Melissa Grimm and Nancy Kolb join Free Library of Philadelphia’s Board of Trustees

PHILADELPHIA, June 30, 2009—The Free Library of Philadelphia is pleased to announce the addition of Melissa Grimm, founder of Gramercy Group, and Nancy Kolb, President and CEO of the Please Touch Museum, to the Board of Trustees at their June 4th meeting.

As the founder of Gramercy Group, LLC, Ms. Grimm shares with clients the expertise she developed while managing high-level community and government initiatives over the course of her career. Before founding Gramercy, Ms. Grimm worked as the Director of Corporate and Public Affairs at Aqua America, Inc., a company that provides public drinking water and wastewater to 2.8 million people in 13 states. Prior to working for Aqua America, Ms. Grimm served as executive director of Philadelphia’s bid to host the 2016 Olympics—Philadelphia 2016. Active on the boards of directors for the Please Touch Museum, the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, and the Center City Residents Association, she has been recognized as one of Philadelphia magazines “78 People to Watch,” one of Philadelphia Leadership’s “101 Most Connected Leaders,” and as part of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” list. Ms. Grimm holds a B.S. in business administration from Villanova University and earned her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. She is a committed youth mentor, working with Philadelphia Futures and students.

The Free Library’s Board of Trustees also welcomed Nancy Kolb to the Board of Trustees. As President and Chief Executive Officer of the Please Touch Museum, Ms. Kolb is responsible for the proposal and implementation of long-range strategic plans, policies, and programs. A key player in the creation of the Centennial District, Ms. Kolb spearheaded the Please Touch Museum’s move to and restoration of Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park. Before joining the Please Touch Museum, Ms. Kolb worked for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for six years as Assistant Executive Director and, later, as Director of Historic Sites and Museums. She has also served as Pennsbury Manor’s Director and the Pennsbury Society’s Project Director, as well as a high school social studies teacher. Ms. Kolb received her Bachelor of Arts from Bucknell University and later enrolled in graduate courses in public administration at Temple University. She has professional affiliations with the American Associations of Museums, the American Association for State and Local History, the Association of Children’s Museums, the Mayor’s Cultural Advisory Council, and the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. She currently serves on the Mayor’s Cultural Advisory Council, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau’s board of directors, the Edutainment “JEDI” Council, and the Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center advisory board.

# # #

With more than 6 million visits annually, the Free Library is one of the most widely used educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia.