Staff
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– Director of Interpretive Programming
Kate originally came to the Presidio as a docent before joining the staff as Volunteer Coordinator. She next took over the Living History program and Cultural Events series. Kate creates public programming with a focus on the diverse representation of the history and cultures of Tucson and Arizona through historic re-enactment, interactive activities, and cultural celebrations. She also researches, writes, and designs exhibits for the museum. In 2020, she completed her Masters in Museum Studies, with a focus on Public History, at the Harvard University Extension School. She earned her bachelor’s in History and Animal Sciences from the University of Arizona. KateA@TucsonPresidio.com
April Bourie – Marketing & Sales 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
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 Indian Studies. She has several years of professional archaeological experience in the Tucson area as an archaeological field tech, archaeological laboratory tech, and an archaeological laboratory manager. Her interest in public history and outreach began in 2011 with her position as an educator at Old Pueblo Archaeology Center (OPAC).
With a passion for culture and community Ginger works to create programming that assists the Tucson Presidio Trust in sharing the rich culture and history of Tucson with all members of the community. She manages children and family programming such as Morning Muster and Family Funday and participates in the planning of cultural events such at the annual Native Nations Day. She also manages the Trust’s outreach programming and participates in various cultural, historical, and educational events.
Ginger also is proud to have been a main contributor to the planning, construction, and curriculum development of the Early People’s Park that opened to the public in January 2023. GingerT@TucsonPresidio.com