Press Release: CCAHA Names Michelle Eisenberg as Executive Director
The Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA), a nonprofit organization that delivers expert conservation and preservation services to archives, corporations, historical societies, libraries, museums, and private individuals, named Michelle Eisenberg as its executive director. Eisenberg, an experienced nonprofit manager and development professional, previously served as CCAHA’s acting director since September 2022, and for six years as deputy director, overseeing business development, finance, and operations. The announcement, which followed a comprehensive search, was made by CCAHA Board Chair Derek Jones, and Larry Massaro, former CCAHA board chair, and chair of CCAHA’s executive director search committee, and is effective immediately.
The mission of CCAHA is to provide expertise and leadership in the preservation of cultural heritage. Founded in Philadelphia 45 years ago, the organization now assists clients in the Mid-Atlantic region, nationally, and across the globe. As executive director, Eisenberg will lead a team of highly skilled conservators and preservation services staff who are at the top of their fields, working in the lab to repair and stabilize books, photographs, documents, and other works on paper, and in the field to provide educational programs and training, and help institutions plan for the future of their collections. The team of specialists also includes expertise in digitization and reproduction, fundraising, and client services.
“The Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts is so pleased to announce the selection of Michelle Eisenberg as executive director,” said Jones. “Michelle is a visionary and experienced leader who has spent most of her career assisting and serving nonprofit cultural organizations. She brings this expertise and her deep understanding of CCAHA to the important role of guiding the organization to fulfill its mission.”
“Serving as deputy director at the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts has been the joy of my career, and I am honored to now serve CCAHA as its executive director,” Eisenberg said. “As a lifelong student of history and culture, I love how CCAHA’s work unites science, humanities, and fine arts expertise to preserve objects and the stories they tell. I consider it a privilege to support CCAHA’s mission every day, and to work with the very best in the field as we serve the cultural heritage sector, from established institutions, to community-based collections, to individual collectors. I look forward to leading CCAHA in our important work of influencing conservation and preservation practice and developing collections care professionals.”
Massaro, who chaired the search committee, added, “Michelle’s deep knowledge of CCAHA’s staff and operations have ensured continuity and strong leadership during a time of transition. In her new role, she brings a focus on raising awareness of the importance of conservation stewardship and ensuring cultural heritage is more accessible to more people.”
Prior to joining CCAHA, Eisenberg worked in several executive leadership roles with organizations in Philadelphia, including as senior director of consulting and staffing services for Schultz & Williams, where she counseled dozens of nonprofits; associate director at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute at Temple University; and as director of foundation and corporate support for the National Constitution Center.
She received her MBA from Temple University and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Pennsylvania.
Eisenberg resides in Paoli, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia, with her husband and two sons.
About the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA)
Established in 1977 in Philadelphia, the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) is a nonprofit organization delivering a wide range of conservation and preservation services. Its mission is to provide expertise and leadership in the preservation of cultural heritage. CCAHA’s conservators repair and stabilize books, photographs, and documents. CCAHA’s preservation services staff works in the field providing education programs and helping institutions plan for the future of their collections. CCAHA offers a range of digitization and reproduction services, as well as fundraising assistance, housing and framing, and more.
CONTACT:
Jason Henn, jhenn@ccaha.org, (215) 545-0613 ext. 340
Susan Hamilton, shamilton@devinepartners.com, (215) 568-2525