Administration
Phil Paramore
President / CEO
Decades of hands-on fabrication and installation experience, coupled with years of project estimating and a passion for generating creative ideas, uniquely qualifies Phil Paramore as Museum Arts’s president. Today, he oversees financial performance, creative initiatives, and Museum Arts’s commitment to crafting the industry highest quality exhibits. Phil graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising.
Emmanuel Leeper
Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, Emmanuel Leeper is responsible for the overarching financial strategy, as well as day-to-day financial management at Museum Arts. He came to Museum Arts with more than 15 years of experience in finance. When not crunching numbers, you'll probably find Manny on his guitar; he's been playing in bands since he was fifteen. While he cut his teeth on Rock and Roll, Manny admires the blues above all, knowing that what they say is true: 'you have to have had the blues to play the blues'. Manny cites one of his most memorable learning experiences as a bus ride through Mississippi and Alabama in the early 1980's where he saw first hand the results of segregation. He realized how far the US has come, and that he needed to do his part in how much there still is to be done.
Robert Hamilton
Program Manager
Robert Hamilton stepped on board at Museum Arts in 2014 as the art department manager. His background in display design and fabrication coupled with many years' experience as an art maker allow him to oversee our imaginative staff and ensure that we meet deadlines and achieve quality standards. Under his direction, creativity flourishes. Robert is a fine arts graduate of the University of North Texas and father of two, and enjoys music, art-making, and spending time with his wife. He thoroughly enjoys the varied subject matter and high-energy productivity at Museum Arts.
Tom Zimmer
Director of Fabrication
Tom Zimmer has years of fabrication and installation experience with Museum Arts. He has been an important part of making designs a reality for the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the Houston Fire Museum, the Museum of Living Art at the Fort Worth Zoo, and the Witte Museum, among others. Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Western State College in Colorado. He also studied Computer and Electronic Technology at the DeVry Institute.
Sales and Marketing
Steve Finley
Senior Vice President of Sales
Steve Finley joined Museum Arts as Senior Vice President of Sales in 2012 equipped with 18 years of experience in building sales and managing accounts. He is a real go-getter and brings a sense of vision and purpose to the sales team. His greatest strengths are his creativity, drive and leadership. Steve has a long record of success in guiding clients’ projects through the creative process from concept development to design and interpretive process to installation. His goal is to see your story come to life in your exhibit. He lives with his wife, their five children, and a cranky mutt.
Darryl Bihm
Project Close Out Administrator / Sales
Darryl Bihm has served Museum Arts’s clients in account relations, project management, and fabrication and installation since 2004. His passion is partnering with you to develop engaging interactive exhibits. Darryl studied Business Administration at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He has played and collected guitars for over 40 years, and enjoys building custom furniture and traveling with his wife and their two daughters.
Design
John Sawvel
Creative Director
Creative Director John Sawvel’s well-thought-out ideas and clear direction drive Museum Arts’s creative team. In tune with trends in modern design, John brings a fresh, contemporary edge to the creative process. His work has been routinely acknowledged and awarded by key organizations including the Dallas Society of Visual Communications and the Art Director’s Club of Denver. John earned a bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from the University of Northern Colorado.
David Knapp
Graphic Designer / AV Integration
David Knapp creates the clear and compelling visual graphics that convey our clients' messages and impart a cohesive theme throughout each of our exhibits. Before Museum Arts, David studied graphic design and visual communication at the University of Kansas and worked in corporate brand management. He now enjoys using his design skills in the highly creative environment of museum design. Outside of work, David likes to spend time with his family and friends, cooking, watching shows together, or spending weekends at the lake.
Roy Robertson
Mechanical Engineer
Roy has an electrical engineering degree and is retired from a major avionics supplier after 42 years of service. Accomplishments include design engineering for multiple avionics products for Commercial Airline and Business Aviation aircraft. 33 years in development of commercial Airline Weather Radar including engineering manager of the development group, technical lead for many ground breaking radar capabilities. Roy will design and assist fabrication of the interactive portions of exhibits including the electronics and audio-visual functions.
Elaine Higgins Smith
Research Writer
Elaine Higgins Smith brings over 15 years of museum experience to Museum Arts, with previous positions at the Dallas Museum of Art and the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe. Elaine holds a B.A. in Art History with a minor in Anthropology from Texas Christian University, M.A. in Art History from the University of Texas at Austin, and is a Ph.D. Candidate in Art History at the University of New Mexico. She brings knowledge of digital marketing, SEO, and content writing in addition to her extensive background in research writing. She is excited to use her skills in the world of museum fabrication and design, telling unique and compelling stories. Outside of work, Elaine enjoys cooking and many fun-filled toddler adventures with her husband and their rambunctious son.
Nicki Licking
Junior Environmental Designer
Nicki holds a BFA in Metals and has over ten years of experience in graphic and environmental design. Outside of the office, she is an object maker and a painter.
Fabrication
Ernesto Munoz
Exhibit Fabricator
Ernesto Munoz, routinely brings designs and ideas to life. The result amazes and delights exhibit guests. Thirteen of his 15 years as a certified welder have been with Museum Arts. He’s played an important role in the fabrication of exhibits for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the Frontiers of Flight Museum, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and the Museum of Living Art at the Fort Worth Zoo, among many others.
Reggie Castillo
Paint and Finish Expert
Reggie Castillo, our paint application expert, ensures that each project is finished with the highest quality at Museum Arts. Painting professionally for 10 years, Reggie is always adding new tools to his belt. He was recently trained and certified as a Rhino Lining applicator allowing Museum Arts to provide a durable, custom finish to some of our builds. When he isn’t spray finishing kiosks or hand detailing museum cases, Reggie enjoys time at home with his family.
Bryan Graham
CAD Drafter / Operator
Master carpenter and CAD tech, Bryan Graham uses a trained and discriminating eye in his daily work. With more than 30 years of carpentry experience and an emphasis on building show quality cabinets for fine jewelry stores, Bryan's skills compliment the fabrication of these custom builds.
Maria Bellini
Purchasing / Resource Management
Maria Bellini comes to Museum Arts with Administration Manager experience from several different logistics companies. Before that, she owned her own business and enjoyed the success of entrepreneurship. She is a bright woman who is fluent in three languages. Maria has 2 children and enjoys spoiling her 8 grand kids and spending time with her brilliant husband.
Carlos Galvan
Master Craftsman
Carlos Galvan brings many years of carpentry and build experience to the Museum Arts shop. His attention to detail and commitment to excellence delivers everlasting, exquisite structures.
Joe Metzger
Master Craftsman
Joe Metzger brings over 25 years of warehouse management and extensive carpentry experience to Museum Arts. A carpenter for over 40 years, he enjoys completing custom carpentry projects, remodeling projects around the house, as well as fishing and gardening in his free time.
Cesar Olvera
Master Craftsman
Geno Odeh
Shop Construction
Jose Romero
Master Craftsman