Featured business person: Crystal Neihoff

Crystal Neihoff

Development director, Museum of World Treasures

Neihoff walked in the museum’s door knowing more than a little bit about its exhibits on the military and politics. After all, she’s a former U.S. Marine with a master’s degree in campaign management.

Neihoff, 33, grew up in southeastern Nebraska, went to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated with a degree in political science. She spent eight years in the Marine Corps as an aviation command and control officer, earning her master’s degree from George Washington University during that time.

She worked on several campaigns for politicians and nonprofits, most notably the Phoenix Patriot Foundation, which helps severely wounded veterans. Neihoff and her husband, Nathan, a former Marine she met at the Naval Academy, moved to Wichita in July so that he could take a job with Koch Industries. They have two children – Jackson, 3, and Jase, 1.

Neihoff said raising money for the museum is just part of her job. The museum, located in Old Town’s Farm & Art Market building, is a nonprofit with three floors of exhibits on subjects ranging from dinosaurs and mummies to military, royalty and U.S. presidents.

“I would just like to grow our relationship with the public and expand the number of events that we offer catering to all ages,” she said. “There’s something here for everyone. Sometimes people don’t realize that.”

Neihoff isn’t the type to slow down. She’s working on a doctorate in education leadership from Creighton University and will travel to Washington, D.C., this weekend to run the Marine Corps Marathon.

“You literally run around the monuments, so it’s a good time,” she said.

Joe Stumpe

This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 12:36 PM with the headline "Featured business person: Crystal Neihoff."