Jul

On the move at OFEO, Visitor Services and the Office of the Secretary

July 31, 2015 Coming? Going? Let your colleagues know! Submit items to torch@si.edu and put “On the Move” in the subject line. Be sure to include contact information and a picture as an attachment. We love pictures!

Office of Facilties Management and Reliability

Daniel H. Davies is the new OFMR Zone Manager for the South Mall Zone, which includes the Castle, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Arts and Industries Building, the Freer and Sackler Galleries, the National Museum of African Art and the Ripley Center, as well as 250,000 square feet of leased space at Capital Gallery and In Crystal City.

Dan joined the Smithsonian in July 1994 as Physical Plant Administrator (Facilities Manager) for the National Portrait Gallery, what was then known as the National Museum of American Art, the Barney Studio House and the Renwick Gallery. In February 2007, Davies became the Facilities Manager of the Upper Northwest Zone, which includes the National Zoo and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia.

Before joining the Smithsonian, Dan spent 10 years as owner/operator of Red Beard Construction Co., doing public sector renovation and restoration work. Dan holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Agricultural Science and a certificate in Facilities Management.

Office of Visitor Services

Sherri Wheeler has been appointed Director of the Office of Visitor Services. Sherri has been at the Smithsonian since 2003, following a 12-year career at the United States Secret Service. She began her Smithsonian career at the Archives of American Art and since 2007 served as administrative officer for the Office of Communications and External Affairs, where she twice also served as acting director of OVS.

She has been co-chair for the Council of Administrators and a member of the Visitor Services Advisory Committee, Exhibitions Services Redesign Team, and the Zero-Base Central Trust Budget Review Team. Sherri earned her master’s degree in organizational management from Ashford University and her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

Office of Emergency Management

Eric Gentry is the new Associate Director of the Office of Emergency Management. Eric comes to the Smithsonian from the Federal Emergency Management Agency where he served as Chief, Field Operations and Chief, Qualification System Branch in Washington, D.C.

Prior to his service with FEMA, Eric held positions in local and state emergency management offices in addition to managing emergency service support in the private sector. His career includes fire and rescue, education and training, and many other facets of disaster preparedness and planning; over the course of his career, Eric has been involved in the response to national emergencies and disasters ranging from hurricanes to wildfires.

: Dan Davies, Zone Manager, South Mall Zone

: Sherri Wheeler, Director, Office of Visitor Services

: Eric Gentry, Associate Director, Office of Emergency Management

Office of the Secretary

With Secretaray Skorton’s arrival July1, there have been changes to the Secretary’s staff:

Greg Bettwy is Acting Chief of Staff
Evelyn Lieberman is Senior Advisor and Assistant to the Secretary for External Relations
LeShawn Burrell-Jones is Special Assistant to the Secretary
Barb Mickits is Assistant to the Secretary
Sean Fields is Assistant to the Chief of Staff
Grace Jaeger is Administrative Officer
Hillary Zulli, is Program Specialist, Records Management