Meet Our Staff
Ryan Long, Museum Coordinator
After graduating from The Ohio State University with a degree in North American history, I spent most of a decade in the Sales industry; a position at the Bicycle Museum of America allowed me to pursue a career in my field. I have a passion for preserving human history, no matter the subject matter, as I believe our history defines and gives context to our present path. The Bicycle Museum offers a unique opportunity to preserve not only a litany of historic bicycles but the history behind them and the manufacturers that created them. I look forward to meeting all the patrons that the museum has from all over the world, and hearing the stories that they have to tell about how the bicycle shaped their lives.
Brittany Venturella, Curatorial Researcher
My passion for exploring and sharing cultures inspires my daily work. I believe that culture is an intersection of history, art and science that helps us discover new understandings about each other and the world around us. My B.A. in History, B.S.J. in Strategic Communications, and M.A. in Museum Professions are foundations for my lifelong learning. With over a decade of museum experience, I have worked in many areas of the museum field, such as education, exhibitions, collections, public relations, administration, and retail. Living in Wapakoneta, Ohio, I enjoy writing articles about Auglaize County history and volunteering. I look forward to meeting the Bicycle Museum of America’s patrons and sharing stories about bicycles and their impact on the world.
Maria Larger, Museum Assistant
Having grown up down the road in Minster, the Bicycle Museum has always been a local treasure. I have a degree Hospitality Management from The Ohio State University with a minor in business and spent a few years after college living in Columbus working at the Hyatt Regency. After starting a family, my husband and I moved back to the area to be close to our families. I love reading historical fiction and non-fiction novels and learning about different periods of history, which is why I am excited to be a part of the Bicycle Museum to share my passion for history along with my passion for creating a unique and enjoyable experience for all patrons in the museum. This community staple is rich in history and I look forward to being part of its story.
Emily Ray, Museum Assistant
I was born and raised in Texas, and moved to Ohio in 2018. I collect records and antiques in my free time, and enjoy learning about history. The majority of my work experience has been in customer service, although more recently I have worked in child care. Teaching kids is something I enjoy, and the museum is a great opportunity for them to learn. I, myself, loved museums as a child, and I know the impact they can have. For these reasons, I am happy to assist The Bicycle Museum of America in our goal to provide an understanding of the collection here in New Bremen. The museum has given me an opportunity to learn the story behind a lot of our bicycles, and it is very rewarding to assist in the telling of those stories.
Bianca Roberson, Museum Co-op
I am from Coshocton, Ohio and I’m a current senior at the University of Findlay. During my time at Findlay I bounced around a few majors before deciding on a major in History and two minors, Political Science and Museum Studies. Throughout my life I have always had a deep love for history, primarily American History and found that furthering my education within that area felt like a good fit for myself. Working with the Bicycle Museum is a wonderful opportunity for my first experience working in a museum and has been beneficial in deciding how I want to utilize my degree and where I will go with the rest of my education.