OUR STAFF

Curt Spivey
Planetarium Engineer

A native of Columbus, Curt graduated from Ohio State in 1992 with a degree in Astronomy. He began his career at COSI before heading to Charleston, WV in 1996 where he honed his astronomical skills at Sunrise Museum, which included a small planetarium that opened in 1962. In 2003 Sunrise Museum moved to a new downtown facility, the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences. There, Curt was first the assistant manager and then the manager of the ElectricSky Theater, a combination planetarium and giant screen film theater. In 2007 he moved to Hickory, NC, where he helped open the brand new Millholland Planetarium at the Catawba Science Center. In 2009 Curt returned to his native state to join the team at the Ward Beecher Planetarium.

Dr. Peter Manzella
Planetarium Coordinator/Group & School Tours

Peter started his educational career by earning a Physics bachelors from King’s College in 2019. He earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Maine in 2025, where his research focused on the physical conditions during massive star explosions.  During his time there, he worked as a planetarium specialist, developing and presenting educational programs for audiences of all ages.  Now based in the Youngstown area, Peter brings his experience in both research and outreach to the Ward Beecher Planetarium.