As a result of its Annual Meeting this evening, Monday, September 22, the Museum is pleased to announce that the following have joined the board of directors:

John Orr –John is a fourth generation Ventura County attorney practicing with the firm of Ferguson Case Orr and Paterson, LLP, and manager of a family owned citrus and avocado farm. He has formerly served on the museum’s board of directors, as well as board chair. He serves as president of the board of directors of Del Norte Water Company and as a board member of Index Fresh of California, an avocado handler. John lives on Faria Beach with his wife Stephanie. Their son Nicholas attends Middlebury College where he is a senior.

Esther Wachtell -- Esther is the founder and president of The Wachtell Group, a fundraising and marketing firm specializing in not for profit management throughout the Western United States. She served as Founding Chairman of the Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at the University of Southern California, and as president of the Ojai Music Festival, currently serving on its Board of Governors. Esther is a director of the Ojai Community Bank and a managing director of the Wachtell Family Partnership. She has 12 “fabulous grandchildren” and has lived in Ojai for 17 years.

Andrea Pfister -- Andrea Haley Pfister is the manager of Haley Properties LLC and is a past Museum board member, including two years as Chair. Previously, she practiced as a CPA in Orange County and was an officer in the Junior League of Orange County and chairman of the board of New Directions for Women. Andrea is married and is particularly proud of her four grandchildren and her long history with Ventura County.

The board also elected its officers for the 2014-2015 year; they are:

John Orr, Chair
Christine Drucker, Vice-Chair
John Lamb, Treasurer,
Pam Small, Secretary
Jeffrey P. Smith, Past Board Chair.

The board approved the appointment of Sue Chadwick as interim executive director, to replace executive director Myron Freedman, who resigned for personal reasons in a communication to the Museum membership in the recent weeks. Ms. Chadwick most recently was senior vice president of Santa Barbara Bank &Trust and is very active with many nonprofit and community organizations in Ventura County.

The Museum of Ventura County is located at 100 East Main Street in downtown Ventura. Hours are 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Paid events include free admission to the galleries, and the first Sundays of every month are free general admission for the public. For more museum information go to www.venturamuseum.org or call 805-653-0323.