Catherine Timko
Executive Director

Catherine joined Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in January 2010. As the fourth Executive Director in the Center’s 60-year history, Catherine brings a passion for the natural world and nonprofit management expertise to her current executive leadership role. Catherine has served Cleveland and Akron area nonprofit institutions for the past 18 years, devoting her career to fundraising, board engagement, leadership development and strategic planning. She embarked on this nonprofit professional path following her graduation from Hiram College with a degree in Business Management.

Most recently, Catherine worked for The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national conservation organization, where she began as Ohio Development Director in 2002, was promoted to Regional Development Director, and assumed a Division Development Director role before taking the reins at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center.

Catherine is an active volunteer in her community and has served as a board member and president of local organizations. A Northeast Ohio native who grew up near Big Creek Reservation, Catherine and her husband Martin live in Peninsula and enjoy camping, hiking and birding in our local and regional parks.

Dave Wolf
Director of Wildlife

Dave Wolf has been the Director of Wildlife at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center since 1994. He oversees and is actively involved in our educational programs utilizing live animals, both wild and exotic; the rehabilitation of more than 1000 animals every year; and the exhibition of more than 100 wild and exotic live animals. Dave is comfortable translating his knowledge of wildlife for audiences of all ages and in a variety of settings, including live TV and Radio.

Following his graduation from Bay Village High School (class of 1983), Dave earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Kent State University in 1987. His past work experience has included a year at Sea World of Ohio as an Aquarist and 5 years at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as a Wildlife Specialist. Dave's interests and hobbies include home repair projects, camping, playing softball and shooting pool.

Darci Sanders
Director of Education

Darci joined the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center staff as Education Coordinator in October of 1989. In 18 years, her staff has blossomed from 2 part-time instructors to 16 regular staff and more than 12 college interns each summer. Darci has directed the growth of the Center’s Education Program from predominantly school field trips and small summer camps to a highly regarded and diverse operation that includes programs in five areas: Preschool, Group Programs, Public Programs, Scout Programs and the Schuele Planetarium.

Darci received a B.A. in biology, general science and education from Hiram College in 1987 and an M.S. in plant physiology in 1989. She has also worked as a seasonal naturalist with the Cleveland Metroparks, a research assistant at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a science curriculum coordinator for the Lorain Access Program and as a science consultant for Oberlin College.

Jay Reynolds
Schuele Planetarium Director

Jay has been a stellar staff member since July 2001. A seasoned astronomer, Jay maintains close ties to NASA and has access to the latest space science and photos. He is an official member of NASA Glenn’s speaker’s bureau. He also teaches Astronomy at Cleveland State University and Lakeland Community College, where he runs a student-driven research partnership with CSU, Lakeland and the University of Maryland.

At the request of one star-crossed couple, who wanted to be married in our planetarium, Jay added a license to perform weddings in Ohio to his unique set of qualifications!