Date: Fri 26-Mar-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: DONNAG

Quick Words:

Dobkin

Full Text:

John H. Dobkin, To Resign

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- John H. Dobkin, president of the non-profit educational

organization Historic Hudson Valley, announced at the organization's February

24 board meeting that he will resign his position as president, effective on

June 1.

Dobkin, who was appointed as president in 1989, established a record of key

accomplishments for the organization during his ten year term.

At Historic Hudson Valley, Dobkin increased the organization's endowment from

$19 million to more than $50 million, reduced the annual operating deficit

from $2 million to zero, increased attendance from 116,000 to nearly 240,000

and developed a series of new initiatives in educational programming. With

Historic Hudson Valley already in the field of historic preservation, Dobkin

positioned the organization as a leading economic force in the regional travel

and tourism industry.

In his remarks to the board, Dobkin also expressed pride in the strong

management team he had assembled at Historic Hudson Valley. With this team in

place, Dobkin indicated that the time was right for him to pursue new

challenges.

Dobkin came to Historic Hudson Valley from the National Academy of Design,

where he had also served as director for ten years. A graduate of Yale

University and New York University Law School, he also worked for ten years at

the Smithsonian Institution, including a position in the administration of the

Cooper Hewitt Museum. Dobkin serves on the boards of numerous organizations

including Alliance Capital Management, the Municipal Art Society, the School

of American Ballet and the Arthur Ross Foundation.

Historic Hudson Valley includes six National Historic Landmark properties:

Sunnyside, in Tarrytown, N.Y.; Philipsburg Manor, in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.; Van

Cortlandt manor, in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.; Montgomery Place, in

Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y.; The Union Church of Pocantico Hills; and Kykuit,

the Rockefeller estate, in Pocantico Hills, N.Y.

The board indicated that a search process would begin shortly. Waddell W.

Stillman, chief operating officer and CFO at Historic Hudson Valley since

1992, will serve as co-president until the search process is complete.