The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples has named Bonnie Thayer as Chief Operations and Education Officer and Laura Richardson Bright as Chief Advancement Officers. Both appointments were effective May 13.
Thayer brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in the development of educational programming and community involvement, including 16 years’ experience as the Director of Education and Community Partnerships at Artis—Naples. At CMON, Thayer is charged with creating programming that not only provides dynamic in-museum experiences, but also expands the organization’s educational play footprint throughout Southwest Florida.
Prior to working in the nonprofit sector, Thayer was a music educator, teaching grades preK-12 at multiple Collier County Public Schools. She earned her master’s degree in music education with a focus in early childhood education from the University of Florida.
Before her promotion to Chief Advancement Officer, Richardson Bright served as CMON’s Director of Philanthropy, leading the museum’s fundraising and events, including raising more than $1 million at the 2022 Night at the Museum gala. In her new role, she will lead the museum’s growth efforts by overseeing the Marketing and Philanthropy teams. She brings with her years of experience in event planning and development at other nonprofits, including the American Cancer Society, Barrier Island Group for the Arts, and Children’s Home Society of Florida. She also earned a master’s in museum studies from Johns Hopkins University.
“As we enter our second decade of operations, CMON needs the creativity, insights, and skill Bonnie and Laura bring to their new roles,” said CEO Jonathan Foerster. “I’m grateful to have them on this journey as we continue to build this incredible community asset and grow our investment in the children and families of Southwest Florida.”
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