Questions or Suggestions?
The conference planning committee is always looking for feedback, ideas, session proposals, or just a hello! Please drop us a line and let us know what's on your mind! Keep updated on conference information by joining our mailing list.
Nicole has worn many hats in her eight-year career in the non-profit arts and culture field and learned a bit along the way about senior management, visitor services & experiences, membership programs, communications, fiscal planning, strategic planning, community engagement, event planning, volunteer recruitment, and public programming. Raised in family businesses from an early age, customer relations has always been top of mind. She has developed a talent in creating welcoming environments for the public and fostering trust, collegiality, and support among workplace peers.
Imagining and executing new ideas are passions. In 2011 she identified a gap in the museum field in quality professional development opportunities for the front-lines visitor services staff. Working with knowledgeable colleagues as resources, they are now 4 years into our annual Greater Philadelphia Visitor Experience Conference and now attracting attendees from all over the country and Canada.
Nicole graduated with an M.A. in Museum Education from the University of the Arts, is the current president of the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia, and is always looking to learn about and get involved with new projects and organizations. Contact her to talk shop or just to say hello!
Daniel Corti
Director of Visitor Services and Assistant Director of Operations
The Mutter Museum at the College of Physicians
Working in Visitor Services since 2000, Daniel has worked at a variety of institutions that include The Franklin Institute, Please Touch Museum, The Independence Seaport Museum, The Academy of Natural Sciences, The Barnes Foundation and the Mütter Museum at The College of Physicians. Not always the Director, his experience has propelled him through the ranks. He has had the pleasure of consulting with a variety of museums on everything from lobby redesigns, way-finding, traffic management and visitor services department development. His ability to relate to staff and guest perspectives makes him the constant champion for both a quality visitor experience as well as an invested and passionate staff member.
Tiffany is a native Jersey girl and has been in the museum/professional development/customer service field for over 10 years. She has a degree in Museum Education from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and has worked at a variety of Philadelphia cultural institutions. Tiffany is currently the Grow Up Great Coordinator at the Barnes Foundation where she provides training for teachers. She is excited to have been apart of the founding board of the Philadelphia Visitor Experience Conference and looks forward to many more years providing professional development at this conference for individuals in the Visitor Services field.
Patrick Wittwer, a graduate of the renowned Disney Guest Service training program, has worked in Visitor Experience for over 14 years including stints at Elfreth's Alley, Please Touch Museum, the Franklin Institute, and more. An avid traveler, Patrick enjoys adapting guest service models from institutions around the world to fit his organization. Currently, Patrick is the Museum Manager at the Wells Fargo History Museum and is likely the biggest Muppet fan you will ever meet.
A long-time advocate of tourism and cultural institutions in Philadelphia, April O'Brien, a tenured high school German teacher and classical singer, most recently oversaw the creation of the department of Visitor Services at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site in Philadelphia, PA. While the majority of her museum career evolved while working at an historic prison, April discovered her passion for working with visitors at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. April believes that the arrival experience, confidence in delivery and competence around the subject are critical components to a successful visitor experience. April is thrilled to be in her second year working with PVEC’s planning committee.
Kyle has been striving to improve guest experiences for more than 10 years with stops that include the Delaware Museum of Natural History, Hagley Museum and Library, and Longwood Gardens. Currently, he is enhancing encounters at Mt. Cuba Center in Hockessin, Delaware. Research is kind of his thing (M.A. in History from the University of Delaware), and he has a special interest in visitor studies and their implementation within a museum setting. He also attempts to play golf and loves traveling to faraway places.
Marketing and Communications Committee:
Abbey Carr
Jill Lim
Jay Thomson
Events Committee:
Timothy Berry
Elizabeth Dempsey
Amanda Walker Fleming
Cynthia Helmstetter
Ali Van Norden