Leadership

JoAnn Newman

President & CEO

Orlando Science Center President & CEO JoAnn Newman is dedicated to guiding the Science Center as a strong community partner for informal science education, family engagement and workforce development. 

During JoAnn’s tenure, Orlando Science Center has grown to engage more than 670,000 people annually, approximately doubling in attendance, revenue and staff. National recognition has followed, including prestigious grants from NASA and the Office of Naval Research, and awards such as Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders Award and two nominations for the Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medal. JoAnn was selected as one of 2017’s Top CEOs of the Year by Orlando Business Journal. She also leads the Unlock Science Campaign, a $35 million fundraising effort dedicated to creating new experiences, renovating exhibits and increasing access at Orlando Science Center.

JoAnn has a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from Penn State University and a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University. She began her career as a development engineer with AT&T Microelectronics in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and was transferred to Orlando in 1989 to work as senior engineer. JoAnn came to the Orlando Science Center in 2003 as Director of Operations and held several executive leadership positions before being named President & CEO in 2009.

Senior Leadership Team

Scott Berner, Orlando Science Center Chief Financial Officer

Scott Berner

CFO & VP of Finance

Serving OSC Since 2023 

Nicholas Chapman, VP of Development

Nicholas Chapman

VP of Development

Serving OSC Since 2021 

Emily Duguid Orlando Science Center VP of Education

Emily Duguid

VP of Education

Serving OSC Since 2010 

Leslie Emery

VP of Human Resources

Serving OSC Since 2001 

Debra Gordon

VP of Operations

Serving OSC Since 1989

Brandan Lanman

VP of Visitor Experience

Serving OSC Since 2007 

Jeff Stanford

VP of Marketing

Serving OSC Since 2000 

Board of Trustees

Executive Committee

July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024

Demetria Sloan

Board Chair

Vantage Point Coaching, LLC

Jim Atchison

Vice Chair, Governance Chair & Treasurer

SeaWorld, retired

Nirav Pandya

Immediate Past Chair

Fulcrum Consulting

Chris Carmody

Board Counsel

Gray-Robinson

Dr. Richard Signer

Secretary

AdventHealth, formerly Florida Hospital, retired

Michelle DeVos

Development Chair 

Orlando Magic Ownership Group

Roi Ewell

Advocacy Chair 

Ewell & Associates

Jenise Osani

At Large 

Orlando Utilities Commission

Rina Patel

At Large

VistaPrint

Voting Trustees

Maureen Brockman

Embrace Families Foundation

Karoom Brown

Robinson-Brown Consulting

Eric Burris

WESH Channel 2

Juliana Calloway

Black Rooster Taqueria

Oluchi Chuku

Bank of America

Lisy Correa

Deloitte, LLP

Kassandra Crimi

WFTV–Channel 9

Jim DeCarlo

GreenbergTraurig, LLP

Jordan Eichenblatt

YP Chair

HIFIVE

Devin Elmore

Universal Orlando

Arash Farshid

Doorbell Capital, LLC

Zeke Flores

Flying Concessions

Melanie Forbrick

Siemens Energy

Tonja Graham

Duke Energy

Collin Hayward

1898 & Co (Part of Burns & McDonnell)

Gary Heath

Massey Services

Chris Kamke

Orlando City Soccer Club

Dr. Sarah Layton

L & M Wildwood Property Holdings, LLC

Brendan Lynch

Lowndes

Lindsey McCann

CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP

Tom Mirek

Lockheed Martin

Sean Murphy

3N2 Sports

Sarah Nemes

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment

Ben Robinson

Holland & Knight

Meredith Sand

Meredith Sand Designs

Dr. Bret Scheuplein

Complete Care

Lynn Sedwick

RSM US, LLP

Divinne Smith

Smith and Williams Trial Group

Dr. Anjali Vyas

Orlando Health

Dr. Peter Wearden

Nemours Children's Health System

Honorary, Ex-Officio and Permanent Trustees

Melissa Byrd

Ex-Officio

Orange County Public Schools

Sabrice Guerrier

Ex-Officio

Rollins College

Mike Hess

Ex-Officio

City of Orlando

CAPT Tim James

Ex-Officio

Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division

Dr. Eugene Jones

Ex-Officio

Valencia College

Deidré Keller

Ex-Officio

FAMU

Kristine Kraus

Ex-Officio

Seminole County Public Schools

Karen Saunders

Ex-Officio

PEO STRI (army.mil)

Dr. Stephen Summers

Ex-Officio

Seminole State College

Dr. Maggy Tomova

Ex-Officio

UCF

Andrea Wesser-Brawner

Ex-Officio

Seminole County Government

Robert Finfrock

Board Advisor

The Honorable Dean Cannon, Esq

Honorary Trustee

S. James Gates, Jr., Ph.D.,

Honorary Trustee

Steve Goldman

Honorary Trustee

Les D. Kramer, Ph.D. PE

Honorary Trustee

M.J. Soileau, Ph.D.

Honorary Trustee

Nelson Ying, Ph.D.

Honorary Trustee