Charla Nelson

Charla Jeane (Wagner) Nelson was born in Sheridan, Wyoming in 1956. Her family moved from Sheridan to Lovell in 1960, where she graduated from Lovell High School in 1974.

She attended Billings Business College in Billings, MT. Upon receiving her certificate of completion, she returned to Lovell and worked as the payroll clerk for Georgia Pacific. She moved into the banking industry in 1977. She and her family moved to Cheyenne in 1986. In 1993 she applied her banking experience to a new career as the Bank Accountant for the State of Wyoming in the Treasurer's office where she worked until retirement in 2002.

In 1996, she became a member/mentor of the Laramie County Community College choir and Cantorei Singers. During the next four years, under the tutelage of Dr. Jane Iverson, the choir toured and performed at Carnegie Hall in NYC (twice), several venues throughout Wyoming, Kansas and Colorado, as well as Italy. She currently serves on the Board of the Cheyenne Chamber Singers.

Charla and Museum Founder Bob married in 2003. She and Bob have three children and nine grandchildren. Together, they are even more passionate and supportive of the arts, serving as past/present sponsors of the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, Cheyenne Chamber Singers, All-City Children's Chorus, Capitol Chorale, and Cheyenne East High School's band, SKILLS USA and CARES programs.

She shares Bob's passion for all things Western and is honored to hold a position on the Museum Board, where she serves as Chairman of the Scholarship Committee. She also serves as Director of Manitou Gallery Historic in Cheyenne.