Adam Lerner: Master Teacher + Founder + Executive Director= Chief Animator in the Department of Fabrications

I remember when I met the former leader of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver. Instead of Adam Lerner’s title being executive director or president, his title was chief animator, and it was a title he chose himself. That threw me for a loop. What the heck did that mean? Aren’t animators people who work in animation?

I couldn’t conceive how his title equated to head honcho, but, he explained it to me. Lerner said that the way he saw his responsibility was to animate the museum, to bring it to life—the people, the exhibits, the programs, the operations. He worked behind the scene to make it happen. Once I heard that explanation, it all clicked. Of course! You can animate more than cartoon characters, you can animate organizations too. How clever, and original!

The title Chief Animator always stuck with me. It certainly stood out from all the other executive directors I’ve met over the years. You can see how his unique title and definition of his professional identity left an indelible and lasting impression. Wouldn’t you want your professional identity to strike a chord too?