James Windell
The Executive Director of the Michigan Maritime Museum will resign from her position on September 30, 2025, according to an announcement from the Museum Board of Directors.
Patti Montgomery Reinert has served for 15 years as Executive Director of the museum, which is located at 260 Dyckman Avenue in South Haven.
A press release from the Michigan Maritime Museum indicated that the Museum will soon begin a national search for Reinert’s successor.
“Patti leaves an indelible mark on this Museum and community as an exceptional leader and ambassador,” said Joseph Dykhuis, Board President. “She has established a legacy of tremendous growth for the Museum that will serve the community for generations to come. In its 50-year existence, the Museum has never been in a better position in terms of mission, infrastructure, financial stability, and staff leadership capabilities.”
The Michigan Maritime Museum celebrates, preserves, promotes, and stewards the vibrant heritage and culture of Michigan’s Great Lakes and waterways, through education, exhibition, and immersive experience. The Museum consists of five separate structures offering a variety of engaging opportunities for visitors, including permanent and changing exhibits that focus on Michigan maritime history. In addition, the Museum has a center for the teaching of boat-building and related maritime skills along with a fleet of period and replica vessels available to visitors for on-water experiences.
Reinert started her tenure at the Museum in early 2009 and soon began overseeing
operational leadership and planning to secure the Museum’s financial future. With a staff of only
three, the Museum featured ongoing exhibits, on-water experiences and programming that
steadily grew membership and attendance. By 2016 the Museum was on solid financial footing,
culminating with paying off the balance of a loan for the $1.3 million dollar investment in the tall
ship Friends Good Will.
In 2018, Patti and the Museum Board embarked on long-term strategic planning efforts, which resulted in the Launching a Legacy capital project, a seven-year campaign designed to re-envision the Museum’s role in Maritime historical preservation through campus expansions, staffing, programming and exhibits. As a result of Patti’s leadership, the Museum was able to raise over $10 million dollars to fund the acquisition of the historic Jensen Fisheries property, build the new Maritime Heritage Center, secure the site and waterfront, add all new boardwalks and piers, and create new program and event spaces. Furthermore, all aspects of the Museum’s operations have grown including new and enhanced educational programs, new on-water experiences, interactive exhibits and historical displays.
“My decision to step down comes after careful consideration and planning,” said Reinert in the press release, “and I am proud that I will be leaving the Michigan Maritime Museum in a position of strength and vitality. The Board and I have made significant strides toward ensuring the Museum’s future, including the development of an exceptional staff that will carry the Museum to new heights. I will be forever grateful for the many donors, members, volunteers and friends who believed in the mission of the Maritime Museum and who have helped create something so special for our area and state.”
“Patti does an amazing job caring for our maritime history and amplifying South Haven’s story of shipping and fishing,” says South Haven Mayor Annie Brown. “She has done an amazing job navigating the mission and vision of the Maritime Museum. She will be missed but I’m glad she will still be at the helm for a while.”
Plans are in place to name Reinert’s successor by May of 2025 for a period of overlap with the Executive Director prior to her departure in September of 2025.
