Last week we heard from Nancy Johnson about the Imagine Children’s Museum’s accreditation experience. This week we talk with Jonathan Ullman, Executive Director of the Mob Museum.

1. What does accreditation mean to you personally and/or to your museum?

I think we all have a profound sense of accomplishment in receiving accreditation. We have had accreditation as part of our strategic plan since we opened the Museum. To be accredited as such a young organization is immensely gratifying, and it validates the organizational values, systems, and processes that we have worked so hard to create and implement. Accreditation also represents a shared journey for our entire team – Board, staff, and volunteers. Every single member of our organization participated in this effort, so it binds us together and we can all feel proud of contributing towards a significant institutional milestone.

2. Is there anything you wish you’d known before embarking on the process?

It is difficult to pinpoint anything, really, because the AAM staff were so incredibly helpful and supportive. They were there to answer questions and keep us apprised of next steps and the timeline. So, nothing was unexpected about the deliverables. One thing I would say is that we always believed that accreditation would require a lot of work and that the eventual result would be worthwhile. But, we may have underestimated how valuable and energizing it would be to reflect on our progress and our collective goals for the future – irrespective of the accreditation outcome. Once you embrace the process as a learning opportunity, you are certain to find it enormously beneficial.

3. What is one thing you’d like to share about your museum? One thing you wish everyone knew about your museum?

We have an immensely talented and driven team dedicated to ensuring we offer rich, insightful and exciting experiences. They’ve already proven they can achieve anything they set their sights on, which of course means the public can look forward to enjoying more eye-opening—even surprising–exhibits and programs in the future.

ABOUT THE Mob Museum

The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, provides a world-class, interactive journey through true stories—from the birth of the Mob to today’s headlines. The Mob Museum offers a provocative, contemporary look at these topics through more than 2,000 artifacts and immersive storylines. Whether you like it or not, this is American history. Since opening in 2012, The Mob Museum has accumulated numerous accolades, including being named one of TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 U.S. Museums,” USA Today’s “12 Can’t Miss U.S. Museum Exhibits,” “A Must for Travelers” by The New York Times, one of “20 Places Every American Should See” by Fox News and Budget Travel magazine and “Best Museum” by Nevada Magazine. The Mob Museum has been awarded accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded U.S. museums.