Abstract:

How do you measure the true value of your members? How do you target your marketing to increase visitation? What information do you use to make your ticket pricing decisions? Business intelligence is the key to answering these questions. This session will explore how to turn your data into action.

Marc Check, the Director of Technology from the Strong National Museum of Play will discuss his museum’s efforts using business intelligence to determine pricing and availability of museum offerings, to target their marketing to increase visitation from outside their consistent visitation ring and to track the peripheral purchases of their members in gift shops and food services. 

Steve Jacobson, President & CEO of Jacobson Consulting Applications, Inc., will walk you through what you should be measuring and how you can transform the insights you gain into actionable next steps to increase revenue and attendance.

Session Info

• Type: Full Panel
• Keywords: Business Intelligence, Museums, Data Mining
• Relevance: This is the perfect session for Membership, Development, Visitor Services and IT professionals from both large and small museums.

About the Presenters

Steven G. Jacobson, President & CEO of Jacobson Consulting Applications, Inc.

Steve Jacobson is the President of Jacobson Consulting Applications, Inc. (JCA), a firm that he founded in 1988 to provide strategic technology consulting to non-profit organizations.  Headquartered in New York City, the firm provides ongoing fundraising, ticketing, membership and/or visitor services systems consulting to over 100 non-profit organizations nationally. Mr. Jacobson has provided system selection, integration and/or best practices consulting for such clients as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo/NY Aquarium), New York Botanical Garden, Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago), and the National Constitution Center. He has also consulted with a number of other cultural institutions including The American Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Hall and the Tech Museum.

Mr. Jacobson holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and Psychology from Stanford University. Prior to his tenure at JCA, Mr. Jacobson worked in the field of economic consulting for Rinfret Associates, Inc. (New York) as a research analyst and, subsequently, as a senior consultant for Data Resources, Inc. in San Francisco, California. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and is the chair of the Technology Track for the AFP’s Fundraising Day in NY. Mr. Jacobson is an active member of and a frequent speaker for, the American Association of Museums (AAM), the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the Art Museum Membership Conference (AMMC) and the International Ticketing Association (INTIX).

Marc E. Check, Director of Information and Interactive Technology at the Museum of Science

Marc Check is the Director of Information and Interactive Technology at the Museum of Science in Boston , Massachusetts.  The Museum of Science is a hub of research and invention that is New England's most visited cultural institution. The Museum has always moved visitors to think like scientists through hands-on, minds-on experiences. Today, with 1.5 million visitors a year, the Museum of Science is redefining the way people think about, learn about, and interact with science and technology. Mr. Check directs a team of twenty Information and Interactive Technology professionals, working on a variety of technologies and platforms ranging from IT infrastructure to interactive exhibit technologies to various Web and Social Media endeavors. 

Mr. Check holds a Masters of Science degree in Information Technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the State University of New York, Brockport. Prior to his tenure at the Museum of Science, Mr. Check served as the Director of Technology for the Strong National Museum of Play, Associate Director for the International Center for the History of Electronic Games, Information Technology Manager for the American Journal of Play, and Director of Technology for the Rochester Museum & Science Center in Rochester NY.