EDN FY18: BOARD EDUCATION - Holly Hotchner & Kathy Maher

Following our open discussion with Board Coach Michael Davidson in September (short report on its way), we continue our exploration of Board Issues, with the ever-popular, wise, and inspiring speaker Holly Hotchner, deeply experienced in these issues. Holly will be in conversation with our own Kathy Maher, Executive Director of The Barnum Museum, on Board Education and the possibilities for re-thinking Board Models.

Come with your comments and questions about Board Issues related to board recruitment, board diversity, board training/education, board manuals, board retreats, and maybe re-thinking the whole model of how boards seem to work these days.

Program
10:00 am: Coffee & Networking
10:25 am: Welcome & Introduction
10:30 am: Holly & Kathy in Conversation
11:00 am: Questions, Comments and Discussion
11:30 am: Close

Thanks to Nancy Geary and the New Canaan Historical Society for hosting this meeting

Holly Hotchner, now retired founding director of New York’s Museum of Arts and Design, grew the former American Craft Museum significantly over her 17-year tenure, completing a new building at Columbus Circle, and transforming it from a niche museum to a major international center, with an annual attendance of 500,000. Earlier, Holly served as founding Chief Conservator, and subsequently as first Museum Director of the New-York Historical Society (NYHS). During her 12 years at NYHS, she created conservation studios, staffs and programs for the nearly 5 million objects under her care. She revitalized the exhibitions and publication programs and assisted with major funding and capital campaigns. Holly began her career at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, held positions at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington D.C., the Tate Gallery in London, and the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Holly holds an M.A. in Art History, a certificate of Conservation form the Institute of Fine Arts from New York University, and a B.A. in Art History and Studio Art from Trinity College. Currently she lives in Fairfield, and is consulting with and coaching museum directors and boards of trustees on strategy and long range planning. Holly joined the board of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County in 2017.

Kathy Maher has 30 years of experience working at National Historic Landmark museums. Throughout her career, she has envisioned, authored and implemented numerous exhibitions and programs that explore a variety of 19th-century social historical themes. In 2010, the Barnum Museum suffered significant damage from an EF1 tornado that was compounded by damage sustained from hurricanes Irene and Sandy. Kathy has been the champion of the massive recovery effort, and is leading the major historic restoration and re-envisioning. Under her leadership, the Museum is focusing on new and innovative methods of experience development, integrating history, arts, science and technology, to create a dynamic 21st-century Museum for the future. Kathy is a Field Reviewer for the Institute of Museum and Library Services-Museums for America Grants program, and holds gubernatorial appointments to the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Council, the State Library and Museum of Connecticut History and Heritage, and the Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Commission.