Panelists
2015-2016 Museum Level 2
September 23, 2014
9:00 AM - to conclusion
Teleconference (How to participate)
Chair: Glenn Lochrie
Program Manager: Sarah Stage
Brynne Anne Besio
Manatee County
- Executive Director, South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium, Bradenton, Florida
- Previously a geologist for both Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Amoco Production Company
- Prior non-profit program management, training, marketing, recruitment, and volunteer management for three different Girl Scout Councils (Denver, Valley Forge, Philadelphia); former Chief Operating Officer, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Sarasota
- M.S., Geochemistry, University of Colorado at Boulder; B.S., Geology, University of California at Davis
Stuart Chase
Miami-Dade County
- Museum Director/COO, HistoryMiami, since March 2013
- Previously Chief Executive Officer at 1Berkshire, Inc.; Executive Director, Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA; leadership posts at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA; Rockwell Museum of Western Art, Corning, NY; Raynham Hall Museum, Oyster Bay, NY; Museum of the Southwest, Midland, TX; Former President, Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce
- B.F.A., Virginia Commonwealth University; advanced studies at New York University and Long Island University
Mary Dillon
Hillsborough County
- Director of Research and Grants at the Museum of Science & Industry
- Former Executive Director at Rural Social Services Partnership
- Independent grant consultant since 2008
- Certified grant writer by Grant Professionals Association
- University of Tampa, MBA, Nonprofit Leadership
Dorrie Hipschman
Lee County
- Executive Director, Shell Museum & Educational Foundation, Sanibel, Florida
- Executive Director, Bailey Matthews Shell Museum, Sanibel, Florida
- Previously Executive Director, The Cade Museum, Gainesville, FL; The Building for Kids, Appleton, WI; and Platte River Parkway Trust, Casper, WY; and Development Director, Plaines Art Museum, Fargo, ND
- B.A., American Studies, Georgetown University; M.B.A coursework, University of Hawaii
Vinnie Luisi
Pinellas County
- Executive Director, Dunedin Historical Museum, Dunedin, Florida
- Current President and past Vice President, Florida Association of Museums
- Over 28 years in the museum profession in curatorial, exhibit design, research, grant writing, publication, volunteer coordination, public/political liaison and administration
- Previously Facilities Director, Nassau County Museums System, Long Island, New York and Curator, Tampa Bay History Center
- M.A., Museum Studies, University of Denver; B.A., History and Anthropology, Oneonta State University
Laura MacDermeid
Palm Beach County
- Grants and Sponsorships Manager, Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, Palm Beach Florida
- 30 years of experience as a program director, funder, and grants manager at organizations such as the Huntington Historical Society (NY), LaGuardia Community College (NY), the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, and the Armory Art Center (West Palm Beach)
- Previously served as a volunteer for the Youth Services Committee (Community Board 6, Brooklyn), Youth Arts Festival Committee (Sunnyside, Queens), and Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
- B.A., Social Studies Education, Wake Forest University; graduate studies, Hunter College; graduate of the Grantsmanship Institute Seminar, College/City University of New York