Our Staff
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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. When Rebecca began, Hart Square was open to the public one day a year and had one employee. In her first five years, she raised $4 million for the Sigmon Family Education Center, completed in October 2021.
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.
In 2017, she was recognized as one of Hickory’s “Top 10 under 40” and holds her Certified Fund Raising Executive International certification. Hart is pursuing her Master's Degree in cultural heritage management from Johns Hopkins University and enjoys spending her free time volunteering with Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
Lorissa Vines
Development Director
With 20 years of rich experience in the nonprofit sector, she joined 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 & Volunteer Coordinator
laurie@hartsquare.com
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.
David Setzer
Buildings & Grounds Maintenance
David grew up on a small dairy farm in Catawba County and then served as a nuclear reactor operator in the US Navy Submarine Service. This combination of training and experience set the stage for a 40-year career in industrial maintenance, first in textile manufacturing and then in the fiber optic cable industry. In his senior technician role, David planned and scheduled maintenance activities, kept records, and procured parts.
When not at work, he is involved with the Foothills Antique Power Association, which led to restoring, showing, and demonstrating antique farm equipment (and he currently serves as secretary for the club). David is also an active volunteer at Murray’s Mill, where he is one of two operators at that mill. Prior to David's employment at Hart Square Foundation, he was an active volunteer assisting with maintenance projects, event set-up, and historic restoration. David is one of the few people who knows how to operate the 1760 Hart Square grist mill, which you can find him doing at our public events!
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Nicole Haney
Guest Experience Coordinator
nicole@hartsquare.com
Nicole Haney, a California native, moved to North Carolina in 2019 after serving with Mercy Ships, an African international healthcare non-profit. She has a passion for administration, history, and learning. She joined our team 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!
Darrell Hutchens
Buildings & Grounds Maintenance
Hutchens spent his 32-year professional life dedicated to law enforcement as a Sheriff's Deputy with Yadkin County. In his final 8 years, he worked in management overseeing 78 employees, including dispatch, criminal investigations, civil division, detention center, and patrol division. As a North Carolina native, Hutchens always enjoyed history, old homes, and antiques. He restored his family's 1889 farm home in the foothills of N.C. with his wife, Connie, and has always enjoyed spending time at the family property with their lap dog, Buttercup.
He joined the Hart Square volunteer team in 2021 and came out of retirement to join the team part-time Wednesday through Friday. Hutchens has also taught at the community college since 2001. In his free time, he has spent years costume building, performing, and traveling the country by motorcycle.
Emma Saunders
Event Assistant
Emma’s journey with Hart Square began through volunteerism. She continues to volunteer as a historic docent and has a passion for learning historic craft, particularly fiber arts. Emma is responsible for janitorial services, venue set up, and serving as support staff for private venue rental.
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Elise White
Saturday Manager
elise@hartsquare.com
Elise graduated with her Master’s Degree in Public History from Liberty University in 2024 and
completed a Bachelor’s Degree in History with Liberty in 2022. She worked at Biltmore as an
interpretive host and tour guide from 2022 to 2023, giving school, house, and architectural tours. Elise
interned with Kings Mountain National Military Park in 2024 and enjoyed learning colonial skills with
the park rangers there. She continues to enjoy volunteering with the park as time allows.
Currently, she tutors students online in history and writing and is beginning work with both Cleveland
Community College and Isothermal Community College in various part-time positions.
Elise has volunteered at events with Hart Square for nine years and has a passion and love for history.
She is interested in reading history books and writing historical research papers. In her free time, Elise
enjoys outdoor activities and traveling.
Our Board
Dr. Eric Hart - Board President
Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer, Health Stat, Inc.
Physician, Hart Family Practice
Bluegrass Bass Player
Hickory, NC
Brett Sturm
Restoration Specialist, NC State Historic Preservation Office
Ceramic artist and photographer
Raleigh, NC
Katie Pritchard - Treasurer
Senior Vice President of Finance, Valdese Weavers
Historical Docent
Hickory, NC
Gail Boyles
Purchasing Representative, Blum Inc.
Traditional Fiber Artist
Lincolnton, NC
Ian Bumgarner
Budget & Management Analyst, Catawba County Government
Coopering apprentice
Hickory, NC
Jaimie Beatty
Senior Database Administrator, Davidson College
Woodworker and Historical Restoration Volunteer
Maiden, NC
Keith Hart
Retired VP of Sales and Marketing, King Hickory Furniture
Leatherworker
Linville, NC
Becky Gladden
Retired Catawba County and Hickory Public Schools Librarian
Historical Docent
Vale, NC
Rebecca Yoder
Legal Partner, The Jonas Law Firm, PLLC.
Historical Docent
Lincolnton, NC
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