Company: Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum
Nomination Submitted by: Susan Davis International
Company Description: Susan Davis International (SDI), a woman-owned small business, has been recognized as one of the nation’s premier full-service communications and public affairs firms
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Woman of the Year - Government or Non-Profit
 Nomination Title: Kris Hoellen, Executive Director of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes, explaining the achievements since July 1, 2022 of the nominated woman, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video. If you are submitting written answers to the questions for this category, provide them in the spaces below:
- Outline the nominee's achievements since July 1 2022 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 243 words used.
Under Kris’ leadership, the Museum became designated as a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site, a point of civic pride for the community and the Museum’s staff. Kris spearheaded the award-winning exhibition "The Underground Railroad: Freedom Seekers on the B&O Railroad," highlighting the role of the physical railroad in the Underground Railroad, a story not often told, and sharing the stories of ingenuity of the freedom seekers who came through the site. Housed in the museum’s historic Mt. Clare Station, the exhibit features an immersive 180-degree multimedia experience and a recording of Henry “Box” Brown’s song, created with Howard University’s Department of Music.
Kris initiated the "Restore Baltimore" program with the Community College of Baltimore County using the Museum’s campus as a school. This initiative provides workforce development for under-employed residents, offering paid skilled trades training. Participants receive six months of hands-on experience, gaining expertise in restoration, construction trades, facilities management, or rail operations.
Kris and the B&O Railroad Museum learned in 2019 that trains are frequently a passion for children on the autism spectrum and have worked to create a more inclusive environment for neurodivergent visitors through initiatives like Sensory Inclusive Summer Camp and sensory-friendly days. The Summer Camp is free for participants and is often the first time many of the children have ever participated in camp. Sensory Friendly Sundays feature accommodations and tailored events. Additionally, the museum provides resources such as sensory kits, calming rooms, and resource tables.
- Briefly describe the nominated individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 190 words used.
Kris Hoellen is the Executive Director of the B&O Railroad Museum, the birthplace of American railroading, a position she assumed in 2018. She is leading the Museum’s preparation for the 200th anniversary of American Railroading in 2027 including a $30 million dollar campus transformation plan that entails restoring the South Car Works building, the oldest, continuously operating railroad repair facility in the nation; a change in the Museum’s entrance to actively face Southwest Baltimore, a challenged community, with the goal of sparking community development; and the planning for a national celebration and a signature event in Maryland.
Kris has been recently named to The Daily Record’s 2024 Influential Marylanders list and in 2023 was awarded the William Donald Schaefer Visionary Tourism Leader Award by Visit Baltimore. With extensive experience in destination management, transportation, and community economic development, Kris previously served as a senior vice president at the National Aquarium and held positions at the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Her decade-long tenure at The Conservation Fund focused on fostering economic and environmental health in communities nationwide.
- Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 35 words used.
https://www.borail.org/
200th Campaign: https://www.borail.org/capital-campaign/
Underground Railroad exhibit: https://www.borail.org/events/undergroundrr/
Restore Baltimore program: https://www.borail.org/join-support/community-initiatives/restore-baltimore/#:~:text=Restore%20Baltimore%20is%20a%20partnership
Sensory Inclusive Summer Camps: https://www.borail.org/events/sensory-inclusive-summer-camp/
- Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the nominee's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 248 words used.
Kris Hoellen's achievements are impactful for several notable reasons. The "Restore Baltimore" program is a pioneering workforce development initiative that not only equips participants with essential job skills but also addresses economic disparities in West Baltimore. Its success is powered by the commitment of local employers to interview graduates, setting a new standard for similar institutions. Unlike other museums' job training programs, "Restore Baltimore" specifically targets under-employed residents and bridges the gap to employment through strong employer partnerships. Moreover, Kris worked with the museum staff to adopt the mantra of “while not a community center, we are striving to be the center of our community’; this mantra guides the Museum’s work.
B&O’s sensory-friendly initiatives highlight the museum’s creative approach to inclusivity and accessibility. Unlike museums that offer limited sensory modifications only in certain exhibits and programs, the museum ensures that the entire space is welcoming for all visitors. The sensory-friendly adaptation of the Polar Express exhibit further demonstrates commitment to inclusivity, offering holiday cheer to visitors who may find the season overwhelming due to large crowds, blinking lights and sensory overload.
The award-winning "Freedom Seekers" exhibition exemplifies innovative ways museums can tackle complex and significant historical topics, offering a more immersive experience that engages multiple senses. An original song was written about this exhibit, by Wordsmith and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. The museum will now use this song as pre and post field trip education material for middle-school students furthering its commitment to multi-media and universal learning techniques.
| Attachments/Videos/Links: |
|---|
|
