A letter to the extended PTMSC family
Dear Friend of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center,
We are both sad and happy to report some important news about PTMSC. As you may know, Bee Redfield, our executive director, assumed a more limited role in February in order to prepare for her final PhD requirements at Purdue University. While this plan for a temporary hiatus was in place since her hire last spring, Bee more recently made the decision for personal reasons not to return to the ED position and asked the board to seek a replacement. She says, “I am fully dedicated to supporting PTMSC through this transition and beyond. I love PTMSC, the team, and the Port Townsend community, and I am so grateful for the time that I spent with you all.” The board appreciates Bee’s exemplary performance as ED and is grateful for her many accomplishments.
And Bee’s achievements are many. Her biggest legacy will probably be what we think will become an iconic landmark in Port Townsend: a gray whale skeleton on Union Wharf which is scheduled to be installed this summer. She also expanded the Future of Oceans lecture series, oversaw new programming at the Flagship Landing building downtown, and strengthened the internal systems of the organization.
Upon receiving the news, the board carefully assessed the organization’s evolving needs and prioritized the talents, skills, knowledge, and experience that the ideal ED candidate would bring to the job at this time. They recognized that this talent existed within the organization and were delighted when Diane Quinn, our Program Director of over six years, accepted the position.
Quinn brings extensive leadership experience from her two decades at the Burke Museum in Seattle. As Director of Education, she helped to expand the scale, budgets and impacts of school and public programs. She nurtured innumerable community partnerships, contributed to the development of major exhibitions and participated in long-term, new museum planning resulting in a major capital campaign.
Quinn's long relationship with PTMSC started in 1998 when the Burke and PTMSC collaborated on a new exhibit at Fort Worden. She remembers, “In working with Libby Palmer, Judy D'Amore, and Anne Murphy, the founders and founding executive director, it was clear that the organization has a unique role in the local community, that community marine science centers have a critical role in the broader community of practice, and that change for the better happens in communities and in the world through sustained effort and commitment.”
Besides her track record of successful regional collaborations, and her pre-existing relationships with many community leaders, Diane has developed a deep mutual trust between herself and the PTMSC staff over the past six years in her role as Program Director. Her comprehensive knowledge of the organization, especially in terms of program and operations, as well as her experience with creative program design and organizational transformation, makes her an ideal fit for the top leadership position at this time in PTMSC’s journey.
We are all very excited about the future of PTMSC and thank you for your part in making that future possible.
Sincerely,
Diane Baxter, PhD
PTMSC Board President
