Arts Consulting Group Recruits New Leader for Winsor Historical Society
September 30, 2024 – Boston-based search firm Arts Consulting Group (ACG) has assisted in the recruitment of Carrie Taylor as the new executive director of the Winsor Historical Society. Doug Shipman recently stepped down. Renée Danger-James led the assignment. “We knew we had big shoes to fill with Doug’s retirement,” said search committee co-chair Liz Burke. “We are just thrilled to have been able to attract someone with the museum experience and commitment to inclusion that Carrie brings to the position.”
“I want to congratulate Liz, Kaleitha, and the whole search committee on such an effective and successful recruitment effort,” said society president Randy McKenney. “We were committed to bringing on a person worthy of this role and of the community’s expectations, and we are so pleased that Carrie has accepted our offer to lead the organization. The search committee’s effort was facilitated by the arts consulting group, and funded by a generous grant from the non-profit support program at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.”
“Carrie and Doug will have the benefit of several days of overlap to transition responsibilities before Shipman’s retirement, during which time Taylor will get to know both the museum and the town of Windsor.,” said search committee co-chair Kaleitha Brown. “We are super excited to introduce Carrie to our wonderful town and will make sure there are lots of opportunities for her to meet, greet, and engage with her new Windsor family in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!”
Ms. Taylor holds an MA in history and most recently served as director of Preserve Rhode Island’s Lippitt House Museum in Providence, where she was responsible for all aspects of the museum’s operations. She has also served as collections manager at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation’s Monticello and held curatorial roles at the Atlanta History Center.
“I am very excited to join Windsor Historical Society and build on its strong track record of inclusion and look forward to becoming an active part of the Windsor community,” said Ms. Taylor.
Founded in 1921 Winsor Historical Society serves as the premier historical organization committed to preserving Windsor’s history and legacy. Expanding throughout its first 100 years from a member-only historical society to a public-serving museum and research library, it now serves more than 3,000 on-site and 6,000 online visitors annually through genealogical and other research, online and social media resources, school and family programs, inclusive exhibitions in its gallery spaces, and interpretative tours of its historic buildings.
Proven Search Professionals
Arts Consulting Group provides interim management, executive search, revenue enhancement consulting, facilities and program planning, and organizational development services for the arts and culture industry. The firm has identified senior-level leaders for the Long Beach Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Chicago Opera, Stockton Symphony Association and Portland Baroque Orchestra, among others. The firm has offices in Boston; Calgary; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Halifax; Los Angeles; Nashville, TN; New York; Portland, OR; San Francisco; Tampa, FL; Toronto; and Washington, D.C.
President Bruce D. Thibodeau founded ACG in 1997 and has been part of numerous projects in all practice areas to grow institutional sustainability, advance the arts and culture sector, and enhance communities served by the industry. Dr. Thibodeau has guided hundreds of non-profit, university and government clients in achieving effective leadership transitions, planning cultural facilities, increasing revenues, developing dynamic institutional brands and messages, crafting strategic plans and business models, and revitalizing board governance practices.
Ms. Danger-James brings nearly 30 years of experience as a non-profit administrator and development professional within the arts and culture sector, as well as in higher education. Her expertise covers the areas of relationship and consensus building, fundraising, event management, strategic visioning, and business mediation across diverse constituencies.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media