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Matt Pressberg
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MAITLAND, Fla. (May 23, 2024) — The Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida (the Holocaust Center) announced today that Chief Executive Officer Talli Dippold has accepted a leadership position at an out-of-state nonprofit organization and will be stepping down at the end of June.
Leading the organization since 2022, Dippold has expanded the reach of the Holocaust Center’s educational offerings–solidifying core programs and growing a network of K-12 educators in Central Florida. During her tenure, Dippold continued expanding the exhibition slate for the upcoming year, both onsite and in the community. Under her leadership, a dedicated team of museum professionals and Holocaust educators was established, to bring museum best practices as the center carries forward its mission to future generations.
“We greatly appreciate Talli’s leadership, efforts, and expertise as our organization emerged from the pandemic and answered the call of October 7th. We wish her nothing but great success and know that we will have a supporter and friend for life,” said Ron Schirtzer, President of the Holocaust Center Board of Directors.
Serving Central Florida for more than 40 years, the Holocaust Center recently celebrated its White Rose Tribute Event, which helps raise funds for its ongoing programming, which includes the Upstanders program, reaching 10,000 students per year and its three-decade-plus partnership with Orange County Public Schools, a one-of-a-kind arrangement that gives students a powerful understanding of the Holocaust.
In the interim, Suzanne Grimmer, the current Director of Museum Operations, and Neota Genske, the current Chief Financial Officer, will lead the Holocaust Center’s increasingly important educational programs, the Holocaust Center’s finances, and the day-to-day operations. During this time of transition, the Holocaust Center’s Board of Directors reaffirms our commitment to the organization’s core mission: to use the history and lessons of the Holocaust to build a just and caring community free of antisemitism and all forms of prejudice and bigotry.
The Board of Directors also voted to form a task force to conduct a 90-day study of a reduced scope and budget for the new museum project in Downtown Orlando. During this study period, the board will temporarily pause most capital expenditures related to the museum and reinvest resources into its ongoing active educational programs. “During a time of rising antisemitism and urgency of the moment, we felt it prudent to focus on where we could have immediate impact and that’s in our ongoing educational work while reassessing the size and scope of our future museum,” said Schirtzer. “We are 100 percent committed to pursuing a museum downtown within a realistic and sustainable framework.”
ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL RESOURCE & EDUCATION CENTER
Founded in 1980 as a series of lectures on the Holocaust, the Center opened its current
museum in 1986. It was founded by Holocaust Survivor and local philanthropist, Tess Wise. Located near Orlando, the Holocaust Center attracts visitors from around the world. Their mission is to use the history and lessons of the Holocaust to build a just and caring community free of antisemitism and all forms of prejudice and bigotry. Through their outreach of educational and cultural programs and exhibits, they teach the principles of good citizenship to people of all ages, religions, races, sexual orientations, abilities, and backgrounds every year. To learn more about the Holocaust Center, visit www.holocaustedu.org.
