10660174 10152668015265380 281659387852937856 n

Image courtesy of Leadership Long Beach.

Rancho Los Cerritos Executive Director Ellen Calomiris has announced her retirement after 33 years managing the Long Beach historic site, according to an announcement released Wednesday. Board President William Lorbeer says a search is underway for a successor with Board Member Susan Wise to head the committee.

“Since coming aboard in 1982, Ellen has made extraordinary contributions to the Rancho,” said Lorbeer in a statement. “Her efforts, beginning in 1986, led to the development of a comprehensive Master Plan and a Strategic Plan for the site; the creation of the non-profit Rancho Los Cerritos Foundation in 1994, and, two years ago, the successful transition of Rancho operations from the City of Long Beach to the RLC Foundation.”

Lorbeer says she also played an active role in developing the museum’s school program, special events, publications, exhibitions and looking after Master Plan capital construction projects.

“She will be missed,” he added.

Calomiris earned a BA from California State University, Long Beach, studied abroad under a Fulbright Scholarship and finished her MA degree in United States History at the University of Delaware where she was a Hagley Fellow, according to the release.

“With a strong board and committed staff, I believe now is the perfect time for new leadership to step in and continue on the path set by our Master Plan and Strategic Plan, while bringing fresh insights and perspectives to the Rancho’s programs and operations,” said Calomiris in a statement. “I may be retiring, but I feel honored to have been able to steward the Rancho all these years.”

Calomiris says she will continue to be a supporter of the Rancho, both financially and as a volunteer.

“We will take the necessary time to find the perfect person to replace Ellen, but we hope to have the post filled early in 2016,” said new committee head Wise in a statement. 

Those interested in applying for the open position may submit a letter of interest and their resume as one attachment to [email protected]. For more information about the position, visit the job posting here. The Rancho will not accept direct phone calls or other inquiries about the position.

For more information about Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site, click here.

{FG_GEOMAP [33.8394152,-118.19576410000002] FG_GEOMAP}

Asia Morris is a Long Beach native covering arts and culture for the Long Beach Post. You can reach her @hugelandmass on Twitter and Instagram and at [email protected].