Executive Director

---

Executive Director	Mrs. Tara MacDougall
E-mail	tmacdougall@explorethedc.org
Term Start	June 2012
Tara's Experience:

Senior Staff

---

Name	Title
Jennifer Uhl	Vice President, Exhibits, Facilities & Strategic Initiatives
Lindsey Jennings	Vice President of Philanthropy
Veronica Bosnak	CFO
Michael Sassery-Kelly	Director of Exhibits and Facilities
Tara MacDougall	President & CEO

Staff

Full Time Staff	16
Part Time Staff	18
Volunteers	0
Contractors	0
Retention Rate	78%

Plans & Policies

Does your organization have a Fundraising Plan?	Under Development
Does your organization have a Strategic Plan?	Yes
Years Strategic Plan Considers	5
When was the Strategic Plan adopted?	January 2026
Does your organization have a Management Succession Plan?	Under Development
Does your organization have a Policy and Procedure Plan?	Yes
Does the organization have a Nondiscrimination Policy?	Yes
Does the organization have a Whistle Blower Policy?	Yes
Does the organization have a Document Destruction Policy?	Yes

Evaluation

Is there a formal evaluation for...		Frequency (if applicable)
CEO/Executive Director	Yes	Annually
Senior Management	Yes	Annually
Non-Management	Yes	Annually

Affiliations

Affiliation	Year
American Association of Museums	2024
Association of Children's Museums	2024
Association of Science and Technology Centers	2024
Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce	2024
Tennesseans for the Arts	2024

Awards

---

Award / Recognition	Organization	Year
2006 Best of Parenting Award for: Best Kids' Art Center and Best Museum	Rutherford Parent Magazine	2006
2008 Ruthie Award for Best Place to Take Children	The Daily News Journal	2008
Award of Excellence - Special Event	Tennessee Association of Museums	2018
Best Of Parenting 2008 for the following: Best Museum	Rutherford Parent Magazine	2008
Billie Little - Children First Award	Nashville/Williamson/Rutherford Parent Magazine	2010
Board Member of the Year Award	Salute to Excellence	2007
Bonnie Ervin - Facilitator of the Year	Project Learning Tree	2012
Bonnie Ervin - Middle Tennessee Environmental Educator of the Year	Tennessee Environmental Education Association	2008
Bonnie Ervin - Tennessee Water Educator Award	Project WET	2007
Certificate of Excellence	Trip Advisor	2014
Courtney Morgan - Middle Tennessee Environmental Educator of the Year	Tennessee Environmental Education Association	2013
Excellence in Exhibit Design	Tennessee Association of Museums	2019
Excellence in Website Redesign	Tennessee Association of Musuems	2013
Execellence in Exhibit Design - Tiny Town & TotSpace	Tennessee Association of Museums	2010
Kaleidoscope Award - Best New Event	Southeast Festivals & Events Association Bronze	2018
Project Reach Out initiative - Finalist for the Making a Difference Award	Frist Foundation Salute to Excellence	2007
Promising Practice - Honorable Mention for Discovering Healthy Families program	Association of Children's Museums	2007
Tara MacDougall - ATHENA Award Nominee	CABLE	2014
Community Service Award	Northwestern Mutual	2007
Excellence in Exhibit Design	Tennessee Association of Museums	2024