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A local resident, who has volunteered countless hours at the Washington Historical Society, is expanding his expertise to an executive-level position in Peoria.
The Peoria Historical Society board has named Walter Ruppman as its new executive director.
Ruppman began his new position Jan. 4 and succeeds Amy Kelly, who retired.
“I see this as a natural fit with my involvement in the community and in local historical activities and historic preservation,” Ruppman said. “I was looking for an executive-level commitment to something I really enjoy.
Ruppman said he looks forward to working with the historic society as they proceed with the Riverfront Museum coming to Peoria.
“Over the next three years will be a very significant transitional time,” Ruppman said. “This is an excellent opportunity to really work with this organization through this transition.”
Marilyn Leyland, Peoria Historical Society president, said, “He’s well-prepared to advance the society as we transition towards an exciting Riverfront Museum celebrating Peoria’s past and creating a dynamic future.”
After volunteering with many historic and civic organizations, Ruppman said he has many new ideas for the Peoria Historical Society.
“The key word these days is collaboration,” he said.
The Peoria society needs to expand and collaborate with the other historic entities in the area, such as area community historical societies, genealogy groups and preservation groups, he said.
Ruppman also said he wants to expand the organization’s educational programs.
For instance, the Washington Historical Society provides a program called a “trunk show,” where members bring a trunk with a certain historical theme into a classroom, he said.
“That’s something that the Peoria Historical Society is very interested in,” he said.
Ruppman, who has been a resident of Washington for 40 years, first became involved in the Washington Historical Society because of his wife, Joan.
“She gravitated towards the historic society that was being developed here,” he said. “And, as we say, ‘From there it was just history.’”
Ruppman was involved with the organization purchasing and renovating the historic Zinser House, one of the oldest homes in Washington.
He and his wife also live in a historic home at 212 S. Main St., the location where a funeral home once operated.
Ruppman also is a member of the Washington Historical Preservation Commission, Peoria Historical Society and Peoria Symphony Orchestra Foundation board. He is also a past president of the Peoria Symphony board and the Washington District 52 Board of Education.
His career has included marketing and information technology in his own businesses.
These are skills Ruppman said he hopes to use in his new position.
He looks forward to “using the technologies of today and the future to really enhance the collection, storage and dissemination of information about historic properties, about historic places,” Ruppman said.
A local resident, who has volunteered countless hours at the Washington Historical Society, is expanding his expertise to an executive-level position in Peoria.
The Peoria Historical Society board has named Walter Ruppman as its new executive director.
Ruppman began his new position Jan. 4 and succeeds Amy Kelly, who retired.
“I see this as a natural fit with my involvement in the community and in local historical activities and historic preservation,” Ruppman said. “I was looking for an executive-level commitment to something I really enjoy.
Ruppman said he looks forward to working with the historic society as they proceed with the Riverfront Museum coming to Peoria.
“Over the next three years will be a very significant transitional time,” Ruppman said. “This is an excellent opportunity to really work with this organization through this transition.”
Marilyn Leyland, Peoria Historical Society president, said, “He’s well-prepared to advance the society as we transition towards an exciting Riverfront Museum celebrating Peoria’s past and creating a dynamic future.”
After volunteering with many historic and civic organizations, Ruppman said he has many new ideas for the Peoria Historical Society.
“The key word these days is collaboration,” he said.
The Peoria society needs to expand and collaborate with the other historic entities in the area, such as area community historical societies, genealogy groups and preservation groups, he said.
Ruppman also said he wants to expand the organization’s educational programs.
For instance, the Washington Historical Society provides a program called a “trunk show,” where members bring a trunk with a certain historical theme into a classroom, he said.
“That’s something that the Peoria Historical Society is very interested in,” he said.
Ruppman, who has been a resident of Washington for 40 years, first became involved in the Washington Historical Society because of his wife, Joan.
“She gravitated towards the historic society that was being developed here,” he said. “And, as we say, ‘From there it was just history.’”
Ruppman was involved with the organization purchasing and renovating the historic Zinser House, one of the oldest homes in Washington.
He and his wife also live in a historic home at 212 S. Main St., the location where a funeral home once operated.
Ruppman also is a member of the Washington Historical Preservation Commission, Peoria Historical Society and Peoria Symphony Orchestra Foundation board. He is also a past president of the Peoria Symphony board and the Washington District 52 Board of Education.
His career has included marketing and information technology in his own businesses.
These are skills Ruppman said he hopes to use in his new position.
He looks forward to “using the technologies of today and the future to really enhance the collection, storage and dissemination of information about historic properties, about historic places,” Ruppman said.
