DATE: Tuesday, June 24, 1997 TAG: 9706240293 SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 97 lines
Nauticus director David T. Guernsey Jr. said Monday he plans to resign later this summer, nearly six months after the city took control of running the beleaguered downtown attraction.
His departure comes as the city attempts to map out a future for the $52 million waterfront maritime center, which has failed to live up to expectations in attendance and revenue since opening in June 1994.
A national consulting firm, citing a spiraling decline in attendance and limited community support, in May issued reports to the city that recommended a series of changes, including making it over as a museum focused on ocean technology.
As envisioned, the museum would explore such things as navigating the world's oceans, exploring their depths, marine life, ships and shipbuilding and weather at sea. The report calls for forming partnerships with area universities, government agencies and corporations involved in oceans work.
The consultant, Educational Marketing Concepts of Philadelphia, estimated the changes could draw 550,000 visitors annually. In 1996, about 190,000 people visited, according to the firm, which the city paid $75,000 for the studies. Before Nauticus was built, another consulting firm had projected annual attendance of 825,000.
Guernsey, 44, has been at Nauticus' helm since January 1996 - but Monday he said he has concluded he wasn't cut out to be a city government employee.
He was hired 18 months ago by the nonprofit, independent National Maritime Center Authority, which oversaw Nauticus until it became a city agency in January. The end of the city's fiscal year this month was a good time to end the relationship, Guernsey said. He agreed to stay on at the center until Aug. 31.
``I don't think I fit the mold to be a government employee,'' Guernsey said in an interview Monday. ``It is not an environment that matches my career and thoughts and what I'm accustomed to working under. They just operate differently.''
City Manager James B. Oliver Jr., who became Guernsey's boss with the takeover, described Guernsey's leaving as a ``mutual decision.''
``His energy, warmth and creativity served us well in challenging times,'' Oliver wrote in a letter Monday informing the city's advisory council on Nauticus of Guernsey's move.
In an interview, Oliver said: ``I have nothing but admiration for the efforts David personally made. And yet, having said that, I agree with the decision.''
Peter G. Decker Jr., chairman of the city's advisory board on Nauticus, said Monday that bringing a new director aboard is a ``necessary evolution in reaching the final goal of success. Since I've been involved in Nauticus, I've never felt more that Nauticus is alive and well. The public should not look at this as a bad sign.''
Guernsey was hired to replace the facility's first full-time director, Michael L. Bartlett, who resigned suddenly in January 1995, just months after Nauticus opened. Guernsey came with a reputation for strong leadership and management skills and for rescuing Savannah's Ships of the Sea. He turned the museum into a profit maker after financial problems had forced it to close. While at Nauticus, Guernsey has been credited for his community outreach, including creation of a popular program for Norfolk third-graders built around Virginia science education requirements. He also nabbed an exhibit on the Titanic shipwreck, a coup that nearly doubled attendance during its four-month stay.
Most recently, Guernsey sealed a deal with LEGO toy company to participate in a LEGO block-building contest with the theme ``Deep Sea Challenge,'' a partnership officials figured was worth up to $4 million in free national advertising for Nauticus.
Since taking over Nauticus, the city has slashed operating expenses by an estimated 60 percent, including eliminating eight full-time positions. Still, the budget approved by the City Council last month projects a deficit of about $500,000 in fiscal 1997-98 that taxpayers will have to cover. That's better than the current year, though: The council appropriated money from the city's fund balance to cover a $759,000 shortfall it inherited after taking control of Nauticus.
Last month, the city announced a sharp reduction in ticket prices to improve attendance. Also, the advisory board adopted a mission statement to focus on ocean technology, as recommended by the Philadelphia consulting firm.
``We've made a lot of progress lately,'' Mayor Paul D. Fraim said, ``and I expect that to continue.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
David T. Guernsey Jr. came to Norfolk 18 months ago after rescuing
Savannah's Ships of the Sea museum.
NAUTICUS ATTENDANCE
Consultants originally sold the city on projections that Nauticus
would
draw 825,000 people a year.
Attendance
1994 383,000
1995 278,000
1996 190,000
1997* 85,773
* 1997 figures are for January through May
SOURCES: 1994 and 1995 figures from Nauticus officials; 1996 from
city-hired consultant Educational Marketing Concepts; 1997 figures
from city manager's office.
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