Louisville, KY— The Speed Art Museum has hired a key new position in anticipation of its re-opening in the spring of 2016 and announced today that Steve Luckett has been appointed as the Chief Development Officer for the Museum. Luckett will begin his new role at the Speed on May 26, 2015. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with The Speed Museum. This is a dynamic and transformational time for the organization,” said Luckett. “This community treasure is about to become a greater asset and resource for our community, and I am honored and humbled to be a part of such an important institution,” he concluded.
Luckett has been the Vice President of Development at Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI) since September of 2012 and served as Managing Partner for over six years at The Michael Strickland Group prior to his arrival at GLI. His 29 year career, the last 20 as an executive with a fortune 100 company, and his 12 years as a development and sales consultant, coach, and trainer, will be an invaluable asset to the Museum and bring a holistic sales focused approach to fundraising initiatives and collaborations.
“The Speed Museum is fortunate to have the experience, skill and energy that Steve Luckett brings to the organization. His deep roots in the community will be a great benefit in communicating the Speed’s dynamic message,” said Bruce Merrick, Chair of the Speed’s Board of Trustees.
In an effort to capitalize on the Speed’s current energy and momentum, Ghislain d’Humières, Director of the Speed Art Museum and the Executive Committee of the Board realigned a few key areas of the organizational structure in order to drive fundraising/donations and better position the organization for future growth. This restructuring is designed to help leverage individual and collective strengths, focus on creating a dynamic internal culture of collaboration and positivity, as well as chart a new course for fundraising and development.
D’Humières, stated, “I am thrilled to have Steve join the Speed’s leadership team. His many skills – creating and managing high performance development teams and his expertise in high level corporate fundraising will allow the Speed to engage with the business community in a much more effective way, strengthen our planned giving initiatives, and help us finalize the second phase of our $5 million fundraising campaign.” He added “It is important that we have the right people on our team to engage the whole commonwealth and its surrounding communities as we head down the homestretch to the reopening on March 12, 2016.”
The new leadership structure at the Museum includes: Ghislain d’Humières, Chief Executive Officer; Lisa Resnik, Chief Operating Officer; David Knopf, Chief Financial Officer, Scott Erbes, Chief Curator; and Steve Luckett, Chief Development Officer.
About the Speed Art Museum
The Speed Art Museum is Kentucky’s largest art museum with a collection that spans 6,000 years of human creativity. An independent museum located on the campus of the University of Louisville, the Speed continues to play an important role in outreach initiatives, workshops, and art-related school programs. The Museum is situated at a crossroads between the city and the University of Louisville, adjacent to the busiest pedestrian thoroughfare on the University’s campus. The Speed is currently closed and undergoing a multi-phase expansion and renovation that includes a new North and South Building, 142 seat cinema, Art Park and a public Piazza. To view a virtual tour or for more information visitwww.speedmuseum.org.
Although the Museum is closed for the renovation and expansion until the spring of 2016, “Local Speed” – the Museum’s temporary home – was established in downtown Louisville’s trendy Nulu district at 822 East Market Street. The Nulu space has 6,000 sq. ft. of special exhibit and programming areas as well as administrative offices for museum staff. Local Speed is free and open to the public Friday 12 p.m. – 8p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Speed Art Museum will officially reopen its’ doors to the public on Saturday, March 12, 2016. The Museum will remain open for 30 straight hours of events and festivities immediately following a ribbon cutting ceremony.
