Vada Rosenkrans
Vada Rosenkrans is the Founder and CEO of the Texas Children's Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing hands-on, family-centered educational experiences for children and families across Johnson County, Texas, and beyond. A purpose-driven leader, Vada built the museum from the ground up in 2014 with no initial funding, transforming a vision inspired by faith into a thriving community resource. Her work reflects a deep commitment to creating accessible, engaging environments where children can learn, explore, and grow.
With a background shaped by resilience and determination, Vada brings extensive experience in grassroots leadership, nonprofit development, and community engagement. She has led every aspect of the museum’s growth—from securing donations and forming local partnerships to designing exhibits and managing daily operations. Under her leadership, the organization has expanded into a 22,000-square-foot space, offering innovative programming that serves families through education, creativity, and connection. Her ability to mobilize community support and sustain a mission-driven organization without government funding underscores her entrepreneurial spirit and dedication.
In addition to her role as CEO, Vada serves as a children’s and youth pastor at The Refuge, where she continues to impact young lives through faith-based mentorship and outreach. She is passionate about nonprofit strategy, AI integration in education, and building meaningful programs for underserved communities. Vada is especially interested in opportunities to serve on boards where innovation meets purpose, using her experience to help organizations expand their reach and create lasting, real-world impact.
• Recognition from Texas House of Representatives by Representative Kerwin
• Featured in Who's Who from New York
• Troy Brewer Ministries for human trafficking prevention
What do you attribute your success to?
I believe my success is totally a Jesus Christ thing. When I opened the Children's Museum with no money, absolutely none, I started receiving checks in the mail. People would walk up to me in Walmart and different places and say I don't understand, but God told me to give you this money. That happened, and it was amazing. I know Jesus has a plan. I'm a kid's pastor and youth pastor, so that's what I believe - He has a plan. My biggest thing right now is just being able to keep the museum going and thriving, because we are not government-funded. There's no government dollars in our museum. Most museums in the United States really depend on government dollars, and we are not a government-funded facility. So it's for the people, by the people.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was from Donald J. Trump, who said don't give up after you hit that 10 years. You need to keep going. Don't give up. That's when you figure out what works and what does not work after 10 years, because most businesses shut down after 10 years or give up. I think the 10-year mark is when you've figured it out, and you know what works and doesn't work, and I think that's very wise. I look at what he does in business, and that's what he said, and I stood by that. I took that as my motto. Okay, now we definitely knew at 10 years what worked and what did not work, and so we figured it out really fast.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honestly, just loving on my grandkids. I have 3 beautiful grandchildren now, and just, I love being with the grandkids, and playing with them, and cuddling them, and doting on them. They are my hobby. In my work, I'm passionate about seeing that children needed someplace in Johnson County to be able to come in and just be a kid and play, just be themselves. I also cater to not only children from the Johnson County area, but also special needs adults. When we're closed on Mondays and Tuesdays during the school year, those days are set aside for adults with special needs. They come in and play, just like children, with no judgment. And I love that. It's important.