Florida State University High School. Harry started at the Challenger Learning
Center in 2004 as a planetarium instructor and flight director. He currently is the Program Assistant.
His responsibilities include flying mission simulations, maintenance of simulation equipment, developing
and up-dating mission scenarios, producing new planetarium pre-shows, training part-time planetarium
instructors and flight directors, and providing Flight Director demonstrations.
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Reed Lambdin
Theatres and Operations Manager
Email Reed
850.645.7778
Reed Lambdin was born in Indiana but was raised in Tallahassee. Reed has spent the last 17 years working in the motion picture industry and came to the Challenger Learning Center in 2005. Reed completed a month-long training in Canada to become one of the few Certified IMAX SPP Technicians. His responsibilities include operation and maintenance of the IMAX and Planetarium equipment and theatre, inventory maintenance, data reporting and tracking, as well as building and equipment upkeep and set-up.
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Nenad (Nick) Pavlovik
Accountant
Email Nick
850.645.7779
A Macedonia native, Nenad (Nick) Pavlovik graduated summa cum laude from the Florida State University College of Business with Bachelor of Science degrees in multinational business, accounting and finance, as well as an M.B.A. Nick is a Garnet and Gold Scholar and was on the Dean's List throughout his time at Florida State University. During that time he worked as a tutor at Florida State University Athletic Academic Support, tutoring students in financial accounting, financial management, calculus for business and business statistics. Nick also worked previously as a financial administrator in his native country of Macedonia.
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Emily Brown
Group Sales & Membership Coordinator
Email Emily
850.645.7777
Hailing from North Carolina, Emily Brown graduated from Furman University in 2009, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education. She now calls Tallahassee home after recently graduating from Florida State University with a Masters degree in Arts Administration. With a passion for educational outreach and advocacy, Emily loves her job as Group Sales and Membership Coordinator, scheduling field trips and events for groups from all over the Southeast. In addition to her duties at the Challenger Learning Center, Emily also serves as the Executive Director of the Tallahassee Community Chorus.
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Tami Dyer
Office Manager
Email Tami
850.645.7771
Tami Dyer received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL and her master’s degree in criminology from Florida State University. However, her work experience has centered on the accounting field for the past 15 years, where she has worked in the accounting and finance departments of several corporations in the retail, reinsurance, food service, and sports industries. Starting in 2006, Tami spent 3 years as the Office Manager for the Music City Motorplex, a NASCAR-sanctioned racetrack located at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Nashville, TN. Most recently she was the Office Manager at Gateway International Raceway, located just outside St. Louis in Madison, IL. Tami moved back to Tallahassee in June 2011, and in her role as Office Manager for the Challenger Learning Center, her main focus will be Human Resources and day-to-day office functions.
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Julie Ritter
Guest Services Manager
Email Julie
850.645.7780
Born in Bogota, Colombia, Julie Ritter has lived in Tallahassee for the past 20 years. She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Child Sciences with an area of concentration in Family Life Education. Julie acquired the majority of her guest service experience from working at Target Corporation for 5 ½ years, as a Human Resources Executive Team Leader. At the Challenger Learning Center, she is responsible for managing the guest service and customer satisfaction for the box office, concessions stand and gift shop, as well as supervising all guest service staff.
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Chelsea Bundschuh
Marketing Manager
Email Chelsea
850.645.7772
Bundschuh is a Tallahassee native. She graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations while also studying abroad in Paris, France. Prior to joining the Challenger Learning Center team, Chelsea worked with the local public relations firm Ron Sachs Communications, served as marketing chair for Friends for Life of America, a student organization dedicated to supporting pediatric cancer patients and their families, and held the position of account associate with Alpha PRductions, a full-service student run PR firm. She is responsible for all communications of and from the Challenger Learning Center, specifically to advertise and promote all activities of the Center.
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