Russell S. Daws, President and Chief Executive Officer, has directed the organization since 1990. His commitments to helping people gain a better understanding about their history and role in nature have been demonstrated through the Museum and far beyond.
Russell Daws serves on numerous boards and advisory committees, including the Florida Association of Museums, the Leon County Tourist Development Council (Immediate Past Chairman), Visit Florida’s Cultural Heritage Tourism Committee and the Big Bend Scenic Byway Corridor Management Entity.
Mr. Daws serves as a museum accreditation reviewer for the American Alliance of Museums. He has served as a grant reviewer for the Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington, D.C. and as a grant panelist for the State of Florida’s Museum grant programs.
Mr. Daws has provided service to the Florida Association of Museums Foundation and the Tallahassee Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, serving as board chairman for both organizations. He has contributed board and advisory service to a variety of organizations including the Claude Pepper Center/Foundation, FSU Museum Studies Program, 4H, the Girl Scouts, Junior League, and several national museum boards, civic organizations and publications. He has also been an adjunct faculty member for Antioch College and Temple University, and an instructor for FSU.
Prior to his arrival in Tallahassee, Mr. Daws served in several leadership positions with the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia where he worked for 15 years. Since arriving in Tallahassee with his family, Mr. Daws has guided major expansions to the Tallahassee Museum’s facilities and programs.
Board of Trustees
Chairman:
Richard Moore, Moore Communications Group
Vice Chairman:
Mike Rupp, RAGZ
Secretary:
Eryn Calabro, Leon County Office of Management and Budget
Treasurer:
Park Broome, Tallahassee-Leon Federal Credit Union
Immediate Past Chairman:
Malinda Horton, Florida Association of Museums
Members at Large:
Richard Moore, Moore Communications
Park Broome, Tallahassee-Leon Federal Credit Union
Malinda Horton, Florida Association of Museums
Eryn Calabro, Leon County Office of Management and Budget
Bryan Desloge, County Commissioner, District 4
Joe Elebash, Mainline Information Systems
Michael Carter, Carr, Riggs, and Ingram, LLC
Linda Dilworth, KMR Consultants
Larry Kubiak, Tallahasse Memorial Healthcare
Scott Mixon, Georgia Pacific
Allen McConnaughhay, Fonvielle, Lewis, Messer & McConnaughhay
Charles Redding, DRMP
Mike Rupp, RAGZ
Kimberly Smiley, Market President, Centennial Bank
Rob Vickers, Florida House of Representatives
Michelle Wilson, Marriott International
Ely Rosario, Business Manager, Marketing Director for Jackson Properties
Kim Ortloff, Founder and CEO of Kim Ortloff Massage & Flexibility Therapie
Lauren Applewhite, Community Volunteer