Phelan Fretz introduces the panelists at a water-quality roundtable last August at Echo. Leading the panel is Senator Patrick Leahy (center) and to his right is special guest US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. VBM photo
Vermont Business Magazine Dr Phelan Fretz, PhD the founding executive director of the ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (ECHO), is retiring in June after 20 years leading the science museum on the Burlington Waterfront. Fretz is the museum’s first executive director and joined the organization in 2002. He previously served in leadership positions at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, the New England Aquarium in Boston, and Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. Fretz is widely credited for his fundraising and community-building skills that have led to the organization’s success.
“This is truly a bittersweet announcement for me because I deeply love ECHO and my time here has been an honor,” said Fretz. “I extend my sincere gratitude to Senator Leahy and Marcelle for their trust and support over the years. Their vision for the waterfront and commitment to create a place where environmental stewardship can spark the imagination of Vermonters young and old is a treasure for our state. I also want to thank our donors, volunteers, and staff for sustaining ECHO.”
Fretz is the museum’s first executive director and joined the organization in 2002 to open the ground-breaking waterfront science museum. At 65, Fretz has maintained a pivotal presence in the museum and business communities. He served as Chair of the New England Museum Association and the Burlington Business Association, along with membership in the Vermont Business Roundtable. He has served on numerous national advisory committees such as the Institute of Museum and Library Services and National Science Foundation and received the Noyce Leadership Fellowship in 2009.
“Phelan has done a remarkable job at the Leahy Center and Marcelle and I are deeply grateful for his work,” said Senator Patrick Leahy. “We so love to watch all the enthusiasm for learning that we see when we visit the Center, and we are proud of the leadership that the Center has shown on Burlington’s public waterfront, and statewide on conservation and education issues. Phelan will always be a friend and we wish him a healthy, active and happy retirement.”
“On behalf of the Board, we want to extend our profound appreciation for Phelan and his tremendous contributions to ECHO,” said Paul Plunkett, Board Chair. “Due to Phelan's steady leadership, ECHO is strongly positioned as a beloved community asset and will attract top candidates to further our mission and strategic goals. We are especially thankful for Phelan’s stewardship through the pandemic. We will miss him and wish him our very best.”
Fretz has no plans to slow down.
“The right opportunity to give back will emerge and I look forward to spending time with my new granddaughter and travel beckons once COVID is behind us,” he shared.
The Board of Directors plans to announce an interim executive director while a search for a permanent replacement can be hired. To learn more about ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, visit: https://www.echovermont.org/
About ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is an innovative science and nature museum located on the Burlington Waterfront. Open daily, ECHO encourages visitors to view the natural environment as part of their neighborhood and to explore, learn about, and consider opportunities for stewardship. Since 1995, we have taught more than 3 million visitors about the role of science in our culture and lives. ECHO leverages its unique setting to inspire and engage families in the joy of scientific discovery, wonder of nature, and care of Lake Champlain. Visitors explore over 100 interactive family experiences, 70 live species, seasonal changing exhibits, and our Northfield Savings Bank immersive 3D Theater. New in 2020, ECHO has been reinvented by all new permanent and highly interactive science exhibits, Awesome Forces and Engineer It. Visitors of all ages tackle daily engineering challenges at our tinkering bench and test zones as well as delight in discovering the amazing processes that have shaped the Lake Champlain Basin and our Earth.
(BURLINGTON, Vt. 1.19.2022) -- ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain