Destination Imagination (DI), a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching students the creative process through hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) as well as social entrepreneurship challenges, today announced the appointment of Michael Flachbart as managing director of development and strategic initiatives. Flachbart will collaborate with the DI Board of Trustees on expanding existing initiatives in addition to spearheading the creation of new scalable opportunities for increased engagement of Destination Imagination's academic offerings and strategic alliances.
A deeply respected voice in the space science education community, Flachbart spent nearly three decades with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama in various positions. In his most recent role, Flachbart served as vice president of Global Space Camp Operations where he oversaw all aspects of Space Camp Operations for more than 30,000 trainees annually; attending all 50 states as well as more than 60 international locations. Flachbart's work also supported the licensed operations of Space Camp campuses in Laval, Canadaand Izmir, Turkey as well as supporting regional partners in Beijing, China and Dubai, UAE. The weeklong immersive STEM-based space training programs has produced more than 700,000 graduates.
"Welcoming Michael to the Destination Imagination leadership team is an exciting moment for the organization and for our global community of learners," said Dr. Chuck Cadle, CEO of Destination Imagination. "His rich international experience in space science education combined with his passion for inspiring student curiosity and exploration will greatly enhance our STEAM academic challenges as we continue to work toward preparing students for the 21st century workforce."
Flachbart also joins four other recently appointed DI team members as the organization builds capacity for continued growth. These strategic hires signify Destination Imagination's heightened commitment to teaching students the creative process and empowering them with the skills needed to succeed in an ever-changing world. Recent Destination Imagination appointments include:
- Stephan Turnipseed, Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer
- Eric Wolff, Managing Director of HR, Culture and Communications;
- Johnny Wells, Director of Education;
- Amanda Potter, Program Coordinator
"Joining Destination Imagination now allows me to be a part of extending a child's STEM-based learning experiences from one week to an entire year of challenges that also include fine arts concepts," said Michael Flachbart. "This is an incredible organization that I truly believe is positively transforming our citizens, workers and leaders for the 21st century and beyond. I look forward to working with the leadership and board members to drive Destination Imagination's mission forward."
About Destination Imagination
Destination Imagination, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) volunteer-led non-profit organization whose purpose is to inspire and equip students to become the next generation of innovators, leaders and industry pioneers. The most popular education offering is the Challenge Program, where student teams solve open-ended STEM, arts and service learning Challenges and present their solutions to trained appraisers. Founded in 1982, Destination Imagination has impacted more than 1.5 million students. To learn more, please visit http://destinationimagination.org.
