Todd Bastean
President and CEO

As president and CEO of the Saint Louis Science Center, Todd Bastean leads its team as they engage the community in informal science learning and fulfill the Science Center’s mission “to inspire everyone to be curious and engaged in science.”

Before joining the Science Center in 2019, Bastean served as president of Bunge North America, where he led the North American business of Bunge Limited. Bastean started his career at Bunge in 1994 and became the chief financial officer of Bunge North America in 2010 and president in 2013. Previously, he served as vice president and general manager of the operating company’s milling and biofuels business units and as vice president and chief administrative officer of its grain and milling business units. He also held positions in strategic planning and auditing. Prior to joining Bunge, he worked for KPMG Peat Marwick.

Bastean is an active community volunteer, serving as a board, advisory or coalition member for several organizations in the area, including BioSTL, Academy of Science of St. Louis, Higher Education Consortium of Metropolitan St. Louis and Challenger Learning Center St. Louis. Prior to being named president and CEO of the Science Center, he served on its Board of Trustees for three years.

Bastean holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Western Illinois University.

Beth Kastner
Chief Financial Officer

Beth Kastner leads the Science Center’s financial, administrative and technology functions. Kastner also serves as the liaison for the organization’s finance, audit and investment committees of the board of commissioners and is responsible for the preparation of the annual audited financial statements and the annual operating budget. She also oversees the Science Center’s compliance and risk management activities.

Previously, Kastner served as chief financial officer for the YWCA of Metropolitan St. Louis. In addition to her experience as a CFO, Kastner has also worked as an auditor, controller, business consultant and executive director in the St. Louis and Chicago areas.

Kastner is a licensed CPA, earning a Bachelor of Science in accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Business Administration from the Olin Business School at Washington University.

Bobby Sanderson
Chief Institutional Advancement Officer

Bringing more than 15 years of combined experience with Zoo Museum District institutions, Bobby Sanderson joined the Saint Louis Science Center as Chief Institutional Advancement Officer in June 2023. He and his team are responsible for managing the Science Center’s philanthropic strategies and accomplishing the institution’s goals for development, membership and community stewardship. Sanderson is an advocate for cultivating strong board leadership and its critical role in advocating for support.

Prior to the Science Center, Sanderson directed the fundraising efforts for two of St. Louis’ iconic institutions and served in marketing and sales roles at several organizations throughout the community. As Director of Campaigns and Major Gifts and Interim Director of Development at the Saint Louis Art Museum, he was responsible for establishing individual giving programs and growing the Museum’s support through major gifts, annual funds and endowment programs, while stewarding those donors who supported the Museum’s $162 million campaign. Before that, he served as Director of Major Gifts for the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Sanderson earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and a Master of Business Administration from Webster University in St. Louis.

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Jackie Mollet
Managing Director, Guest Services
Ron Schultz
Managing Director, Operations
Deborah Washington
Managing Director, Staff Relations
Mindy Peirce
Managing Director, Marketing and Communications