MEDIA RELEASE—The Swiss Community Historical Society of Bluffton and Pandora is pleased to announce it has hired Neil Allen, a native of Ada, as its first-ever Museum Director. Gary Wetherill, president of the SCHS, stated, ”On behalf of the Swiss Community Historical Society, I’d like to welcome Neil Allen as our director of the Swiss Heritage Center. We look forward to working together with him as we enter a new era for the Society. His expertise and professionalism are already apparent in the first exhibits he has developed for the Society.”

He brings a wealth of experience to the position and has worked throughout Ohio as well as in Indiana, Wisconsin and Texas. For many years, Allen was the Executive Director at the Maritime Museum of Sandusky in Sandusky, Ohio. There, he handled the daily operation of the museum, constructed exhibits, and developed educational programs and special events. Allen’s work also included grant writing, fundraising and supervising volunteers.

Allen has begun to plan and install exhibits in the nearly completed Swiss Heritage Center, as he sorts through many artifacts currently in storage. As museum director, he will supervise all displays currently on view at the Schumacher Homestead. He recently commented, “I’m looking forward to working with the Swiss Community Historical Society board members and volunteers to develop innovative exhibits and expand our educational programs.”

For more information on the society, the Schumacher Homestead and the Heritage Center, visit SwissHistorical.org.