The American Precision Museum Marks a New Vision and Expansion

Community and manufacturing leaders from across Vermont and the United States recently convened in Windsor, Vermont, to celebrate the introduction of the American Precision Museum’s (APM) new vision. Over 75 guests joined the APM board of directors and staff for a presentation of the museum’s new strategic plan, as well as preliminary plans for new interactive exhibit designs and increased STEM+M (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and manufacturing) education and career awareness programming. APM Board Chair Lee Morris, Co-Executive Director Steve Dalessio, longstanding supporter and funder Sarah Huskey of the Farley Family Charitable Foundation, and APM’s incoming Co-Executive Director Greg DeFrancis spoke at the occasion.

Attendees got the opportunity to tour existing exhibitions that present an insight into Precise Valley’s historic history, as well as one of the nation’s greatest collections of precise machine tools. There were also hands-on education kits from the museum’s STEM+M Pathways programme on exhibit. The occasion also provided museum visitors with their first opportunity to meet Greg DeFrancis, who joined the APM staff as co-executive director. DeFrancis brings to the organisation over 35 years of STEM teaching and museum development experience from a variety of institutions, including MIT and the Montshire Museum of Science. His background in leading complex education initiatives involving multiple partners and stakeholders, as well as his work in visitor experience design and programme evaluation, complements Co-Executive Director Dalessio’s expertise in the evolution of manufacturing technologies from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day, as displayed in the Museum’s galleries.