Larry Wright appointed Managing Director of Bellevue Arts Museum in Washington

BELLEVUE, WA.- Following an extensive national search, the Board of Trustees of Bellevue Arts Museum announced the appointment Larry Wright as Managing Director. An Eastside native, Wright joins BAM with more than 15 years of non-profit leadership experience. He is relocating to the Pacific Northwest for this important post and will start transitioning into his new role on October 3, 2011.

Most recently Wright was the CEO of the National Mentoring Partnership in Washington, DC. There, he was responsible for the strategic oversight of the organization which delivers services to more than 5,000 member organizations across the country. During his tenure, the organization doubled its support from corporations, restarted a $30 million federal grant, increased net assets and raised its national profile with a series of events that included the President and First Lady as well as a number of Cabinet members.

Before joining the National Mentoring Partnership, Wright was the Executive Director of their regional affiliate, Washington State Mentors. During that time, the organization grew to become one of the most successful mentoring partnerships in the country. Wright helped quadruple membership and increased its budget ten-fold. With Wright as Executive Director, the organization doubled state funding through legislative advocacy and secured a multi-million dollar grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Prior to his work at Washington State Mentors, Wright worked at CBS Radio in Seattle and as the Marketing Director for the College Success Foundation. He received his Ph.D. in Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has taught at Seattle University. His academic research centered on the capacity of non-profit organizations to bring about meaningful change at the community level. He received his BA and MA from Washington State University. Committed to community service, he has served as an elected official on his local county council and as a commissioner on the Washington State Commission on Homelessness.

At Bellevue Arts Museum, Wright will serve as the Museum’s co-leader in partnership with accomplished Director of Curatorial Affairs/Artistic Director Stefano Catalani. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Larry to BAM,” says Anne Kilcup, President of the Board of Trustees. “Not only is he a seasoned non-profit executive with an impressive background, but he has the vision and passion to help ensure the Museum’s continued growth and vitality. With Stefano and Larry at the helm, we have a dynamic leadership team in place and a bright future ahead of us.”

“BAM is a true institution on the Eastside,” Wright says. “I’m very excited to take on the Managing Director position. Bellevue and the greater region needs the insights and perspectives the Museum offers, and I’m looking forward to helping expand its impact on the community.”

Members of Bellevue Arts Museum will have a chance to meet Wright in person at the upcoming November 3rd Members Reception, which also be a celebration of one of the most anticipated exhibitions of the year, George Nelson: Architect, Writer, Designer, Teacher.