Our Staff
.png)
Rebecca Hart
Executive Director
After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in English and Creative Writing, Hart worked in education, journalism, and music before starting at Hart Square Foundation in 2014. She studied under her grandparents, Hart Square Village founders Dr. Bob and Becky Hart, from 2014 to 2016 before embarking on a $4 million capital campaign for the Sigmon Family Education Center, completed in October 2021.
When Rebecca began, Hart Square was open to the public one day a year and had one employee. Now, Hart Square is open to the public on an annual basis for community events, traditional folkways classes, membership, and other programs.
Rebecca loves seeing the Village full of people and creating opportunities to invite and engage the public with traditional arts and history. She believes that cultural heritage should be inclusive and relational. Rebecca serves on the Board of Advisors for the Luke Garrison Foundation and the Arts Culture Catawba Board of Directors. She was recognized as one of Hickory’s “Top 10 under 40” in 2017 and has her Certified Fund Raising Executive International certification.
Lorissa Vines
Development Director
Lorissa Vines, a Catawba County native, is deeply rooted in our community. With a rich experience of 20 years in the nonprofit sector, she became a part of our team in June 2022, transitioning from her role as the Director of Development at Carolina Caring, where she spearheaded several successful community outreach and philanthropic initiatives.
Lorissa discovered her passion for Hart Square through Leadership Catawba. Since joining the Hart Square team, she has shared and preserved Hart Square Village through community outreach and philanthropy. She is honored to help preserve the 200—to 300-year-old cabins entrusted to our care and to preserve endangered traditional arts and trades.
Lorissa Graduated from the Leadership Catawba program in March 2020 and served as an Advisory Board Member from 2020 to 2023. Lorissa was recognized as one of our area's "Top 10 Under 40" in 2019 and completed her Teleios University Leadership Certification in 2021. When she isn't working, Lorissa enjoys hiking, cooking & entertaining friends, and traveling the world with her husband, David.
Mya Banner
Program Director
mya@hartsquare.com
Mya Banner has been with Hart Square for five years. She started as a tour guide and field trip demonstrator, where she served children and adults by teaching the history of the collection and local trades. Mya began working full-time for Hart Square as a Membership and Education Manager in 2020. She oversaw the launch of our Hart Square Membership Program in July 2021 and launched the Hart Square Folkways Program in March 2022. Mya was promoted to Program Director in 2024 and manages field trip programming, folkways classes, and community events. She is also Hart Square's social media, webpage, and marketing team lead.
Laurie Medford
Program and Volunteer Coordinator
Laurie is a historian and potter. She came to Hart Square in 2025 after six years as a living history volunteer with several State Historic Sites, including nearby Fort Dobbs. She has a master’s degree in history from UNC-Chapel Hill and is passionate about accessible, hands-on history education. Laurie loves working with dedicated, skilled, knowledgeable volunteers and staff to ensure that programs run smoothly. Originally from rural Wisconsin, Laurie found her home in North Carolina over a decade ago. She enjoys sewing, gardening, and throwing pottery on a kick wheel. She focuses on reproducing historical North Carolina earthenware and creating modern stoneware with historical influences.
.png)
Nicole Haney
Guest Experience Coordinator
Nicole Haney is a California native and moved to North Carolina in 2019 after serving with Mercy Ships, an international healthcare non-profit in Africa. She has a passion for administration, history, and learning. She joined our team as the Museum Assistant in 2023 and brings a skill set in many fields, specifically bookkeeping, non-profit administration, and purchasing, with a wealth of experience in the non-profit sector.
Nicole graduated from California State University at Sacramento with a B.S. in Gerontology and has a special place in her heart for senior citizens. She is the first friendly face you will see when you visit Hart Square!
Darrell Hutchens
Buildings and Grounds Maintenance
Bio and photo coming soon. Part-time Wednesday - Friday
Emma Saunders
Event Assistant
Bio and photo coming soon. Part-time Monday.
Saturday Manager
Now Hiring!
Our Board
Dr. Eric Hart - Board President
Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Health Stat, Inc.
Physician at Hart Family Practice
Hickory, NC
Thomas Beatty - Secretary
Senior Engineer of Duke Energy Corporation
Denver, NC
Katie Pritchard - Treasurer
Senior Vice President, Finance at Valdese Weavers
Hickory, NC
Gail Boyles
Purchasing Representative, Blum Inc.
Traditional Fiber Artist
Lincolnton, NC
Ian Bumgarner
Catawba County Budget & Management Analyst
Hickory, NC
John Orgain
Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Alex Lee, MDI, Lowe’s Foods
Hickory, NC
Keith Hart
Retired VP of Sales and Marketing of King Hickory Furniture
Charlotte, NC
Becky Gladden
Retired Catawba County and Hickory Public Schools - Librarian
Vale, NC
Rebecca Yoder
Legal Partner at The Jonas Law Firm, PLLC.
Lincolnton, NC
.png)
_1.png)
.png)