Tara Flynn, a Newport native, has been appointed Director of Development for The Preservation Society of Newport County. For the past 13 years, Flynn was Director of Development for Loyola Marymount University’s College of Communication and Fine Arts in Los Angeles, CA. In the University’s last campaign she led a successful fundraising effort that exceeded the College’s goal by 28%.
“Tara comes to us with an extensive background in development, marketing, sales and management,” said Preservation Society CEO & Executive Director Trudy Coxe. “She has had great success in planning and carrying out strategic fundraising initiatives. The fact that she is a Newport native is a bonus, because her knowledge of the community, the state and the Preservation Society means she will be able to hit the ground running.”
Flynn’s prior experience includes marketing and sales management positions in the publishing and hotel industries, including Sales Manager for Swissotel Boston and Fashion Sales Manager for Morgans Hotel Group in New York City. She has also held Account Executive positions with Boston Magazine and Where Magazine in Boston, as well as Los Angeles Magazine.
“I take great pride in my hometown of Newport and I am thrilled to return to this beautiful historic city to join the extraordinary team at the Preservation Society at such an exciting time,” said Flynn. “I am honored to become part of Rhode Island’s largest cultural organization to help retain the essence of Newport through the preservation of an exceptional collection of house museums and landscapes in one of the most historically intact cities in America. These important properties create connections to our heritage that help us understand our past, and help define and distinguish our community by building a strong sense of identity.”
As the Preservation Society’s Director of Development, Flynn will oversee a team that is responsible for raising support through membership, the Annual Fund, planned giving, major gifts, and grants for priority projects. She will assume her new position on July 9.
Flynn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of the Holy Cross.
The Preservation Society of Newport County, Rhode Island, is a non-profit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area’s historic architecture, landscapes, decorative arts and social history. Its 11 historic properties–seven of them National Historic Landmarks–span more than 250 years of American architectural and social development.
