Winsor Historical Society Selects Arts Consulting Group to Find New Leader

June 18, 2024 – Boston-based search firm Arts Consulting Group (ACG) has been retained by Winsor Historical Society in Connecticut to lead in its search for a new executive director. Renée Danger-James is leading the assignment. The executive director will serve as the chief executive officer of the Windsor Historical Society and will be a strategic and people-oriented executive who values community engagement and leads with a clear sense of purpose and direction. As the face of the organization, the they will build authentic relationships with the community by regularly communicating with civic leaders and public officials and developing and nurturing partnerships with community groups, and the greater Windsor non-profit and business communities to ensure the historical society is seen as a cultural and educational resource.

Reporting to the board of directors, the executive director will oversee all society operations and be an active presence and support for the staff. This individual will ensure widely held museum and public history best practices are followed in the care and stewardship of collections and all matters related to the society’s operations and strategic priorities including Winsor Historical Society’s commitment to inclusion and community building.

Arts Consulting Group explains that the executive director will be a collaborative, people-oriented, emotionally intelligent leader who values teamwork, continuous improvement, and collaboration with others. An active member of the community, this individual will enthusiastically interact with a diverse constituency with cultural acuity to develop partnerships that support Winsor Historical Society and enhance the community. The executive director will have the capacity to adapt to frequent change while maintaining focus on the organization’s goals and priorities. They will bring a balance of professional expertise, credibility, and interpersonal skills along with a strong capacity for self-management and the highest levels of personal accountability and integrity. Versatile and receptive to new ideas and methodologies, this individual will be an intellectually curious, innovative, and harmonious professional with a proven track record of success.

Other key competencies include:

  • Interpersonal Skills – The ability to build rapport and develop and nurture relationships with people across the organization and throughout the community, demonstrating a sincere interest in others.
  • Diplomacy – The aptitude to handle situations gracefully and with sensitivity, and communicate effectively by listening, observing, and appreciating cultural and personal perspectives.
  • Self-Starting and Personal Accountability – The capacity to prioritize and complete tasks necessary to meet or exceed the agreed-upon expectations of the role, and to assume accountability for personal actions.
  • Leadership and Teamwork – The capacity to articulate a vision and create a sense of purpose and direction for internal and external stakeholders, build trust by demonstrating respect and integrity, and create an environment where team members are appreciated and supported, enabling their success.
  • Resiliency – The agility to quickly recover from adversity or setbacks and move past obstacles with a sense of humor and without delay.

At least five years of progressively responsible leadership experience within a museum, arts, educational, historical, or nonprofit organization is required, according to Arts Consulting Group. A master’s degree in history, museum studies (or equivalent experience), is recommended. Previous senior leadership level with supervision responsibilities is desirable. Candidates should demonstrate success and commitment to principles associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion. They must possess a passion for community outreach and resource development as well as knowledge of the needs, best practices, and standards of the field and the ability to generate enthusiasm, inspire others, and translate vision into workable priorities.

Related: Arts Consulting Group Recruits CEO for Association of Performing Arts Professionals

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.

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.


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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.

Related: Arts Consulting Group Tapped by the Bruce to Lead COO Search

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media

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