The Oxford Community Center has appointed Michael Valliant as the center’s Executive Director. Valliant was born and raised in Oxford and has worked for Talbot County non-profit organizations, including the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and Academy Art Museum. He assumed the position officially on March 3.
Hiring Valliant was the result of an extensive search by a search committee appointed by the OCC Board of Trustees. The search was headed by Cathy McCoy, OCC Board President.
“Michael brings both a wealth of non-profit experience to OCC and a deep connection to and history with Oxford and Talbot County,” McCoy said. “We’re excited to have him here to help lead us in our mission to provide outstanding educational, cultural, and social programs and events to the Mid-Shore region.”
Valliant is familiar with Talbot County non-profit and cultural organizations. For more than seven years he worked as Director of Marketing and Media Relations, Director of Communications and Editor at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, where he oversaw writing, editing and editorial content of the museum’s publications and communications, including a quarterly magazine, annual report, magazine articles, press releases and e-mail newsletter. He led a comprehensive redesign of the museum’s website; worked with regional and national media; tracked and analyzed annual and event attendance; and supervised and hired staff.
Prior to CBMM, Valliant served as Public Affairs and Development Officer for the Academy Art Museum. At the Academy, he oversaw all public relations and marketing efforts; coordinated an institutional name change and rebranding effort, and helped coordinate a successful $3.8 million capital campaign through a feasibility study and silent phase. For the past five years, Valliant has worked as a technical writer, speech writer and feature writer supporting the United States Coast Guard Acquisition Directorate at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
“OCC is a homecoming for me, both to the town where I grew up, as well as a return to working for our Eastern Shore community,” Valliant said. “My father went to grade school in this building, my sister spent her summers there at the O.K. Kids Camp, and I remember watching my great uncle on stage with the Tred Avon Players. I feel very connected to OCC and am excited to return to my professional roots of working for a special cultural organization serving our community.”
Valliant lives in Easton and has two daughters, Anna, age 13, and Ava, age 10. He is an active runner, writer and stand-up paddleboarder.
Located in the town of Oxford, the OCC is housed in a former schoolhouse built in 1928 and designed by Annapolis-born architect Henry Powell Hopkins. Hopkins designed notable public buildings throughout Maryland and the OCC is the last surviving example of his school projects. OCC recently completed a successful capital campaign and renovation of the building. The facility is now an award-winning LEEDS (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certified building with state of the art HVAC, sound and lighting systems, large auditorium, commercial kitchen and several classrooms. OCC hosts programs, performances, and classes throughout the year, and is available for rental.
For more information, please contact the Oxford Community Center at 410-226-5904, email [email protected], visit their website at www.oxfordcc.org or their Facebook page at Oxford Community Center, Inc.
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