Advanced Museum Services

Angela has been a registrar for more than 25 years, serving both as museum staff and as an independent contractor through her business Advanced Museum Services. She has extensive collections management and registration experience including inventory control, database management, policy writing, collections moves and building additions, and long-range planning. Organizing, documenting, and caring for collections is both her passion and her business.

Angela served as secretary for the IMP Steering Committee and is is now helping IMP reach and support independence as the organization builds a strong community.

Pendulee Design Agency, LinkedIn

Cashmere is an award-winning graphic designer and writer committed to making art accessible and engaging for all. Since founding her Michigan-based design agency in 2016, she has collaborated with leading museums and cultural institutions both locally and nationwide, creating exhibitions and public art solutions that captivate and educate across the United States.

Cashmere has volunteered with IMP since 2024 in various roles; as a board member, she’s expanding IMP’s reach and strengthening its ability to support independent museum professionals and the broader museum field.

Frank and Glory, LinkedIn

Erin has been working in museums since 1992. She’s witty, fun, smart, ethical, and deadly serious about museum collections as educational and cultural assets with high opportunity costs. It is not free to keep an artifact, artwork, manuscript, or publication forever. In 2018 Erin founded Frank & Glory, a museum services firm that challenges museums and libraries to think carefully about investing resources in collections that are relevant for, and representative of, their current and future audiences so that they may support the museum’s mission.

She’s focused on teamwork, meeting new people and setting IMP up with a solid foundation for the future.

LinkedIn

Gwen, M.A., CVA, has over 15 years of experience in the museum and cultural sector. She has served as a museum CEO, historic house director, and nonprofit board member, and now leads Nystrom Collaborative LLC, a consulting practice offering comprehensive assessments, fractional and interim leadership, and strategic planning. Her expertise spans governance, operations, volunteer engagement, and program and event development.

Gwendolen previously served on the IMP Business Team, contributing to the development of its foundational infrastructure. She’s shaping IMP into a vibrant home for independent museum professionals to connect, find support, and exchange resources and wisdom.

exhibitista creative, LinkedIn

Johanna, a Brooklyn-based graphic and exhibition designer, founded exhibitista creative in 2006. She translates complex content into clear, inspiring, and visually appealing displays at museums, historic houses, and faith-based organizations. Since 2016 she has served as an adjunct professor at Citytech, City University of New York.

Johanna has been involved in IMP nearly since its inception, first as Programming Co-chair (pivoting to online programming during COVID), and most recently as co-chair of the Steering Committee helping to propel the organization towards a formal membership program. Johanna is bringing IMPs together through features such as a directory, online conversation groups, as well as more robust meetups and programs.

LinkedIn

Josh specializes in content development and writing for museum exhibitions, multimedia experiences, and educational materials. Over the course of more than two decades as an independent consultant, he’s developed exhibition scripts, audio tours, and curriculum guides for a wide range of museums, parks, and arts organizations. A quick study with a knack for zeroing in on key stories and themes, he’s applied his skills across a broad swath of content, from art and culture to history, science, and technology.

For the past year or two he’s served on the IMP community-building committee, connecting with other IMPs and thinking together about how to meet the needs of the burgeoning community. He’s helping bring colleagues together in ways that benefit everyone and the field as a whole.

Creative Content Studio, LinkedIn

Karen weaves tales of history, discovery, and innovation into experiences that encourage visitors to interact with information and not just passively consume it. She’s worked on staff at Wildlife Conservation Society, American Museum of Natural History, and Liberty Science Center before launching Creative Content Studio in 2009. Karen has created workshops with the Children’s Media Association, and writes children’s books, multimedia, and cartoons. She served as the VP and EMP lead for NAME.

In addition to working with the IMP communications crew, she’s broadening local meetups and other offerings to IMP members.

dirapd.com, thedrmtm.com, LinkedIn

Kheli is Principal and Founder of Dira Professional Development, LLC. Dira provides tailored consulting services in governance, operations, programming, engagement as well as leadership and cohort coaching. In addition to her role at Dira, Dr. Willetts serves as the Director of Brand Culture with the arts and culture branding firm, DRMTM.

Prior to being elected to the inaugural Board of Directors, Kheli was on the Steering Committee and served as the Chair of IMP’s Business Work Group.

experiencefirst.us, LinkedIn

Krista, M.A., M.Ed., CPCC, ACC, is a guest-experience expert and heart-led leadership coach. Through her firm, Experience First, LLC, she offers coaching and organizational training in inclusive hospitality, de-escalation, resilience, and art engagement to help teams thrive.

A longtime IMP leader, Krista began as a volunteer with the Programs Team, then founded and led the Community Team, launching the IMP listserv and virtual series IMPs Connect. Most recently, she co-led IMP with Johanna Goldfeld, advancing its nonprofit filing. Krista is dedicated to building IMP’s future with sustainability, equity, and diversity at the center.

swiftwingstudio.com, LinkedIn

Tamara, founder and principal of Swiftwing Studio, works with museums and other cultural and educational organizations to develop exhibitions, interpretive content, and interactive experiences. She launched her consulting practice after two decades in the museum field, including leadership roles as Director of Exhibit Development & Strategic Planning at the California Academy of Sciences and Senior Manager of Experience Design at Chabot Space & Science Center. When she’s not geeking out about something museum-related, she’s often cooking, harvesting fruit in her backyard, or out on the San Francisco Bay Area’s hiking trails.

Tamara is co-chair of IMP’s Professional Development team and has been an active IMP volunteer for several years. As a member of the board, she’s committed to helping IMP increase its capacity to support independent museum professionals and the museum field.

LinkedIn

Uma is a museum consultant, organizational strategist, and former Getty project lead with 15+ years of experience spanning the cultural and corporate sectors. She helps museums build people-centered operations through clear processes, inclusive strategy, and collaborative leadership rooted in care and systems thinking. Uma began her career at Google and has led award-winning digital initiatives and trained museum teams nationwide.

Uma has been part of IMP since 2023 and currently serves as the Membership Lead. She’s focused on how IMP is reimagining what sustainable, values-driven professional support can look like for independent museum practitioners and is honored to help shape that future.