Balloon Museum Foundation Announces New Executive Director

Albuquerque, NM – The Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation is pleased to announce Susan Connor as its Executive Director. Susan is a results-driven leader with expertise in marketing strategy, sales leadership, and new business development. An accomplished marketing and sales executive with over 20 years of media and leadership experience, Susan has acted as a strategic partner to nonprofit organizations, leveraging station news and digital platforms to promote fundraising activities.

As Executive Director, Susan combines her passion for media with her care for our community. She has served in various nonprofit roles, including The American Red Cross, MADD New Mexico, Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, WESSTCorp, and Casa Esperanza. As a media executive for multiple television stations, she cultivated relationships with nonprofits to develop marketing and fundraising campaigns in the community.

“My goal is to leverage my skills and experience to deliver exceptional value to the Balloon Museum Foundation and the community I serve. I am always eager to learn and explore new opportunities in the ever-evolving world we live in,” says Susan.

Susan is a strategic leader, delivering $12+MM in revenue and $1MM in New Business Development annually through cross-functional team collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. Susan is passionate about creating engaging strategies that resonate with diverse audiences and foster meaningful connections. She champions an organizational culture focused on diversity, inclusion, transparency, and engagement that bridges generational gaps.

Susan received her Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Public Relations from Wichita State University.

“We are thrilled to welcome Susan as the new Executive Director of the Balloon Museum Foundation. She brings a rare combination of strategic leadership and deep community engagement to the role. Her vision and experience will be instrumental in guiding the Foundation’s continued growth and in strengthening our connection with the ballooning community.” — Missy Anderson, Board of Directors, Balloon Museum Foundation

About the Balloon Museum

Named in honor of Albuquerque’s pioneering aeronauts Maxie Anderson and Ben Abruzzo, the museum opened in 2005, and has since welcomed over one million visitors from across New Mexico, the United States, and around the world. The mission of the museum is to inspire a spirit of exploration, discovery, and achievement through experiences that engage our visitors in the history, science, sport, and art of ballooning and other innovative forms of flight.

URL: cabq.gov/balloonmuseum

IG: @balloonmuseum

About the Balloon Museum Foundation

The Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization established to raise funds, foster public recognition, and promote and build membership for the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum. The Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is a collaborative project of the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation and the City of Albuquerque, Department of Arts and Culture. 

URL: BalloonMuseum.com 

IG: @abqballoonfndn

For More Information:

Please contact the Foundation office at (505) 880-0500 or visit https://balloonmuseum.com/ for more information about events, the foundation, membership, and sponsorship opportunities.

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