Mark Bonsall, chair of the Heard Museum Board of Trustees, has announced the board’s selection of Lee Peterson as interim president and CEO of the Heard. Peterson will act as the museum’s interim CEO upon the retirement of the current CEO, Letitia Chambers, who recently announced her retirement effective July 31. A search committee has been formed, and the selection process for a permanent replacement is expected to be completed in the fall.
Peterson, a museum member for more than 30 years and the current vice chair of the Heard’s board, recently retired as the CEO of Sun Health Services in the West Valley.
“Lee’s passion for the Heard is unparalleled, his community and business résumé is substantial, and his volunteer role within the Heard has been very extensive,” said Bonsall. “We are fortunate Lee is able to work with Letitia during this transition and to serve in an interim capacity thereafter.”
“I am glad to extend my volunteer service to include this interim CEO role,” said Peterson. “I look forward to working with our outstanding staff, Heard Museum Guild members and board leaders in the continuing development of this incredibly significant community enterprise.”
Peterson will serve as interim president and CEO on a volunteer, non-paid basis until a new executive is on board.
Peterson earned a bachelor of science degree from Wisconsin State University, River Falls, and a master’s degree in public health from the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to his current volunteer work as a member of the Heard Museum Guild, the museum’s volunteer auxiliary, Peterson serves as chairman of the Glendale Municipal Properties Corporation and chairman of Glendale School District 40 Trust. He is a past chairman of Western Maricopa Coalition (WESTMARC) and the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association. He has worked with many other community and corporate organizations in the Valley. Peterson and his wife, Kris, a long-serving West Valley teacher, live in Glendale.
