2025 40 Under 40: Hunter Bartelt

Hunter Bartelt, the director of operations for the Discovery Center, is passionate about sharing science with the next generation.

In addition to mentoring staff and volunteers, he works with students at schools including Missouri State University and Springfield Public Schools.

Bartelt, 24, fosters long-term financial sustainability for the nonprofit and has grown its volunteer program by more than 100%. He increased revenue by approximately 50% compared with pre-COVID numbers. His proudest accomplishment has been keeping the Discovery Center in the black even during the slow season.

“The fact that we are able to keep serving kids and make strategic expenditures to keep our expenses low means that there is a path to keep the excellent community resource that is the Discovery Center available for generations to come,” he says.

Best productivity hack? Turning off my email notifications. I find it easier to stay caught up on the deluge of emails if my notifications are turned off, and I set aside time each day to chunk through my inbox.

What historical figure do you identify with? Alexander Hamilton. He was a young industrious man who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. I think a lot of his practices are still very useful for articulating your thoughts.

Favorite hobby or creative outlet? I love being outdoors to clear my mind, but my favorite way to create something is through making mead and wine. It is always fun to see how different recipes turn out, even if it takes a few months.

Favorite local food order? Peanut chicken from Thai Express.