Chief Executive Officer for Visitor Services, United States Capitol Visitor Center, Architect of the Capitol, United States Capitol, (Washington, DC), September 2007 to December 2010 *Special assignment to the Institute of Museum and Library Services until June 2011 www.visitthecapitol.gov
Charged with opening the public space of the US Capitol’s 580,000 square feet underground Capitol Visitor Center, the task included hiring a staff of 240 professional and non-professionals, bringing on line a new Advance Reservation System to address the anticipated opening year attendance of 2,500,000, as well as a room booking software system to manage the array Congressional meeting rooms. The 4,000,000 visitors mark was passed after merely seventeen months of operations. Additionally, the weaving of the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) into the structures which support Congress resulted in the establishment of a Congressional Historical and Interpretative Program “CHIP” which is a training activity for staff now approaching 5,000 participants. Elected to a five-year term as an Accreditation Commissioner for the American Association of Museums.
Accomplishments:
- Successful facility opening on December 2, 2008, which included a 60-day test and adjust period, launched two 250-person orientation theatres, an 18,000 square foot exhibition hall designed by Ralph Appelbaum, two gift shops and a 500-seat restaurant established and a 450-seat Congressional Auditorium
- Established the Capitol Visitor Center as a new Washington, DC destination and establishment of a graphic standard
- Successful media re-branding of the expansion as an asset to the country
- Adoption of the brand “Inform, Involve and Inspire” as a key management tool during the 14-month push to open, repositioned the perception of the project with the brand as a goal across all facets of the operation
- Established the baseline fiscal year annual operating budget of approximately $29,000,000.
- Developed educational activities, established new volunteer program and active partnerships with regional and national partners vested in educational activities
- Developed five-year strategic plan
- Worked with Officers of Congress and all Congressional Offices across the Capitol Complex
- Served as the key spokesperson for the media and to Congress