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Kiest, who leaves behind a legacy of learning and laughter, will leave the museum on Sept. 30
Norwalk, CT, August 30, 2024 – Rhonda Kiest announced today that she will step down from her position as President and Chief Executive Officer of Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, effective September 30th.
Kiest, who began her tenure in September 1999, is the founding President and Chief Executive Officer. She began her work at the Norwalk-based attraction approximately six months before the museum’s Grand Opening on March 11, 2000. During her 25 years of incredible service to Stepping Stones and the community-at-large, the children’s museum has grown into an award-winning entity that has seen more than 8 million visitors in its years of existence.
With Kiest at the helm, the museum has opened several popular exhibits including:
Healthyville®, Conservation Quest®, Rainforest Adventure, Express Yourself, Energy Lab® and Big Adventures: Dinosaurs. She also helped to launch several important initiatives including Open Arms, which helps provide museum access to children of all abilities and backgrounds; the public-private Healthy Children, Healthy Communities®, which helps promote positive behaviors that lead to lifelong healthy habits; and the Early Language and Literacy InitiativeSM (ELLI), which helps children build the learning skills necessary for future success. Kiest played an integral leadership role for Norwalk ACTS as the collective impact agency transitioned from a grassroots organization into an independent nonprofit. During her tenure, Stepping Stones also completed a 22,000 square-foot expansion in 2010; hosted Interactivity, the Association of Children’s Museum’s international children’s museum conference, in 2016; weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, proudly reopening its doors after a 21-month hiatus in November 2021 and has seen continual growth in membership and attendance.
“My approach to growing the museum has been to continually look forward,” said Kiest.
“As I thought about the museum’s 25th birthday next year, I came to the realization that it’s time for the museum to grow so that it can continue to serve as a keystone in this community and maintain the positive impact it has on so many children. It’s time for me to turn over the reins to new leadership. I am really excited that the organization is ready to celebrate its 25th birthday and set its course for the next 25 years. My time leading Stepping Stones has been a great gift and I have every confidence that the museum’s Board and senior management team will make all the right decisions to continue to take the museum’s legacy forward.”
“After a 25-year run, we are all sad to see Rhonda leave us,” said Barbara Koteen, Chair of the Board of Directors at Stepping Stones.
“But she does so with an incredible record of accomplishment. We are forever grateful for her giving the museum the strength to be able to move on without her. That is one of her most incredible gifts – to have built a strong organization that can live on and grow.”
What's next?
Amanda Connell, the museum’s Vice President of Human Resources and Finance, will step in as the Interim Executive Director upon Kiest’s departure. Connell will be supported by the museum’s senior management team during this transition period. Stepping Stones Museum for Children’s Board of Directors will begin a nationwide search for its next leader. A special committee of museum board members are leading the search process.
