our team
small + mighty
The Science Station has always operated with a dedicated, hard-working team of people who believe in the power of science education. We also rely on the talent and support of our Board of Directors.
The Board
Amanda Peoples, President
Philip Aulie
Jay Bowerman
Adam Dietz
Charlotte Gilbride
Paul Hutter
Rachael Schuetz
Scott Wallace
our team
David Bermudez “Bermi”
Executive Director + Lead Instructor
Bermi has been the vision behind the successful growth of the Science Station since he founded the nonprofit in 2002. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in aquatic biology in 1990 and taught at Keystone Science School, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Sunriver Preparatory School and Oregon Episcopal School in his early career. He is respected in Central Oregon as an outstanding educator, teaching in both English and Spanish, and providing mentoring for science teachers throughout the area. When he isn’t teaching, Bermi can be found playing ice hockey, riding his bike or cheering for his hometown Chicago teams with his family.
Summer Concannon
Lead Instructor
Summer shares her enthusiasm for learning science in the classroom and works tirelessly in the labs behind the scenes keeping the BSS team organized! You can often find her singing in the halls or sharing treats from local bakeries. Summer received her Bachelor's in Marine Biology at the University of North Carolina and then ventured briefly to the West Coast to earn her Master's in Science Education from Oregon State University. She worked as the Director of Education at the Colburn Earth Science Museum and as a middle school science teacher in Asheville, NC before moving back to Oregon 2 years ago. When she is not busy teaching the wonders of science, she can be found hiking trails along the river, riding her e-bike to coffee shops, or paddleboarding the Deschutes, usually in the company of a few of her 5 children. Her cheerful, can-do disposition brings great energy to the Science Station!
Lisa Bermudez
Development + Marketing Director
Lisa leads development, marketing, and operations at the Bend Science Station, building programming partnerships with the Central Oregon community. With more than 30 years of administrative and teaching experience, she brings a depth of knowledge to her work, from writing grants and managing budgets, to crafting marketing materials and occasionally teaching. She's passionate about science education and expanding access for communities who have been historically underserved. And she genuinely loves the team she gets to do this work with every day. Born and educated on the East Coast, Lisa has more recently become an avid ice hockey and tennis player. Now navigating life as an empty nester, she and her husband David cherish travel adventures and time spent with their two sons who, much to her amusement, are both now taller than she is. When she does carve out spare time, you'll find her cooking, reading, and enjoying the outdoors with friends.
Kevin Surmacewicz
Office Manager + Operations Support
Kevin joined the Science Station team after several years in the tech industry where he provided support for enterprise software companies and startups. Prior to this, he managed a rock-climbing gym and summer adventure camp along the James River in Virginia. He brings his love of science, experience working with kids and background in management to handle the dynamic logistics of the Science Station. When he’s not keeping our daily operations running smoothly, you’ll likely find him exploring the Central Oregon mountains, honing his cooking skills, or rooting on his alma mater, JMU.