Welcome Hamilton Hill Arts Center's New Executive Director

Dear friends and colleagues:

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Doretha “Penny” Holmes, the new Executive Director of the Hamilton Hill Arts Center, beginning Monday, May 2.

Ms. Holmes comes to the Hamilton Hill Arts Center with a strong background in non-profit management. Her skills include Human Resources Management, Fiscal Administration and Oversight, Grant Writing; Public Speaking, Special Events Planning and Implementation, and Fundraising.

Ms Holmes was the Chief Professional Officer (CPO) of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany from 1996-2009. She began her career in human services at the YWCA of Troy-Cohoes in 1990 and rose through the ranks from Executive Assistant to Program Director to Acting Executive Director of the Organization.

A graduate of the Junior College of Albany (Division of Russell Sage) with an A.A.S. in Legal Studies, Penny earned a B.A. in Political Science from Russell Sage College. She is a graduate of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Management Program Class of 2000 and the Upper Management Career Assistant Program in which she also served as a mentor for upcoming Executive Directors. Penny is a graduate of the class of 2002 Capital Leadership Program and a 2006 participant of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Executive Leadership Program.

Penny has received numerous achievement awards for her work in the community: 1998 Special Partner of the Year Award, 1998 - 2000 honored by the family members of the Local Homeschoolers, 2000 Citizen of the Year Award sponsored by the Nu Tau Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., 1999 honored by the Odyssey Ladies Club and 2002 40 Under 40 Award recipient sponsored by The Business Review, and the Harriet Tubman Award.

Although Ms. Holmes career does not include an arts background, she has always had an interest in the arts, particularly African American Arts and looks forward to learning more. We can all be confident in the positive contributions Ms Holmes will bring during her directorship of the Hamilton Hill Arts Center.

Thank you all for your support and your commitment to the Hamilton Hill Art Center. I will always remember my years at the Hamilton Hill Arts Center with pleasure and satisfaction.

Sincerely,

Miki Conn
Retiring Executive Director