Historic Columbia names interim director as longtime leader set to retire. What to know
A leading historic organization in the capital city has named an interim leader as its longtime executive director is retiring.
Historic Columbia announced Tuesday that Jeffrey Richardson will assume the role of acting executive director of the nonprofit on June 28. This comes as veteran Historic Columbia executive director Robin Waites is set to retire. Waites, who has been with Historic Columbia for more than 20 years, announced in October 2023 that she would be retiring this summer.
“We are thrilled to have Jeffrey take on this important role,” Historic Columbia board president Rodrick Shiver said in a statement. “His extensive experience and passion for our mission make him the perfect choice to lead Historic Columbia during this transitional period.”
Richardson has been with Historic Columbia since 2022 and is the organization’s director of operations. The nonprofit said in a release that Richardson “has been instrumental in overseeing the day-to-day functions of Historic Columbia, ensuring the preservation and promotion of the region’s rich history while being a good steward of public and private funding.”
A search for a permanent director of Historic Columbia is ongoing, the organization said.
“I am honored to step into the role of acting executive director,” Richardson said in a statement. “Historic Columbia is a cornerstone of our community, and I am committed to continuing our efforts to preserve and share our connections to the past.”
Historic Columbia grew in influence and scale under Waites’ watch. When she was hired as executive director two decades ago, Historic Columbia had six full-time staffers, a handful of part-timers and an annual budget of about $300,000. It now employs more than 20 full-time staffers, about 20 part-timers and has a budget of $2.5 million. It oversees a host of historic homes and sites across Columbia and Richland County.
