Fred Hartmann Email & Phone Number

Bayonne, Nj, Us

Jersey City, New Jersey, United States

The institution’s 1st Director of Exhibitions, providing superlative leadership in the development, design, production, maintenance and installation of exhibitions. Working closely with key stakeholders in 4 main categories: Traveling Exhibitions, Permanent Exhibits, Animal Husbandry, and Facility Enhancements. PEOPLE LEADERSHIP-Managing 3 teams of experts: Exhibition Design and Development, Exhibition Maintenance, and Animal Husbandry. Providing effective leadership, assigning and monitoring project tasks, and leading collaboration.-Communicating expectations, providing constructive feedback to ensure quality standards are achieved-Fostering an inclusivity and high performance while also maintaining a safety-first culture.-Managing subcontractors, ensuring consistency and adherence to project parameters. EXHIBITIONS MANAGEMENT-Collaborating with the Head of Exhibitions on long-term vision and strategies for new projects and the renewal of current galleries.-Ensuring exhibitions are fully operational, cleaned, and well-maintained, including the ongoing care of our animal exhibitions.-Developing strategies for repairs and maintenance, while ensuring compliance with all local, state, and federal safety and accessibility regulations.PROJECT MANAGEMENT-Providing project management support for ongoing and upcoming physical exhibitions, including managing multiple projects from initial design through construction and rotation of traveling exhibitions and temporary installations.- Managing overall project communication and documentation. Coordinating schedules, budgets, contracts, licensing, permitting, approval processes, status reports, and risk mitigation strategies. -Defining needs and developing scopes of work, RFPs, and award of contracts for subcontractors.-Developing best practices and processes for project management.HIGHLIGHTS-Managing 70,000 square feet of interpreted space.-Re-installed the popular "Touch Tunnel" after repairs.

Organized, planned, and installed high-quality public exhibits and experiences. Duties included budgeting, coordinating schedules, and operational planning. On-site project leadership required critical thinking and problem-solving skills for time-sensitive issues. Communicated with various internal and external stakeholders, and was responsible for upholding the highest quality and safety standards. Various projects were executed for the Liberty Science Center and the Staten Island Zoo. HIGHLIGHTS-Project managed the installation of the world premiere of “OceanXperience” traveling exhibition, and led the deinstallation of “Pompeii: The Immortal City” traveling exhibition.-Installed two immense art exhibits: Dustin Yellin’s “The Politics of Eternity” and Leandro Erlich’s interactive “The Building 2023”. -Designed and constructed a series of animal enrichment tools, most notably a mobile climbing structure for chinchillas, encouraging natural behaviors.-Designed and installed the "Scarecrow Garden" for the Staten Island Zoos 2022 "Spooktacular" event.-Managed every step of sending a large shipment to off-site storage, including internal and external communications, packing, maintaining organization, and loading oversized items.-Troubleshot the mechanical intricacies of the one-of-a-kind "HUM Rider" vehicle to facilitate its moving to a new site.

Implemented broad institutional change and specifically managed all aspects of the museum’s Education Department. Developed lesson plans and presented programs for visitors and school groups on a variety of topics. Hired and trained all education staff, and led the multi-week camp programs. Created new training plans for education staff that focus on customer service, updated content information, and successful presentation strategies. Acted as a leader in customer service. Created the public program plan for the following year, including innovative new experiences to work within budget constraints. Analyzed performance and attendance data for future planning. Booked external presenters, hired per-diem professionals, and promoted community engagement. Worked closely with the Director of Exhibits to troubleshoot and propose changes to a new human-sized ant hill exhibit. Represented the museum at the 2022 Association of Children’s Museum InterActivity Conference. Contributed materials to quarterly board meeting presentations. Wrote multiple grants for the future benefit of the museum’s initiatives.HIGHLIGHTS IN INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE-Restructured staff pay scales to better line up with industry standards. -Redeveloped and solidified the entire hiring strategy, methodology, and menu of materials, in order to streamline the process, create equity, and increase DEIA across the organization. -Created a system of gathering data and feedback from guests and frontline staff to assist in identifying issues.-Organized and led a committee of department heads to address cultural shortcomings, culminating in a multi-tiered proposal presented to the Executive Director.-Created schedule of team and individual check-ins to generate positive feedback loops and increase communication.

Jersey City, New Jersey

LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS-Conducted regular employee assessments to provide coaching, encourage skill growth, and create personalized success ladders.-Designed and implemented cross-departmental team-building activities to strengthen relationships and encourage deeper collaboration. These were full-day customized events, monthly group learning sessions, and yearly contests.-Developed and managed a peer-to-peer monthly learning series for managers. Many sessions focused on DEI and equality.-Worked in partnership with the Guest Engagement and Volunteer Departments to develop and maintain high quality front-line staff training, standards, and procedures.PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS-Greatly contributed to the permanent "Dino Dig Adventure" exhibition. -Created numerous large, experience-based installations from ideation to completion. Notable successes include: “Boom Room,” “Pollinator Pathway” and accompanying butterfly house, as well as the “Spider Maze” and “Sock Skating," both of which have been replicated by like-organizations around the country.-Unique live animal presentations and enrichment experiences, such as a “Rat Olympics” demonstration, finger painting with cockroaches, rodent playgrounds, and snake climbing structures.-Partnered with the WeGo Foundation to use a telepresence robot for pediatric patients. -Led an accessibility study to identify and address short-comings, including interviewing stakeholders, hosting experts, and researching community needs. Improvements to increase accessibility for both guests and employees, including the development of sensory maps and changes to the center’s “Special Needs Days.”-Managed the creation of the “Women in Science & Art” event, including scientists and artists from throughout the tri-state area speaking directly to our guests.-Managed a team of staff as well as accessible education teachers to develop an episodic virtual series for neurodiverse students unable to travel during the COVID emergency.

Jersey City, New Jersey

Managed the Guest Programs and Animal Interpretation teams, including hiring and training, to create and deliver programming across the institution, for its 750,000 annual visitors. Managed all aspects of the development and implementation of guest programs, including timelines and deliverables, budgets, staffing and other resource requirements, and material ordering and creation. Acted as Manager on Duty, responsible for overseeing building operations, resolving guest concerns, and providing leadership as the primary decision maker during difficult situations. Acted as the science center’s spokesperson for TV and media (George to the Rescue, Good Day New York, News 12 New Jersey, SYFY Channel, Asbury Park Press, Business Insider, Salon Talks, CUNY TV, and Kelly Dillon). Led multi-week seasonal events, developed programming based on attendance forecasts and timely science content. These events represent the tentpoles of the engagement and marketing calendars, creating experiences that drive attendance. Managed the science center’s yearly strategic program plan, as well as the daily live science schedule, working collaboratively across departments to meet the organization’s guest experience goals while maximizing resources.HIGHLIGHTS-Created and developed the specialized Animal Interpretation team. Hired all team members, conducted trainings, and worked with the team to develop demonstrations. -Collaborated with the Human Resources department to evaluate and redesign all floor staff job titles and descriptions to address DEI issues and inequalities. Developed a new system focusing on the skills for specific roles, and created a transparent growth ladder. -Received the 2017 Helping Hand Award, honoring performance beyond expectations.-Acted as project manager for a 4-day, Star Wars event in 2016 attended by more than 20,000 visitors. -Wrote, produced, and performed an original theatrical production, “Flight!”, as part of the 2016 New York City STEM-Fest.

Jersey City, New Jersey

Jersey City, New Jersey

Staten Island, New York

Led all aspects of the Zoo’s Urban Advantage program. Developed educational programs for both students and teachers. Conducted live animal presentations for 7th and 8th grade students at the Staten Island Zoo, and off-site, by travelling to New York City schools. Conducted professional development programs for teachers utilizing the Urban Advantage resources. Performed routine animal husbandry tasks for the Staten Island Zoo’s educational animal collection. Represented and advocated for the Staten Island Zoo at monthly Urban Advantage team meetings. (Urban Advantage is a group of New York City’s leading cultural institutions working with the city’s Department of Education to support middle school science.) HIGHLIGHTS-Researched, planned, and constructed a new public exhibit on invasive species awareness. -From 2010-2012, co-headed Staten Island Zoo’s annual “Family Science Sunday” event, which is attended by over 1000 middle school students from throughout New York City. -Represented the Staten Island Zoo at the 2010 and 2011 Urban Advantage Science Expos, and the Black Rock overnight professional development workshop.

Blue Heron Park, Staten Island, New York

Presented educational programs throughout Staten Island to large audiences of different backgrounds. Topics included various historical, ecological, and Native American cultural subjects. Provided a uniformed enforcement presence within New York City parks through daily patrols. Issued citations when needed, in order to keep the parks safe and welcoming for all. HIGHLIGHTS-Updated the existing menu of programs, and added to it by researching and developing new presentations. -Led groups of mixed-age families, and youth campers, on outdoor adventures to experience camping, canoeing, archery, and fishing.

Jersey City, New Jersey

Developed and conducted over 1,100 live animal demonstrations, shows, and events. Provided "on-the-floor" leadership and training for animal interpretation associates and volunteers. Provided regular handling and tractable training for the education department's animal collection. Developed and maintained animal fact sheets, detailing background information on all species within the collection. HIGHLIGHTS-Developed Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to aid departmental organization and efficiency, including tracking animal usage, program attendance, and staff program work. -Specially selected as an ambassador to Republican Presidential nominee John McCain during his visit to Liberty Science Center.