New Interim Internal Leadership Team Set Up At WTAMU

The Interim Internal Leadership Team for the new Cultural Foundation of the Texas Panhandle will provide continuity as the advisory body continues to take shape.

WT is looking for a full-time executive director to lead CFTP’s efforts for the WT campus in Canyon.

The Cultural Foundation will be led by an advisory board made up of prominent Texans with a history of service to the state who will be devoted to advancing CFTP’s mission.

Several current PPHM and TPHF staff members will fill the interim leadership roles.

Heather Friemel, PPHM associate director of finance and outreach, will serve as interim executive director.

She has more than a decade of management experience and has worked full time at PPHM since 2013.

Dave Yirak, longtime artistic director of “Texas” and executive director of Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation, will continue in those capacities on an interim basis.

Yirak, who retired after 32 years as Canyon High School drama teacher in 2016, was in the “Texas” cast from 1979 to 1981, then from 2002 to 2004.

WT is looking for a full-time Executive Director to lead the CFTP efforts for the Canyon campus.

Several current PPHM and TPHF staff members will fill interim leadership roles:
~Heather Friemel, PPHM associate director of finance and outreach, will serve as interim
executive director. Friemel has more than a decade of management experience and has
worked full time at PPHM since 2013. A WT alum, she currently oversees all
administrative and financial functions for the museum and oversees the outreach team
that creates programming and educational endeavors.
~Buster Ratliff, PPHM development director, will serve as interim associate director.
Ratliff joined the museum in 2003 as operations coordinator. Also a WT alum, Ratliff
has a master’s degree in information organization from the University of North Texas
and currently oversees development, collections and exhibitions management
~ Stephanie Price, PPHM associate director of marketing, will fill the same role for the
foundation. A decorated marketer with a bachelor’s degree from WT, a master’s degree
from Kent State University and certification in hospitality and tourism management from
Florida Atlantic University, she has worked at PPHM for eight years.
~ Dave Yirak, longtime artistic director of “Texas” and executive director of Texas
Panhandle Heritage Foundation, will continue in those capacities on an interim basis.
Yirak, who retired after 32 years as Canyon High School drama teacher in 2016, was in
the “Texas” cast from 1979 to 1981, then from 2002 to 2004. He became the director of
the show in 2006, then was named artistic director for TPHF in 2008.