Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody Hefner
Hi Cody, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up with a love of history and museums. When my grandpa visited us, he’d take us to the museum and I’d fill (and double expose) a roll of film on my Ninja Turtles camera. I studied history in college because I loved the stories and loved sharing those stories with people. Working in a museum seemed like the perfect place to do that. I looked for any opportunity to get my way into a museum. A role in guest services brought me into Cincinnati Museum Center and I was just in awe of Union Terminal and these immersive, sprawling exhibits. I had the opportunity to move into the marketing department as a Media Relations Manager and just fell in love with the role. It gave me the opportunity to share my gleeful love of history and childlike joy for science with people every day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My career journey hasn’t been a straight path, but I don’t think many are. In college, you think you’re pursuing a degree that will set you on a direct career path, just climbing the ladder rung-by-rung, but your career journey isn’t linear. I never expected to have a career in marketing and communications and didn’t think I’d have the skillset to do so, but now I can’t imagine doing anything else. High school, college, a few years working as a server, bar manager, guest services all filled my toolbox with skills I could apply at different steps of my career at both Cincinnati Museum Center and in marketing and communications. That’s the focus: what’s in your toolbox and how can you best apply them to the opportunity in front of you.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Cincinnati Museum Center is an award-winning multi-museum complex housed in Union Terminal, a National Historic Landmark. With three museums, plus a unique and stunning OMNIMAX Theater, there really is something for everyone, and of every age. Our Museum of Natural History & Science dates back t 1818 and features incredible dinosaur fossils you can’t see anywhere else in the world, a reproduction of limestone cave with over 500 feet of twists and turns, an immersive Ice Age trail, a Moon rock from the Apollo 11 mission and much more. Our Cincinnati History Museum features of delightful miniature reproduction of the city of Cincinnati that transitions from day to night as the buildings light up, a reproduction of the 1850s riverfront with cobblestone streets and a steamboat you can walk on and stories throughout that celebrate the diversity of our region over more than 200 years. Our Children’s Museum features a dozen themed play areas where children can learn through play by crawling through the treetops, climbing inside a giant anatomically correct mouth and exploring literacy and language development in a fun parklike setting. And that’s just what you can see every day! Beyond those experiences and the OMNIMAX Theater, Cincinnati Museum Center houses over six million precious historic artifacts and scientific specimens that continue to advance historic and scientific study.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
A willingness to learn, to try and to just work are critical for anyone’s success. Often we’re looking for the next big win or hitting home runs, but it’s the little work that really adds up and sets people apart. Do the little things that make a difference and you’ll see the return. I try to pride myself on consistency over occasional flashes of brilliance (though those can be nice, too). Sometimes the greatest ability is reliability.
Pricing:
- Museum Admission Adult $24.50
- Museum Admission Child $17.50
- OMNIMAX Adult $9.75
- OMNIMAX Child $7.75
- Family Membership $180
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cincymuseum.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cincymuseum
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cincymuseum
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cincinnati-museum-center
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cincinnatimuseumcenter
