Jaymee Harvey Willms – Executive Director; jharvey@cavtmuseums.org

Jaymee Harvey Willms is the Executive Director of the Charles Allis and Villa Terrace Art Museums. She hails from Minneapolis/St. Paul and currently homesteads in Erin, Wisconsin. Harvey Willms brings 10 years of non-profit management experience and holds degrees in painting, sculpture and art history. She has a studio in Milwaukee's Walker's Point and continues to show artwork nationally and internationally. 

 

Phoenix Brown – Senior Curator; pbrown@cavtmuseums.org

Phoenix Brown is an interdisciplinary artist and curator based in Milwaukee, WI. Originally from Cincinnati, OH, she graduated from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in 2019 with a BFA in New Studio Practice and a minor in Art History. Brown was the Albert Family Curatorial Fellow at the Milwaukee Art Museum from 2020 to 2021. She currently leads the curatorial department at Charles Allis and Villa Terrace as Senior Curator. Her curatorial voice is influenced by popular culture, technology-informed art, institutional critique, and interpretations of contemporary art through critical theory lenses. Alongside her studio practice and curatorial research, Brown teaches art at various capacities throughout Greater Milwaukee and beyond.

 

Jade Hess – Interim Collections Manager; jhess@cavtmuseums.org

Jade Hess joined the Museums in 2022. After expressing interest in aiding with the archives and collections, Jade became the Interim Collections Manager in 2023 and began organizing the Museums' collections. Jade is passionate about uncovering the overlooked stories in history and can often be found deep in research. Currently, she is working with her team to catalog and digitally archive the collections at each Museum to make them accessible to students and researchers everywhere.

 

Matt Pappas – Director of Membership and Development; mpappas@cavtmuseums.org

Matt has been with the museums since 2013. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in History and Political Science and is currently persuing his MSA through the Lubar School of Business. He enjoys exploring the beautiful city of Milwaukee — a hobby that piqued his interest in the Charles Allis Art Museum. His passion for the arts and preserving history makes him a perfect fit for his work at the museums. When not working at the museum or studying, Matt enjoys spending time with friends and family, his two cats (Oscar and Penny), and playing guitar.

 

Megan Maikowski – Rentals Manager; mmaikowski@cavtmuseums.org

Megan has worked with the museums since February 2018. She enjoys working closely with clients and vendors in planning unique events with the historic homes as the backdrop. Megan graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with degree in Arts Management and History in 2014. Her background in event management includes weddings, nonprofit fundraisers, galas, and corporate meetings. On her days off, she likes to enjoy the best of what Milwaukee has to offer – cold beer, cheese curds and music festivals.

 

Lauren Grove – Beverage Services Manager; lgrove@cavtmuseums.org

Lauren became the museum's beverage services manager in 2022, after working with museums as a bartender for a number of years. In her role with the museums, Lauren oversees our event services team and bartenders, ensuring public and private events flow smoothly. She also manages photography and videography at both museums. When she isn't on site, artisan Lauren can be found in her home studio designing new jewelry or at one of Milwaukee's maker markets.

 

Andrea Bell-Myers — Program Director; abellmyers@cavtmuseums.org

Andrea has been with the Museums since 2023. She holds a B.F.A. in graphic design from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Andrea has taught in Kenosha for over two decades, championing access to the arts. Bell-Myers believes programming should be made with community input, and she can often be found networking on the East Side or chatting with museum guests. She is passionate about accessibility, culture and inclusion. Since joining the Museums she has championed partnerships with the Electa Quinney Institute for American-Indian Education and Chessbox Academy, and led cultural programming initiatives like the Museums' first Dias de los Muertos celebration.

 

Caroline Dannecker — Marketing Director; cdannecker@cavtmuseums.org

A Milwaukee native, Caroline has been with the Museums since 2022. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a bachelor's in global studies focused in communications, and minors in French and JAMS (journalism, advertising and media studies). Her background is in nonprofit communications. Caroline is a passionate storyteller who uses her skills to help develop a sustainable future with nonprofits and mission-based organizations. When she isn't with the museums or freelancing, Caroline spends her days with good books, great friends and her dog.