Pasadena Heritage Welcomes New Executive Director

Pasadena Heritage will welcome new Executive Director Erin Simon to the organization on June 3rd. She will take the helm from retiring Executive Director Sue Mossman with a smooth transition plan in place.

“Pasadena Heritage is fortunate to have recruited a person with the unique qualifications and experience that Erin brings to us,” said Board Chair Annaly Bennett. “We drew from a deep and diverse set of candidates, a number of whom were well positioned to meet our requirements. With her experience and strong fundraising knowledge, she is the right person to lead Pasadena Heritage into the second quarter of the 21st Century.”

Last September, the Board of Pasadena Heritage convened a search committee comprising the current board chair and treasurer, seven former board chairs, a former senior staff member, and a paid search consultant. That committee, led by former Board chair Steve Preston, met weekly to guide and oversee the search effort. It involved review of 117 resumes, recruiting of possible candidates, interview of potential search firms, and personal interviews with 17 final candidates from the Los Angeles area and across the nation, culminating in a final decision by the Board of Directors. Having concluded this search, Pasadena Heritage’s Board of Directors is thrilled to introduce Erin Simon to the organization and to the greater community.

“Erin Simon brings an array of talent and experience to Pasadena Heritage that will help us grow and expand our reach in the years ahead,” said Mr. Preston.  “The search committee was particularly impressed with her vision to expand our efforts in the realm of cultural heritage, while continuing our longstanding advocacy for Pasadena’s historically significant built environment. This will strengthen the bonds between Pasadena Heritage and all communities in the city.”

Erin Simon is a public historian deeply committed to the tradition of social justice activism. She brings the knowledge and experience of personally rehabbing many properties within historic districts. With a wealth of expertise in fundraising consulting across diverse sectors, including arts, culture, civic engagement, and healthcare, Erin brings a dynamic perspective to her work. She was selected for the 2022 American Association for State and Local History’s History Leadership Institute cohort and has demonstrated a profound dedication to advancing historical understanding and civic engagement. Previously serving as the President and CEO of the National Blues Museum in St. Louis, MO, she led transformative initiatives that significantly increased fundraising and community outreach. Erin is a Certified Fund Raising Executive with a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Saint Louis University, a master’s in Marketing from the University of Glasgow, and a master’s in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester.

Pasadena Heritage is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1977 with the mission to identify, preserve and protect the historic, architectural, and cultural resources of the City of Pasadena through advocacy and education. To learn more, please visit pasadenaheritage.org.