Ben Shockey has been working as an executive leader in arts, culture, and public spaces for more than 15 years. Seasoned both in permanent and interim executive director roles, Ben is a people-centered leader who believes that being a successful executive is first and foremost about relationships. Ben prides himself as a non-profit generalist who most shines in executive functions – stakeholder engagement, fundraising, care of organizational vision and culture, partnership and relationship development, team management, and financial leadership – but who is accustomed to a boots-on-the-ground approach to every element of organizational operations, from systems to event logistics to changing light bulbs.Those who have worked with Ben say that he balances a measured and thoughtful approach that prioritizes organizational stability with a nimbleness that engages new ideas and takes advantage of opportunities for growth, advancement, and enhanced mission impact.
Ben has served as Executive Director of Leach Botanical Garden in Portland, Oregon; The Sitka Center for Art and Ecology on the Oregon coast; Out Innerspace Dance Theatre in Vancouver, British Columbia (where he was General Manager); and The Friends of Sharon Art Studio in San Francisco, CA.
As an interim, Ben has led several organizations through executive transitions or leadership hiatuses, including Presentation House Theatre, The Cinematheque, and New Works, all in Vancouver, British Columbia; and PLAYA Artist Residency in Summerlake, Oregon, where he also spent time as Interim Development Director prior to taking on the Interim Executive Director role.
As Fieldworks Consulting with partner Elizabeth Quinn, Ben helped launch new artist-in-residence programs in collaboration with organizational leaders at Oak Spring Garden Foundation in Upperville, VA; The Volland Foundation in Alma, KS; The Boedecker Foundation in Portland, OR; and The Roundhouse Foundation in Sisters, OR.
In addition to his organizational leadership and consulting, Ben works as a coach for executives and other professionals, where he enjoys the opportunity to help individuals step into their leadership, push through challenges, and access their full potential as both workers and human beings.
Prior to entering the non-profit sector in 2008, Ben spent a decade as a teacher, researcher, and program administrator at various institutions of higher education. He holds a doctorate in English Literature and Cultural Studies from the University of California.
Outside of the workplace Ben’s passions include food (both cooking and eating!), gardening, walking, sailing, arts & culture, and global travel.
When he’s not on the road for work or for adventure, Ben’s current home base is Philadelphia, PA.
LinkedIn: Ben Shockey