About Us - Staff Members

Rob Kearns, President and CEO, is director of communications for the Harry M. Turner Foundation in Springfield, Ohio. With a bachelor of fine arts degree from Ohio University, he formerly served as president and managing director of his own marketing communications company in Dayton, Ohio. It garnered numerous regional and national advertising and marketing awards. Steeped in graphic and architectural design, Kearns incorporated Frank Lloyd Wright's philosophy of organic architecture into his own Usonian residence in Springfield, planned in part with Taliesin Architects, Ltd., Taliesin West. Moreover, he believes that The Westcott House is "a significant historical piece of our community because it tells several different stories. That world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright left his mark here at the request of the Westcott family says that there is something unique about Springfield. Restored, the house makes a valuable contribution, both historically and culturally, to our community. It will serve not only local interests but also national and international enthusiasts." In addition to his work for The Westcott House, Kearns volunteers with the Neighborhood Housing Partnership of Greater Springfield, the Springfield Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Center City Association, and the Springfield-Clark County Chamber of Commerce's Regional Marketing and Technology Committees. He is past marketing chair of the Clark County Heritage Center Museum, past marketing chair for the Clark State Performing Art Center Circle of Friends, and a former member of the Dayton Advertising Association and the Art Center of Dayton.

Sonja Ostendorf-Rupp is the Director of Museum Operations at The Westcott House. Formerly an arts management consultant in Hanover, Germany, she has experience in strategic fundraising and development, marketing and marketing research, public relations, and special events. Fluent in English, German, and French as well as conversant in Spanish and Portuguese, Ostendorf-Rupp implemented programs for the Ministry of Arts of Hamburg, including a Sister Cities celebration with Chicago. She also managed projects for Amerikazentraum Hamburg, the Goethe-Institut, and the German Museum of Architecture in Frankfurt. She served in the arts administration program at the School of The Art Institute of Chicago and as an intern in its Department of Architecture. She holds a master's degree in arts management from the University of Music and Theatre in Hamburg and another master of arts degree from the University of Hamburg.

Marta Wojcik is the Curator of Interpretation at The Westcott House. Previously an interpreter for the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust headquartered in Chicago, Wojcik interprets the house for tours, exhibitions, and public programs. She recruits and trains docents. Her responsibility includes researching the "life and times" of Frank Lloyd Wright and Burton Westcott, both successful innovators. Wojcik formerly worked as a curatorial assistant in the Department of Architecture at The Art Institute of Chicago. She conducted public tours of the Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio in Oak Park, Illinois, and also served as docent at The Chicago Architecture Foundation an assistant at the Woman Made Gallery in Chicago.

Jenny Montgomery, Development Director at The Wescott House, is a recent transplant from Kentucky where she utilized her grant writing, community problem solving and administrative skills in Covington and Newport as Community Schools Initiative and Service Learning Coordinator. Montgomery was the founder and director of Newport Kentucky's first cooperative visual art gallery - the Attic Gallery, and helped to launch community based arts initiatives including the Newport Arts and Music Festival. She taught art and humanities in Augusta, Kentucky and has spent the last five years focusing on her own artwork. Montgomery shows her work in regional juried exhibits and is part of the Yellow Springs Artist Studio Tour. Her responsibilities include grant writing, fundraising, event planning and membership development.

Charles T. Fyffe, Facilities Manager of The Westcott House, has more than twenty years of experience in facilities operations, maintenance, personnel management, project coordination, and building mechanical systems. He has also directed the operation of different trade shops. Fyffe's most recent experience is at the I.O.O.F. Home of Ohio, where he has served as director of physical plant since 1998. He previously served as facilities technical manager at Wright State University. He received his undergraduate education there and also holds several licensures.