Ragan Folan has been named president and CEO of Old Salem Museums and Gardens in Winston-Salem by the museum’s board of trustees, following the resignation of Lee French.
Folan, a community volunteer who has been actively involved with Old Salem as a member of the board since 2005 and as chair of the board since May 2010, began in the new position Feb. 1, 2012. She previously worked at IBM Lotus and more recently as an independent marketing consultant to the company for the past 11 years. Past board chair, Tony Furr, has replaced Folan as board chair.
“Ragan Folan has a real passion for Old Salem Museums and Gardens and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts,” Furr said. “… The board could not be more pleased that she has agreed to lead the organization as it continues on the successful path that has been established and is working well.”
French, who led the historic museum for more than five years, resigned to explore other professional objectives and to satisfy some personal goals but stayed on to help with the transition. During his tenure, French improved the finances of OSMG and led it through a strategic visioning process.
Old Salem Museums & Gardens consists of the Historic Town of Salem and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, along with the award-winning heirloom gardens, and works to teach about the early South.
Capital Development Services is pleased to serve as campaign counsel, guiding the campaign planning and implementation of the “On Common Ground” campaign, “a campaign to revitalize and re-imagine the potential of Old Salem Museums & Gardens.”
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