David Pearson Email & Phone Number

Portland, Oregon, United States

District Administer for the Pacific Northwest District of Kiwanis. Oversee the operations for 230 clubs across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Northern California, Alaska, British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory. Kiwanis Pacific Northwest is an independent operational arm of Kiwanis International, a global volunteer organization dedicated to improving the world for children and communities.

Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area

Served as the Interim Executive Director of the Portland Baroque Orchestra to assist during the transition to a new Artistic Director and Executive Director. This included leading the third-largest period performance orchestra in the United States through 11 performances..

Vancouver, Washington

I was hired to direct all activities for The Historic Trust of Vancouver, a non-profit that inspires civic pride and economic vitality through education, preservation, and celebration of the community’s history, which is spread across 38 properties that tell the powerful story of the Pacific Northwest. I reported directly to the Board of Trustees and managed a staff of 24 employees and 40 volunteers, while overseeing an operating budget of $4.5 million. Additionally, I managed all Trust Operations – including the Pearson Field Education Center, the Providence Academy, and property management and maintenance for 200+ units. Highlights of Impact:Collaborated with city of Vancouver on $10M ongoing renovation of the Providence Academy. Partnered with National Park Service to manage 38 national historic sites, spread across 370 acres. Navigated museum through challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, securing an initial PPP grant for $230,000 and a round two PPP for $270,000. Implemented strategies designed to achieve mission, while simultaneously improving financial stability and sustainability of organization, and reaching new audiences. Built and maintained positive relationships with community partners, both locally and statewide.

Wilsonville, Oregon

I was hired due to my passion for innovation, serving as an Executive Director for a 60,000 sq.-ft. museum that offered a behind-the-scenes view of the racing world, telling the story of motorsports through historic vehicles. I held full accountability for a $4.2M operating budget, aligning staff and resources with the museum’s overarching mission. Highlights of Impact:Created first-of-its-kind program at museum’s 11-bay Automotive Learning Center, partnering with 9 local high schools and a community college to welcome 130 students from schools daily to teach CTE skills. Built performance-focused team of 28 staff & 70 volunteers, aligning staff with museum’s core values and mission.Developed and executed comprehensive strategic plan. Initiatives included introducing museum to new audiences through innovative partnerships with Mario Andretti, Adam Corolla, ESPN 30 for 30, and Cars and Coffee. Managed fundraising strategies. Developed and cultivated donor base, expanded memberships, solicited corporate partnerships, and expanded STEM-based educational opportunities at the museum. Grew income through sponsorships, foundations, admissions, corporate and individual memberships, and events.Built and maintained positive relationships with community partners, while representing museum to public and key stakeholders.

Astoria, Oregon, United States

I was promoted to manage and supervise all museum operations for a 13-acre museum, boasting the most paid attendance of any history museum in the state of Oregon. The museum had over 1,400 members and 115,000+ annual paid visitors. I led an executive management team of six and staff of 26, aligning staff with museum values and purpose. Serving as the face of the organization, I built and maintained positive community relationships while representing organization to the public. Highlights of Impact:Grew museum income by leading initiatives – including building knowledgeable, performance-focused staff – that resulted in 27% attendance increase. Additional impacts included increased admission revenue (by 108%) and increased store sales revenue (by 74%). Directed museum’s $2.5M operating budget and annual endowment of $6M+. Oversaw all cash management, advising Board on strategic growth opportunities and risks. Maintained the museum’s 54-year record of positive cash flow and operating income. Managed and supervised museum’s creative content, including exhibit design and production, media production, website, and publishing activities. Served as Chief Editor of The QuarterDeck, the museum’s membership magazine.Managed media, marketing, and public relations exposure for the museum. Notable media visits hosted include CBS Sunday Morning, BBC, The History Channel, The History Detectives, and Oregon Public Broadcasting. Cultivated and stewarded donors, working closely with the Executive Director and Board of Trustees. Served as collaborative partner to 33-member Board.

Astoria, Oregon

After the Executive Director left, I stepped into an interim role to manage transition of leadership at museum. Reporting directly to the Chairman of the Board, with accountability to Board of Trustees, I represented the museum in regulatory, business, and community affairs, and acted as key liaison to elected officials and state and federal agencies.Key achievements:Designed and implemented operating strategies to achieve museum’s mission and improve financial stability, partnering closely with the Board of Trustees. Encouraged staff and stakeholders to continually improve the museum’s programs to reach diverse audiences.

Astoria Oregon

In my earlier years with the museum, I oversaw curatorial, library, and research department operations, working directly with high-level artifact donations to the museum. I also directed department strategic planning and budgeting, serving as the point of contact for several large projects.Key achievements:Served as Project Manager for $6M museum expansion project. Managed $1.8M budget for expanding exhibits. Directed the moving of 30,000-object artifact collection, 7,000-volume research library, and 30 historic boats. Managed re-accreditation process, adhering to American Alliance of Museums’ guidelines.

Museum Leadership Institute

The Getty Leadership Institute at Claremont Graduate University convened 30 museum leaders from the United States and around the world.

Master Of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), Historic Preservation And Conservation

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Art/Art Studies, General