Small Museum Association Conference 2025

Small Museum Association Conference 2025

9:00am EST

Bus Tour: Uncovering Hidden Histories of Frederick County Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

10:30am EST

Bus Tour: Planning for Interpretation at Black and African American Heritage Sites Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

12:00pm EST

Registration Table Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

1:00pm EST

The Future of SMA: Strategic Planning Discussion Salon B Building Better Job Descriptions: Bringing Humanity Back to Hiring Lakeside 2Alli Schell • Samantha Dorsey How to Innovate & Collaborate without Harming Yourself or Others Salon AAlexander Lawrence Ames • Emilie Parker Putting It All Together: Preparing for 2026 at Small History Organizations Lakeside 1Melissa Prycer Resource Hall Washingtonian Ballroom Foyer Silent Auction Lakeside 1 & 2 Foyer

2:30pm EST

Maryland State Museum Meeting Lakeside 1

4:00pm EST

Offsite Opening Reception at the National Capital Trolley Museum National Capital Trolley Museum

6:00pm EST

Eat & Engage (No Meal Provided)

9:00pm EST

Trivia Lakeside 1

8:00am EST

Breakfast Ballroom Resource Hall Washingtonian Ballroom Foyer Registration Table Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center Silent Auction Lakeside 1 & 2 Foyer

9:00am EST

Keynote, Veronica Gallardo - "Small Museum but Mighty!" BallroomVeronica Gallardo

10:15am EST

20+ Programs, Seven Exhibits, Four Months, Three Staff, and an Osprey on a Flagpole: Pooling Skills and Using Community Resources Salon ACaitlin Playle • Molly Voth Government Accountability Office Focus Group: Museum Facility and Infrastructure Challenges Lakeside 2Kyle Browning • Sharon Dyer Leveraging Digital Tools to Promote Access to Collections Lakeside 1Dan Rael • Rayanna Hoeft • Todd Hoeft • Victoria Tamez Repatriation and Its Impact Salon BLauren Bufferd • Bonnie Seymour

11:15am EST

Coffee Break: Sponsored by Laura Apelbaum Salon BLaura Cohen Apelbaum

11:30am EST

Making a Collection Happen: Two Case Studies Salon ARebecca Henson • Angie Barry • Ashley Williams Making Touch Objects For Museum Exhibits Lakeside 2Cheryl Fogle-Hatch • Stefanie Koseff Revitalizing the Outdated: Reimagining the Visitor Experience for the 21st Century Lakeside 1Kay Manuel Osmer

12:30pm EST

2:00pm EST

Rest Space Salon B Where Does the Bus Even Park? Overcoming Logistical Challenges of Field Trips in Small Museums Lakeside 2Hannah Gaston • Michaela Piepoli “Whatever Happened to the Communications Museum?” or Saving a Collection from Organizational Disaster Salon ACatherine Stiers • Kelly Kerbow Hudson Unlocking the Mysteries of Your Organization’s Tax Return Lakeside 1Jillian Decker • Conrad Deitrick

3:00pm EST

The Future of SMA: Strategic Planning Discussion Lakeside 2

4:00pm EST

Dutch Treat Happy Hour with HCWHA Hotel BarHeart of the Civil War Heritage Area, Inc.

5:30pm EST

Cocktail Hour & Banquet Ballroom

8:00am EST

Breakfast Ballroom Resource Hall Washingtonian Ballroom Foyer Registration Table Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

9:00am EST

Plenary, Marvin-Alonzo Greer - Wake Up Small Museums! You Have The Power! BallroomMarvin-Alonzo Greer

10:15am EST

Getting to the Art of the Matter Lakeside 1Corey Frey • Elizabeth Anderson Comer The Future of SMA: Strategic Planning Discussion Lakeside 2 Tour A New Online Research Tool for Regional African American History Salon BEmily Huebner With a Staff of One, Vision and Collaboration Make it Happen Salon ARita Graef