June 26, 2006
MEDIA CONTACT: Caroline Witherspoon
or Jocelyn Collado
Becker Communications
(808) 533-4165
BISHOP MUSEUM NAMES NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC OPERATIONS
HONOLULU – Bishop Museum announced today that Mr. Blair Collis, recently promoted to vice-president of sales and marketing, has been promoted again to vice-president of public operations. Collis has been a crucial member of the Bishop Museum team since March 2003 and will now oversee museum exhibits and education programs, the Hawai‘i Maritime Center and the Amy Greenwell Garden , in addition to the sales and marketing department.
Collis was promoted late last year to oversee five division units, including the Bishop Museum Press, visitor industry sales, retail locations, corporate development programs, public relations and marketing. In his new position, he will continue to apply his extensive background to improve and advance the Museum’s mission to study, preserve and tell the stories of Hawai’i ’s natural and cultural history.
“Blair Collis is a true asset to Bishop Museum and its staff,” says Bill Brown, president of Bishop Museum . “As director of the Bishop Museum Press, he built it into the largest publisher of Hawaiian language texts in the world; and as vice-president of sales and marketing, he has continued to elevate the Museum’s presence in the community and throughout the museum industry. We are confident that in his new position as vice-president of public operations, Blair will be a catalyst for more great things to come.”
Prior to joining Bishop Museum , Collis was director of sales and marketing for Mutual Publishing. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international business from the University of Hawai‘i . Collis is also president of the Hawai‘i Book Publishers Association and chaired the first Hawai‘i Book and Music Festival held earlier this year.
With nearly 400,000 visitors each year, Bishop Museum serves as one of Hawai‘i’s top destinations, providing hands-on educational experiences to help residents and visitors appreciate and embrace Hawai‘i’s rich culture. By combining education, history and culture, the Museum strives to fulfill its mission set with its founding in 1889, “to study, preserve and tell the stories of the cultures and natural history of Hawai‘i and the Pacific.” Located at 1525 Bernice Street , the Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $14.95 for adults; $11.95 for youth 4-12 years, plus special rates for kama ‘āina , seniors and military; children under 4 years and Bishop Museum Members are free. For information, call 847-3511 or visit www.bishopmuseum.org.