MSA Board of Directors

PATRICIA SAMPSON, PRESIDENT

Patricia Sampson is the Director of the Bookstore Resource Center at The King Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Patricia has also work for the High Museum of Art Atlanta as Manager or Retail Shops and Visual Merchandising. Patricia began her retail career in for-profit retail in her home state of New York. She wore many different hats in the early days of her career from assistant buyer to buyer, and even fashion show coordinator. Patricia is a dedicated and passionate member of MSA. She has previously served on MSA chapter and national committees, on the regional board of the South Atlantic Chapter, and now serves a third term on the MSA Board of Directors. Lastly, Patricia is an avid sports fan, volleyball being her favorite. She enjoys sewing, cooking and spending quality time with family and friends.

MELODY CABAN, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Melody Caban is the Museum Store Manager and Buyer at the CR Smith Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. She has been a member of the Museum Store Association for over 5 years and has worked in the museum industry for over a decade. Melody currently serves as Vice President on the MSA Board of Directors and is a founding member of MSA NEXT, in addition to serving on national committees ranging from Communications to Conference. Through this work, she has gained both national and international level experience setting up events, conventions, and working with incredible vendors and members. In 2022, she was honored to speak at the Cultural Enterprises Conference in Glasgow, Scotland on an international panel and present a talk titled "Diverse Perspectives: Creating a Mission-Led Store to Engage Every Generation".

KATE SCHUREMAN, SECOND VICE PRESIDENT AND TREASURER

Kate has been with the Peoria Riverfront Museum, and its predecessor Lakeview Museum or Arts and Sciences, for 20+ years and currently serves as the museum’s Chief Operating Officer and VP of Administration. She is responsible for visitor service, front of house earned revenue operations including the Museum Store, strategic planning, institutional evaluations, best practices, and human resources, as well as daily museum administration. Before serving as the COO, Kate served as the Project Manager for the $85 million Peoria Riverfront Museum, which opened in October 2012. Kate also serves the museum field as the Immediate Past President of the Illinois Association of Museums, serves on the Museum Store Association Education Group and on the Museum Store Association Finance Committee, as an IMLS grant reviewer, and on the American Alliance of Museums Advocacy Committee. In addition to her museum duties, Kate helps out in her community by serving as the President of the Board of the Peoria High School Alumni Association, serves in Rotary, PEO and DAR, volunteering with Compassion International, and singing in the church choir.

KIRSTEN PARKER, SECRETARY

Kirsten has been Executive Director of the Golden Spike Tower, an observation tower that overlooks the world’s largest rail road since the winter of 2013. Before arriving at “The Tower” Kirsten has a background in Public Relations and Broadcast Journalism. Kirsten credits Museum Store Association for helping her learn retail and in particular museum retail to help create a profit stream for “The Tower.” Kirsten believes in partnerships and working with others to find compromise and best solutions. In addition to MSA, Kirsten is actively a part of Nebraska Tourism organizations, Rotary International, Jaycees (JCI Certified Trainer & JCI Senator), Chamber and many other local organizations. She believes in giving back to the organizations that have helped her learn and grow. She has a passion for education and creating practical processes for the betterment of the organizations she is part of. During her downtime, you can find her at home with her husband Galvin and their two four-legged kids Oliver and Milo.

DARCY ESTES PINELO, DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Darcy Estes Pinelo is the General Merchandise Manager at the J. Paul Getty Museum. She started her 34-year career at the museum as a sales associate, later managing product development, before serving in her current role. As General Merchandise Manager, Darcy leads a Buying team of five in the purchase and production of diverse product assortments for the Getty Center and Getty Villa Museum stores, and online. She is also responsible for and enjoys designing proprietary product packaging that creates a consistent visual identity in support of the Getty brand, while also providing the consumer with compelling educational content about source artworks. Darcy has been an active member of the MSA for more than 20 years, attending annual conferences, presenting at Western Chapter meetings, and serving as Chapter Officer.

JAY THOMSON, DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Jay Thomson is a 10-year member of the Museum Store Association, and is currently the Store Manager at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia. Jay loves to apply his creativity to product development and buying for non-profit retail museum stores, and has presented sessions at the MSA Forward conference on the topic. Jay is the Treasurer of the MSA Mid-Atlantic regional chapter, having previously served as Secretary, Vice-President, and President. This is his second term as Director at Large for the national board.

AMY GRIGG, DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Amy is Director of Retail Operations at the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been a MSA member since 2015 when she began her museum retail career. Amy has a MFA in creative writing and has worked in the publishing and education industries. Involved intermittently in retail since she was fifteen years old: part-time mall work, non-profit store founder, small business owner and corporate pacesetter, Amy is proud to be a member of MSA, where professionals are supported for the unique opportunities of the museum store job. She is a member of the South Atlantic Chapter and has served as chapter meeting host, secretary, vice president and president.

AMANDA SCHULTZ, DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Amanda Schultz is the Retail Director for the Wisconsin Historical Society. She oversees retail operations and trainings, merchandising, and product development for the Society historic sites, museums, and online store. Prior to serving in her current role, Amanda was the store manager at the Wisconsin Historical Museum where her passion for museum retail began. She is thrilled to continue her work with the Society, helping to connect guests to Wisconsin history and to take a piece of it home. She is an advocate for local and independent retail and works to build representation of Wisconsin makers and artisans at the Historical Society. Amanda has a Bachelor of Arts degree from UW-Madison where she majored in Anthropology and International Studies and a minor in German. She has served on the Museum Store Association Midwest Chapter Board in numerous positions, including as President.

IBAI DEMIRDACHE, VENDOR MEMBER ADVISOR

Ibai Demirdache is the founder and Design Director of Kinzoku Custom. A third generation jeweler, Ibai apprenticed for several years in Japan. It is there that Kinzoku (meaning metal in Japanese) was born. She credits her time in Japan for opening her eyes to the beauty and simplicity of good design. Her newly expanded line of custom MADE WITH YOUR ART TM jewelry & accessories are a reflection of her core philosophy: the best gifts are the ones that tell a story and as she says to her customers, “let us tell yours”.

MACKENZIE JEANS, VENDOR MEMBER ADVISOR

Mackenzie Jeans is the owner of Allport Editions, a leading publisher of intelligent and artful eco-friendly greeting cards, tea towels and gifts. Celebrating 40 years this summer, Allport Editions remains a family-run company that continues to support independent artists across the country and beyond. After managing the company for 10 years, Mackenzie has been at its helm since 2013. Born in Reno, NV, she and the company have grown up in Portland, OR, where they’re currently based. In addition to overseeing the day-today operations of the business, which includes everything from creative design to merchandising and product development, she is also a mentor to many in the industry. Mackenzie shares ideas and vision through her involvement in MSA these past 20 years, exhibiting at MSA FORWARD and serving as Chapter Vendor Advisor for the Pacific NW Chapter, prior to serving in her current role as National Vendor Advisor.

KAREN MCNEELY, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT AND ADVISOR TO THE BOARD

Karen McNeely is the Director of Retail Operations at the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, WI. Karen’s retail career started with Carson Pirie Scott, a Midwest department store. She held positions in both store management and the buying office during her 19 year tenure. In 2008, she started with the Milwaukee Art Museum. Karen credits the invaluable connections she has made through MSA with helping her smoothly navigate the transition to the nonprofit world. Karen served three years as a chapter officer, as well as Treasurer on the MSA Board of Directors, Chairperson of the Membership Committee and the MSA Marketplace Task Force.

ELIZABETH PRICE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Elizabeth Price, MBA, CAE, is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and The Colorado Society of Association Executives (CSAE). Elizabeth has been working in association management since 2000, and has spent over 18 years in Executive Management. She has worked with associations from the ground up, building programs, developing leadership, reorganizing and managing the office and staff, and increasing and rejuvenating membership.

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