Executive Director of the Northeast Georgia History Center Glen Kyle will be stepping down this month after fifteen years at the organization.
Kyle stepped into the role of Executive Director of the Center in September of 2007 after spending eight years at the Atlanta History Center with the vision of making it the premier historical institution in the region.
“I came here with a strong passion for history, and a background in museum work, but not much experience in management or leadership” Kyle explained in a press release. “That only came with a lot of time and a lot of help and support from a lot of different people.”
During his time at the Center, Kyle not only helped grow the staff from two to eight but also gave the center staples such as living history, the museum theater, a digital studio and events to help the community learn about history together. Kyle is also known in the community for giving talks on several topics to numerous groups and portraying characters such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Aside from serving as Executive Director at the Center, he has taught classes at the University of North Georgia and written a book on Hall County in World War II.
Kyle said in a press release he feels it was time to step down to take up new challenges in life.
“If history teaches us anything, it’s that change is not only inevitable, but it’s a part of life,” he said. “I just turned fifty and spent fifteen years doing what I love, but, I feel like it’s time for me to take up some new challenges in life.”
Kyle will join Forum Communications, a local full-service strategic marketing agency.
“This is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, but I feel it’s the right one and it’s an exciting one,” he said.
Kyle also said that while he’s helped grow the mission of the History Center, there's still much more to be done.
“I feel like I’ve taken the History Center as far as I can;” he said. “It’s going to be up to someone with new skills and fresh ideas to keep pushing the institution forward. And I need to make room for that to happen.”
Kyle said his biggest takeaway from being with the Center for a decade in a half is the people that have come through.
“It’s really the people that have made all the difference,” he said. “Staff and volunteers, the board of directors, members, and those students of all ages who come through and are so excited to learn. Being a part of that, and of this place, has been one of the most meaningful and fulfilling experiences of my life. I will miss it.”
The Northeast Georgia History Center is located at 322 Academy St. NE in Gainesville, Georgia. For more information, visit their website at www.negahc.org or call 770-297-5900.
