Since 2010, I’ve presented over 250 public programs to audiences all over the U.S. Many of these events have featured my first-person living history work, Meet Laura Ingalls Wilder. I’ve also presented lectures, guided discussion, and public history tutorials at conferences and forums both in-person and online, including dozens of scholarly presentations for Laura Ingalls Wilder in Context. I have led committee meetings and hosted conference calls in the nonprofit sector as well as in corporate environments. Back in my corporate management days, I conducted employee trainings and leadership development coaching sessions as part of my roles as Sales Manager and District Consultant. When I transitioned to the nonprofit sector, I quickly became involved in several organizations, including the Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association (LIWLRA), where I volunteered in various capacities with increasing responsibility from 2012-2020. I’ve worked with boards, performed volunteer service, and served as a contractor or staff at small museums and historical societies in several states, including The Old Manse and The Thoreau Society (Concord, MA); Old Sturbridge Village (Sturbridge, MA); Sandown Historical Society (Sandown, NH); Almanzo Wilder Farm (Burke/Malone, NY); Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum & Tourist Center (Walnut Grove, MN); Historic Beverly (Beverly, MA); and Windsor Historical Society (Windsor, CT).
Over the course of my career I have always worked directly with the public, and many roles have required frequent public speaking. To be an effective speaker, one must develop the ability to communicate complex ideas in limited time and space to wide audience. What better way to learn the art of presentations?
In museums and other nonprofits, public speaking is a necessary skill that many find intimidating, especially in an age where texting and social media have all but replaced old-fashioned phone calls and in-person conversation. With the right support and training, however, even the most reserved and bashful among us can develop the skills to become an influential and welcome voice at any meeting or event. Learning the nuances of public speaking will engage every personality and serve every messaging purpose. Your comfort in front of an audience will greatly enhance your impact as a representative of any institution.
Research and Consultation: Historical Context
Any history-centered institution, even very small organizations, can become exceptional with a robust understanding of the historical context of its mission and collections. But smaller institutions often don’t have the time or human resources to do the heavy lifting required to conduct deep research and produce or update educational materials beyond the basics of object labels and interpretative panels. If you have a research project you’d like to prioritize but there just aren’t enough hours in the day to work at it, we can make it happen. Contact me to discuss your educational and programming goals, and we can craft a research plan for any short- or long-term project and breathe new life into your existing exhibits and events.
Visitor Experience Training
If your organization needs some guidance to bring visitor experiences to the next level, you’ve come to the right place. Visitor experience is all about creating a warm, welcoming environment and encouraging each person who walks in the door to engage with the people and materials (tangible or intangible) contained within your institution. Membership development and retention starts with staff development, and I can show you how to play to the individual strengths of everyone on your team to increase the effectiveness of your membership strategy.
Your Institution needs healthy AIR: Access, Inclusion, and Relevance
If you’re looking for a dynamic speaker to lead a group discussion on topics such as accessibility, decolonization, inclusion, and understanding not only your current visitor base, but your potential visitors, let’s talk. Beyond basic customer service, the success of your organization depends upon strong donor and member relations, community engagement, relevant programming, and a clear, mission-based strategy. Organizational management, nonprofit structure, exhibit design, educational programming, special events, member outreach, and community engagement are all specialties.
Museum Basics and Best Practices
Need a consultant to fact-check your educational materials or identify your artifacts? This is a common problem even at large, well-established institutions. Want to establish a new staff position but not sure what skills and experience to look for? You’re not alone. Struggling to determine what your institution can reasonably expect to afford in salaries, benefits, acquisitions, and exhibits? These questions and many others are common stumbling blocks, and there are hundreds of professional resources to consult. I’ll help you sift the chaff from the grain and together we’ll find the best solutions for your mission and budget.
Need help developing your nonprofit board? I have nearly a decade of experience working on and with nonprofit boards, and can offer guidance with board recruitment, membership development, conference and special event organization, strategic planning, and policy creation. Wishing you had some support for understanding your responsibilities and obligations as a 501(c)3 organization? I’ve got the education and experience to ensure you’re not only compliant in your fiduciary responsibility, but that you continue to grow your understanding as you plan for your organization’s future. Need other help for your nonprofit board? Ask away! Let’s have a conversation about what’s missing and how I can fill in those gaps with the tools and resources to help you succeed.
Need help with things I haven’t mentioned here? Just ask! If I can’t tackle your topic directly, I’ll find someone who can. Remember, no one person can possess all the necessary knowledge to run a successful organization, and no one person can be an expert in all things, so collaboration is key. My work at times extends to coordinating with and calling upon folks whose skills and expertise are outside my own. When this is the case, I will work with you to develop the consultation or training sessions you need by identifying and connecting with experts in your topic of interest.
Tell me your ideas and don’t be shy. No matter the challenges you face, I can help you assess the strengths within each member of your team and identify the additional resources you need to ensure your entire organization excels at meeting and exceeding your institutional goals.