Experience

Texas Historical Commission

• Government Administration
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Museum Services Coordinator

  • May 2004 - Present

  Manage statewide outreach and education program and provide expertise for the Historical Commission on best practices in the museum field. Provide training, technical assistance and consultations to over 900 history museums, governmental organizations, community organizations and the general public. Initiates partnerships with other state agencies and non-profits. Selected Highlights: •Sam Rayburn House Museum - Supervised team of four full-time employees and volunteers, managed budget, oversaw a strategic plan focused on institutional growth. •National Museum of the Pacific War - Supervised a team of more than twenty staff members through a complex transition from Texas Parks and Wildlife to Texas Historical Commission. Initiated campaigns to further engage the community and tap into burgeoning tourist economy and region. Led staff in revising and updating interpretive plan. Oversaw exhibit budget over $300,000 as part of team that developed two exhibits and new visitor orientation area for the Admiral Nimitz Gallery. Senior staff member on the team that hired architects and exhibits designers for the ten million-dollar new building and exhibit galleries. •Director of "Training for Texas Museums” workshop series funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Sole author of the $195,000 grant and thirty-six month project manager. •Directed “Connecting to Collections Statewide Planning Grant” in partnership with Texas State Library and Archives Commission and funded by IMLS. Successfully manage budget of approximately $75,000 with numerous partnerships. •Oversaw disbursement of $20,000 annual statewide museum grant program Project manager for "Developing Interpretive Stories for the Heritage Tourist" in partnership with Texas Association of Museums and Heritage Tourism Program. Project budget for $40,000 with statewide RFP.



City of Shawnee

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• MUSEUM DIRECTOR

  • Apr 1997 - Apr 2004

  As a division head in the parks and recreation department I managed a museum site on 3 acres including 17 historic and replica buildings, two rental facilities, and a visitor’s center. Responsible for all museum operations as well as rental facilities and gift shop. Hired and supervised staff, consultants and volunteers for daily activities, special projects and special events. Responsible for preparing budgets, planning site maintenance, capital improvement projects, writing grants and fund raising projects. Worked with Curator and Education Coordinator to plan and install exhibits in 17 historic and replica buildings. Served as the City of Shawnee liaison to the Shawnee Historical Society and served on the Old Shawnee Days event planning committee. Selected project experience •Successfully expanded staff to include a full-time Educational Coordinator, Curator, Facilities Coordinator and five part-time staff to supervise rental events •Completed cataloging and accessioning of entire collection •Expanded programming from basic tour services to a full-compliment of youth and adult education programs. •Planned and supervised the renovation and remodeling of the visitor's center and main rental facility which resulted in a fifty percent increase in revenues. •Directed the development and installation of “Shawnee: Old Town, New City” exhibit in the visitor's center •Directed a strategic planning process which resulted in the adoption by the city council of a ten year, multi-million dollar expansion plan for the museum



Lombard Historical Museum

• MUSEUM DIRECTOR

  • Oct 1995 - Apr 1997

  Managed all aspects of museum operations at this historic site. Supervised part-time staff and interns, developed and managed budget of approximately, responsible for all curatorial duties, developed educational programs and exhibits. Expanded fund raising programs, planned special events, directed completion of 10-year master plan. I successfully wrote a $50,000 matching grant for the restoration of a 1840s farm house and grounds to be a second historic site, the Sheldon Peck Homestead. In August 2011, it was inducted into the Network to Freedom – a list of verified Underground Railroad locations.