Madison, WI Header
File #: 84380    Version: 1 Name: Expressing appreciation for the work and contributions of Deb Gilpin.
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
File created: 7/10/2024 In control: Council Office
On agenda: 7/16/2024 Final action: 7/16/2024
Enactment date: 7/19/2024 Enactment #: RES-24-00452
Title: Expressing appreciation for the work and contributions of Deb Gilpin.
Sponsors: Nasra Wehelie, Satya V. Rhodes-Conway, Juliana R. Bennett, Nikki Conklin, Jael Currie, John W. Duncan, Tag Evers, Derek Field, Yannette Figueroa Cole, MGR Govindarajan, John P. Guequierre, Barbara Harrington-McKinney, Isadore Knox Jr., Amani Latimer Burris, Sabrina V. Madison, Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, Charles Myadze, Marsha A. Rummel, Bill Tishler, Michael E. Verveer, Regina M. Vidaver
Fiscal Note
No fiscal impact.
Title
Expressing appreciation for the work and contributions of Deb Gilpin.
Body
WHEREAS, Deb Gilpin, the President and CEO of the Madison Children’s Museum (MCM), announced that she would retire in the summer of 2024 following 11 years at the helm; and,

WHEREAS, Deb Gilpin was born and raised in the Madison area; and,

WHEREAS, Gilpin helped open two museums in other states before she returned to Madison in 2013 to take the position of President and CEO of the Madison Children’s Museum; and,

WHEREAS, under Gilpin’s leadership, the MCM has served 2 million visitors, built several new exhibits, improved its financial position, increased employee pay and retention, grew community partnerships, and continued the museum’s history of innovation and leadership in the children’s museum field; and,

WHEREAS, in particular, Gilpin worked to increase sustainability and break down barriers to access under her leadership at the MCM; and,

WHEREAS, Deb Gilpin oversaw the launch of several programs at the MCM, including, but not limited to, the Teen Workforce program to improve the job opportunity gap between teens of color and their peers, the First-Time Parent Membership, and the first pay-what-you-can restaurant in a museum, Little John’s Lunchbox; and,

WHEREAS, the Access for Everyone program, which reduces barriers to museum admission, increased in usage from 17% to 35% under her leadership, in part due to the decision to remove documentation requirements from Access for Everyone membership and admission programs; and,

WHEREAS, in addition to her work at the Madison Children’s Museum, Gilpin served on the Aldo Leopold Nature Center Board of Directors for three terms upon joining in May of 2014; and,

WHEREAS, Gilpin chaired numerous committees, including the Strategic Planning Task Force, the Compensation Sub Committee, the Program Curriculum Committee, and the Executive Search Committee; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the M...

Click here for full text