Executive Director Dr. Rick Plummer set to Retire

Historic White Pine Village

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Port Of Ludington Maritime Museum

Mason County Historical Society, which operates both Historic White Pine Village and Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, announces the retirement of Executive Director, Dr. Rick Plummer, and the appointment of Rebecca Berringer as Executive Director.

“The transition of management will take place effective September 1, 2018”, states MCHS Board President, James Jensen.
Dr. Plummer has served as the Society’s Executive Director since 2015. “I will be forever grateful to MCHS for the opportunity it has given me to foster my abiding love of history and for the chance it provided me to help grow the organization,” Plummer comments. “Although I am retiring, I hope to continue my support of the organization and its mission to preserve and protect our rich agricultural, lumbering, and maritime history as a volunteer,” he adds. He credits all the accomplishments made during the past three years to the Society’s talented staff and the fiscal management and vision of the Society’s Board of Directors. Plummer leaves MCHS in order to spend more time with his family, to travel, and to pursue playwriting and acting-directing projects for which he states he has always planned since his retirement in 2015 from West Shore Community College.
Dr. William Anderson, past MCHS Board President and chief fundraiser for the Society’s Maritime Museum Development Campaign, remarks of Plummer’s departure and Berringer’s appointment: “During his tenure as Executive Director of the Mason County Historical Society, Rick Plummer contributed significantly to the growth and enhancement of the Society. First and foremost, he managed the development of a first-class maritime museum for which we should all feel community pride. We are going to miss Rick’s special creative talent and leadership ability but fortunately his successor, Rebecca Berringer, has already demonstrated her leadership skills and brings her impressive national park experience to the organization.”
Rebecca Berringer, a native of Davison, MI where she attended Mott Community College, was formerly employed at Yellowstone National Park where she supervised a staff of 12 employees. In 1996, she became the family reunion/wedding coordinator for Yellowstone National Park and worked daily with tour operators from multiple countries around the globe, as well as tourists from around the USA. Because of her love of history and her desire to be involved in the community she began working for the Mason County Historical Society in 2014. Rebecca has served the organization in multiple capacities, starting as the Administrative Assistant. She was promoted first as the Financial Manager, then to Managing Director of both museums in 2016. Rebecca is thankful to have had the opportunity to work under the guidance and mentorship of Dr. Rick Plummer.

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