Director of Buffalo Bill Center of the West resigns

Posted 1/7/21

Peter Seibert, director of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, resigned Wednesday morning after accepting a position as director of the Independence Seaport Museum in …

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Director of Buffalo Bill Center of the West resigns

Posted

Peter Seibert, director of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, resigned Wednesday morning after accepting a position as director of the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia.

Seibert’s last day at the center will be Feb. 12.

“Our family is very sad to be leaving Cody and the many friends that we have here,” he said in a statement. “Returning to Pennsylvania is important for us at this time for family reasons and we leave behind fond memories of this community.”

A recent death in the family motivated Seibert and his wife, Kim, to relocate to Pennsylvania, where they also have an adult daughter, Bill Shiebler, chairman of the center’s Board of Trustees wrote in an email to trustees and employees. The center will begin a nationwide search for a new director, he said, naming Lynn Rodgers to the role of interim executive director and CEO.

“As many of you know, Lynn has filled this role admirably in the past and will continue to do so in this transitional period. Searching for a new director will require time and patience in order to find that leader who can move us to the next level,” Shiebler said.

Seibert came to the center in 2018 from Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. He brought a flair for interactive exhibits with him, creating new entities such as the new Scout Saddle Company; it employs apprentices to learn saddle making and leather crafts while inviting visitors to watch their daily progress. Seibert was also in the planning stages for gun engraving and western-themed milliner programs.

Seibert left his mark on the center in his short stint, said retired Judge Steve Cranfill, a member of the center’s board of trustees and chairman of the search committee when Seibert was hired.

“He’s done a great job. I think he was well-respected by staff professionals,” Cranfill said of Seibert. “He made a real effort to be involved in the community, and to that he was well aware of our presence in the community. He wanted to make sure that we had a positive presence.”

Cranfill said it’s an interesting time in the industry and filling the position might be easier because of an economic downturn during the pandemic.

“A lot of museums closed up across the United States. Fundraising has been a real effort, as well as attendance and everything else during a crisis like this,” he said.

Cranfill said he wouldn’t be surprised if the center receives a lot of unsolicited requests for consideration.

“I’m sure there are a lot of museum professionals that are at home right now, like everybody else,” he said. “I’m very curious to see how things develop.”

Levi Meyer, the public relations and marketing manager at the Center of the West, said the organization wishes Seibert and his family the very best moving forward.

“While Peter will be dearly missed, we are happy and excited for him as he takes on this new challenge,” Meyer said.

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