Published: September 17, 2007 06:18 pm            

PEOPLE PROFILE: Carrousel museum director is settling into her job

When Vicki Prager decided to accept the job as director for the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, it marked a stark contrast from small, nonprofit group that provided sports equipment to sick children where she previously worked.

“It was completely different than working with sick kids,” she said. “There was the tourism aspect, and trying to bring as many people in to the museum as you can.”

Prager, an Orchard Park resident, had quit her job at Children Growth Foundation last spring and wasn’t planning on finding work again until her teenage children went back to school this September. But when the job came along in June, she couldn’t pass it up.

“I was really fascinated to be working at a museum,” she said. “I thought it would be a real challenge.”

The first several months have been eventful and tough, but Prager said she sees the museum moving forward and becoming more popular.

“We get about 12,000 visitors a year from all over the United States, and then sometimes local people don’t even know we’re there,” she said. “My goal is to get the local people to the museum.”

Local television appearances, press releases and open houses with teachers are some of the ways Prager has tried to make the museum more attractive to locals.

“We’re trying all different ways,” she said. “We just want to get the community to come in and look around.”

Prager lives with her husband, John Fithian, and her two boys. Not surprisingly, one of her biggest interest includes museums of all kinds. But her children are number one.

“Teenage kids, they consume your life,” she said.

Contact reporter Dan Miner at 693-1000, ext. 115.

        

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