About our staff
Amy Hartmann-Gordon – Executive Director
Amy has worked in the areas of non-profit management and fundraising for twenty years. She has been the Director of Presidio Museum for seven years, stewarding the growth and development of the Presidio into a sustainable cultural attraction. During this time she has overseen the Museum’s change in operating agreement with the City of Tucson and has stewarded the development of daily programming to enhance the regular visitor experience. Previously she was Director of Finance for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ 2008 re-election campaign where she managed the initiative to raise over $3 million. Amy worked at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum as Associate Director of Marketing and as Development Officer where she was engaged in corporate fundraising, group sales, front-gate supervision, oversight of the annual Gala and major donor interaction.
Amy was included in the Arizona Daily Star’s “40 Under 40” list. She has served two terms on the board of the Tucson Children’s Museum and three terms on the University High School Foundation and Alumni Association. Amy received her MBA in 2000 from the University of Arizona. AmyHg@TucsonPresidio.com
Kate Avalos– Interpretive Programs Manager
Kate originally came to the Presidio as a docent before joining the staff as Volunteer Coordinator. She quickly grew into her current position as Interpretive Programs and Volunteer Manager.
She has been highly successful at coordinating volunteers and translating their vast knowledge into great visitor experiences. She develops interpretive kits and plans regular re-enactment programming. In 2020, she completed her Masters in Museum Studies, with a focus on Public History, at the Harvard University Extension School. Her previous work experience includes being an Internet Search Assessor for Lionbridge Technologies. She earned her bachelors in History and Animal Sciences from the University of Arizona. KateA@TucsonPresidio.com
April Bourie – Marketing Director
With over 20 years of experience in marketing and sales, April is able to combine her interests in history and tourism to promote the Presidio Museum to potential visitors. April previously worked at Tohono Chul Park, another Tucson attraction, as the Marketing Director and the Director of Visitor Services. In addition, she served as the Tourism Sales Manager at Visit Tucson for six years, promoting Tucson as a vacation destination. April earned her MBA from the University of Arizona and earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Northern Arizona University. She has lived in Tucson since 1995 and enjoys being a tourist in her own town and traveling around the world with her family whenever possible. AprilB@TucsonPresidio.com
Alex La Pierre – Program & Gardens Specialist
Prior to his half-decade in the nonprofit field advocating for social investment in diverse Nogales NGOs, building understanding and citizen-level diplomacy in the borderlands, Alex worked for the National Park Service in New Mexico and Arizona in both historic preservation and heritage interpretation. A graduate of the University of Arizona, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, and a public historian, Alex’s studies focus on the Hispanic cultural heritage of the American Southwest and Mexico and he also serves as a board member of the Tucson-based Southwestern Mission Research Center. AlexL@TucsonPresidio.com
Ginger Thompson – Education and Outreach Manager
Ginger is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a B.A. degree in Anthropology and a minor in American Studies. She also has several years of professional archaeological experience in the Tucson area. Her interest in public archaeology, public history, and outreach began in 2011 with her position as an educator at Old Pueblo Archaeology Center (OPAC).
As the Presidio Museum’s Education and Outreach Manager, Ginger uses her past experiences to create and manage a variety of interactive programming for children and families. These programs include the museum’s Morning Muster, Museum in a Box, and Family Funday. She also regularly works with the Presidio’s Interpretive Programs Manager on events such as the museum’s monthly Living History Day and the annual Native Nations Day. Ginger works with the Presidio’s docents, jr. docents, and volunteers to staff tours and outreach events. Her goal is to open Tucson’s rich history and culture up to all members of the community. GingerT@TucsonPresidio.com