Museum/Gallery Experience
Executive Director September 2012-Present
Boone County Historical Society, Boone, Iowa
- Responsible for the management, direction, and leadership of four individual century-old museums
- Coordinate and train more than 80 volunteers or interns
- Attendance, volunteerism, grant funding, and programming have increased under my direction
- Assure the proper care, improvement, storage, documentation, and use of all archives and collections
- Established policies for collections care, accessioning, use, copyright policy
- Maintain excellent relationship with board, membership, and community
MadaMuseo Design September 2011-Present
Owner, clients are nationwide
- Design logo, marketing/branding packages, web sites, print collateral, trade show exhibitions
- Artist gallery prospect research and portfolio submissions
- Clients include BooST Together for Children, artist Tricia Zimic, Griggs Environmental Strategies,Morris Museum, Thompson Financial, etc.
Administrative Intern March 2012 – May 2012
New Jersey Historical Society, Newark, New Jersey
- Compile, write and design 2011 annual report, print and e-newsletters
- Conduct grant prospect research and write grant proposals
- Install and de-install photographic exhibitions
Curatorial Intern June 2010 – July 2010
Union Historical Society, Union, Maine
- Preserved artifacts, photos, and archives
- Databased collections in Past Perfect
- Researched, designed and created Civil War exhibition
Assistant Coordinator Feb. 2010 – August 2010
Maquoketa Art Experience, Maquoketa, Iowa
- Secured $21,000 in grant funding
- Conducted grant prospect research and proposal writing
- Compiled marketing and business contact databases
- Created evaluative materials for exhibits, programs and workshops
Interpreter and PreservationistMarch 2009-Nov. 2009
Cedar Rock: Frank Lloyd Wright signature residence
Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Independence, Iowa
- Preservation of the home and maintenance of the grounds
- Material care and preservation
- Guiding tours of the home and estate
- Exhibit and tour research, layout and design
Museums and Collections Program AssistantAug. 2008 – March 2009
UNI Museums, Cedar Falls, Iowa
- Designed, wrote and produced exhibit materials and signage
- Installed and struck exhibits, artifact handling
- Maintained exhibitions and collections
- Researched, planned, collected artifacts, and built exhibitions
- Designed programs, posters and publicity materials
- Created database for record organization and upkeep
- Implemented technology planning; Facebook, MySpace etc
Visitor Research and Interpretation InternJune 2008 – July 2008
The British Museum, London, United Kingdom
- Created visitor tracking sheets and exit questionnaires, then administered surveys to 100 visitors
- Synthesized data into an analysis aimed at exhibition and gallery improvements at the British Museum as well as future venues
- Presented research to the British Museum interpretation board and curators of the American Scene exhibition
Public Programming AssistantAug. 2007 – May 2008
UNI Museums, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit: Earth from Space
- Designed publicity campaign and created and coordinated 23 programs for different age groups in connection with exhibit
- Scheduled guest lectures, completing all details from confirmation, promotion, set-up and take-down
- Coordinated video showings and childrens’ activities
- Assisted with design, set-up, and installation of exhibit area
- Created signage for exhibit and area displays
Curatorial Assistant and Photograph TechnicianDec. 2002 – Aug. 2005
Jackson County Historical Society, Maquoketa, Iowa
- Developed a researchable probate database of 5,000+ files
- Excavated the abandoned, historical Clinton Engines Site
- Researched and designed exhibits
- Aided in the development and completion of photograph database
- Videotaped and provided technological support for programming
- Charged with open/close of museum and tours
Commissioned Artist2004
Ohnward Fine Arts Center, Maquoketa, Iowa
- Assisted in designing and producing a permanent wooden mural for the Drew Art Gallery
Commissioned Artist2002
Maquoketa School District, Maquoketa, Iowa
- Assisted in designing and producing a permanent mural for the school board meeting room. Researched historic photos for mural design
Additional Experience
Graduate Assistantship September 2010 – September 2012
Office of the Dean, College Arts and Sciences
Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
- Assist in editing academic articles for publishing
- Perform organizational and administrative duties
- Revising and compiling faculty chairs instructional manual
- Design, research, write annual reports 2008-2011 years
- Perform organizational and administrative duties
Education
Formal
Master of Arts, Museum Professions
Concentration: Exhibition Development
Expected: May 2012
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ
Thesis: Making it Count: Professional Standards and Best Practices in Building Museum Internship Programs
Bachelor of Arts, Communication Studies
Concentration: Public Relations
December 2008
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Informal
Conferences/Workshops Attended:
- New Jersey Association of Museums Annual Meeting (May 2012)
- Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums Conference (October 2011) Session Speaker: Strategizing Museum Internships to Meet (and Manage) Everyone’s Expectations
- Bruce Craig Fellow: Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums Conference (October 2010)
- Iowa Museum Association Conference (October 2009, 2012, 2013) and several workshops
- The British Museum (July 2008) Workshop – In the Past We Would Have Just Been Invisible
Skills
Past Perfect, Adobe PhotoShop, InDesign, Dreanweaver, and Illustrator, Quickbooks, MicroSoft Office Software, PowerPoint, Power Tools