NAPLES, Florida (August 24, 2021) – The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (CMON) announced today the restructuring of its executive leadership team. Since the nonprofit’s foundation in 2002, CMON has been led by talented directors and executive directors. To prepare for CMON’s second decade, the existing leadership team and board of directors have decided to create a C-suite of creative and talented officers, shifting Dena Rae Hancock from Executive Director to Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Dena Rae has served as Executive Director of CMON since August 2020, when her role changed from interim to permanent. Hancock joined the organization in 2019 lending her expertise in philanthropy and advancement. Prior to joining CMON, she was Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Marian University and Director of Campaign & Major Gifts for the Indianapolis Zoological Society.
Beth Housewert, Senior Director of Play and Learning, and Desiree Cuenca, Director of Marketing and Engagement, will keep these same titles until further notice.
“CMON’s number one priority remains providing educational and developmental play and learning opportunities for the children of our community,” said CMON Board Chair Jodie Montgomery. “We are excited for the evolution of the nonprofit into its next chapter with leadership from experienced officers like Dena Rae.”
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ABOUT Golisano Children’s Museum – A BRAIN-BUILDING POWERHOUSE
The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples is a brain-building powerhouse and Southwest Florida’s first museum devoted for children and families to learn through play. With hands-on exhibit galleries, the accessible museum invites visitors of all ages to journey through the swamps of the Everglades, weave through a maze, climb a two-story banyan tree, or experiment with the water play station. Children can become a weather forecaster, a farmer, a chef, a fisherman, an artist, an architect or a veterinarian; explore the cold of an igloo, the whoosh of the wind, the sound of the sea, and the effects of gravity. Throughout the day special activities encourage our guests to get involved, try something new and be energized. CMON offers a variety of interactive exhibits providing kids with education, play, learning, science, technology, engineering, inventions, space exploration, art, math, storybooks, creation, building, sensory, and child development.