Dear Docents, Exhibit Hosts, Guest Services, and Education Guide Volunteers
As of December 14, Gabe Lyon will be leaving the CAC and returning to lead her consulting firm, Lyon Strategies. Gabe has been a vital part of CAC’s transformation for which I want to thank her. She leaves CAC a better place because of her involvement. Gabe started her career at CAF as a consultant where she assessed our education initiatives. She joined us in early 2014 as the VP of Education and Experience and has further enhanced CAC’s position as a national leader in design education.
During her tenure at CAC, she spearheaded the reinvention of the education department and doubled our educational program reach from 15,000 to more than 30,000 youth annually through new programs such as Camps, GirlsBuild, the Teen Fellows program and our partnerships with Northwestern University, DFSS and the Chicago Architecture Biennial. She developed No Small Plans for CAF’s 50th anniversary, a city-wide three-year initiative that works to close the city’s civic education gap and initiated our first ever crowd-sourced fundraising effort through Kickstarter.
Over the past four years Gabe served on the leadership team that steered the organization through a major transformation, including being part of the team that developed the exhibits and media in the new CAC. She shepherded two new volunteer arms: Education Guides, which support K-8 fieldtrips, family programs and festivals; and the guest-centered Exhibit Hosts who personalize visits for guests to the Center. Gabe will be missed but has assured us she will be there to help us as needed.
We all are thankful to Gabe and her leadership during this important time at the Chicago Architecture Center.
Regards,
Lynn