Courtesy of Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) has announced Kristen Greenaway of Durham, NC will serve as the fifth President of the 49-year old non-profit institution. Current CBMM President Langley Shook announced his retirement in late 2013, and will remain on board until Greenaway’s start, which is anticipated in early July.

Greenaway brings a wide range of professional experience to the position, including a core background leading non-profits in a development capacity.

With 20 years non-profit experience, Greenaway brings 12 years serving in a museum leadership and development role to the position. She currently serves as the Director of Development and External Relations at Duke University’s Nasher Museum of Art. Her experience also includes serving as Director of Development at Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society; as Director of Events and Communications at Sally Ride Science in San Diego; and the Executive Director of the San Diego Sea to Sea Trail Foundation. In addition, Greenaway brings extensive development experience with educational institutions through her work with the Rotterdam School of Management Erasmus University, Rotterdam; University College London in New York and London; and Sidney Sussex College at Cambridge University, Cambridge. She earned her Master of Social Sciences and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand and is a candidate for a Master of Arts degree from Duke University.

            “This appointment comes at such a critical time for the museum,” said CBMM Board of Governors Chair Tom Seip. “CBMM is implementing its new five-year plan which includes a major fundraising campaign and many new initiatives to give people more reasons to connect with the Bay through us. Langley has done a fantastic job of navigating the museum through the great recession, and Kristen now will take the helm to steer the museum to the next level.”

            “We are extremely pleased to welcome Kristen to the museum,” added CBMM Governor Richard Bodorff, who led CBMM’s new president search committee. “Kristen was selected from a field of more than 30 highly qualified candidates. Over the last six months, the search process included interviews by our search committee, current and alumni board, and several staff members. Even among such a diverse group, the consensus that Kristen was our outstanding candidate was felt unanimously.” To conduct the search, CBMM retained the services of ByalaSearch of New York, which specializes in executive searches for non-profits.

            Born and raised in New Zealand, Greenaway spent part of her youth with her parents and two siblings living aboard a 32-foot wooden yacht her father built. “Messing about in boats has been an underlying focus of my entire life,” says Greenaway. While finishing a Master’s degree in Social Sciences at the University of Waikato, Hamilton in New Zealand, Greenaway rebuilt an 18-foot William Garden keeler. Greenaway left New Zealand in 1989, crewing on a 60-foot ketch for the inaugural two-month Auckland-Fukuoka (Japan) Yacht Race. Her passion for all things maritime has continued throughout her life, and currently Greenaway takes part in—and often wins—the WaterTribe Everglades Kayak Challenge, which is an annual, 300-nautical mile, day/night sail kayak event from Tampa to the Florida Keys. Greenaway moved to the United States in 1998, working in New York, California, and most recently North Carolina. She is a citizen of the United States, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

            “I met Kristen early in the interviewing process and was immediately impressed by her,” said retiring CBMM President Langley Shook. “She’s charming and engaging. With her fundraising and leadership experience in museums and her enthusiasm for authentic experiences, I’m confident she’ll be a perfect fit for our museum.”

            The museum is planning to celebrate the accomplishments of retiring President Langley Shook with “Langley Shook Day” on Saturday, June 14, with the public invited to a brief presentation planned for 1 p.m. under the Hooper Strait Lighthouse, and to witness the 1955 skipjack Rosie Parks head out to the Miles River at 1:45 p.m. for one of her first sails in nearly 20 years. The Miles River Yacht Club Foundation of St. Michaels also honored Shook with itsDistinguished Service Award at a May 18 reception. Once retired, Shook plans to remain active in the community and with the museum.

            “I feel honored that the Board has entrusted me with the stewardship of CBMM, and I look forward to building upon the success of my predecessors and shepherding the museum into the next 50 years,” commented Greenaway. “CBMM is truly the treasure of all Eastern Shore residents, and I am excited to further extend our relationship with our diverse local community.” Greenaway plans to relocate to Talbot County with her family as she begins her new role as CBMM’s President this July.

            For more information about the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, visit www.cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.