SUSAN Evans McClure
38 | Lake Champlain Maritime Museum | Executive Director
Residence: Hinesburg
Career highlight(s): The career highlight I'm most proud of is creating and launching the Smithsonian's first Brewing History Initiative. In my role at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, I worked with the team of curators and educators who were using food and beverage history to tell a broader story of 
American history. We realized that the museum had a strong collection of 19th century brewing history, but had little to no documentation of the craft beer movement post-1960s. I spearheaded a multi-year effort to document that important part of America's brewing history and we hired the Smithsonian's first beer historian.
Community Involvement: I am on the Board of Trustees of my local library: Carpenter Carse Library in Hinesburg. I am so proud of the work that our library does to meet the needs of our community. I also serve as Vice Chair of the Board of Director of Addison County Economic Development Corporation. We work to create a strong and supported environment for existing and new businesses in Addison County, which in turns makes the region a great place to live, work, and play.
What motivated you to live and work in Vermont? I have lived and traveled all over the world, and Vermont is the place that has always felt like home. Vermont has a thriving arts and culture scene, and also has access to all the outdoor activities you could want. Our seasons are varied and all beautiful in their own ways. The people are resourceful and creative and committed. This is a great place to be, and I am motivated to make sure it is a place where everyone feels welcome and feel like they can thrive.
Favorite part of your job: My favorite part of my job is meeting people who have amazing personal stories to share about Lake Champlain's history. And hearing our visitors say that they used to think about our history one way, and after coming to the Museum, they now think about things in a new way.
What is the best career advice you have received? The best career advice I have received is that "it's just a job!" I find that it is so easy to get overly focused on career success, and the best advice for me is a reminder that a successful career is one that is balanced with living a fulfilled life.
Favorite Vermont escape: My favorite Vermont escape is snowshoeing on a sunny, cold day in the woods behind my house.
How has your job changed since this pandemic? Before the pandemic, I considered the focus of my job to be interpreting and sharing history in a meaningful, personal way. And that is still true. But as soon as the pandemic started, it became clear that my job is also about keeping our staff employed and providing opportunities for our team to succeed in their careers and lives. Nonprofits are also a vital part of business and our economy.