1995–2005
Director/CEO/Founding Director
Miami Art Museum
Miami
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In tandem with trustees, spearheaded a community-wide planning effort that transformed the Center for the Fine Arts, a non-collecting space, into Miami’s flagship art museum
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Oversaw privatization of this once-county department with goodwill on all fronts, uniting two systems—private and public—into a single structure for governance, personnel, and finances
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Established a collection of 20th- and 21st-century international art, with an emphasis upon the art of the Americas; drafted criteria and policies for this initiative; attracted major gifts of art
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Redesigned the exhibitions program to fulfill MAM’s ambitious goals and its commitment to audience diversity, modern and contemporary art, and new work by living artists, especially Miami-based artists
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Developed a branding and marketing program to reach grass-roots communities as well as international audiences; made the facilities more welcoming to visitors
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Formed the institution’s first education department and built it into the largest and most highly regarded program of its kind in South Florida
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Created a library to make scholarship a priority for staff and volunteer docents; library holdings totaled 5,000 at the end of 2005
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Launched the first after-hours art-museum program in Florida
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Started groups for collectors of contemporary art and young professionals, ensuring that the museum developed its next generation of patrons and civic leaders
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Championed the investment in professional fundraising software and increased private support, not only in the size of gifts but in the diversity of donors
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Retired a lingering six-figure debt, established controls to prevent its reoccurrence, and doubled the operating budget to $5 million
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Developed personnel policies and a handbook on ethics for sixty full- and part-time staff
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Sought out a formal partnership with the Miami Museum of Science; together, successfully advocated for the creation of Museum Park on 30 acres of abandoned waterfront land
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Secured $100 million in Miami-Dade County funds for a new MAM building, which opened in 2013 as the Perez Art Museum Miami, designed by Herzog de Meuron