Submitted photo Arthur Pearson, Roger Tory Peterson Institute’s retiring CEO.

As Arthur Pearson’s time as chief executive officer of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute comes to an end, Pearson is looking back on his time in the position fondly, while looking forward both to his retirement and the future of RTPI.

“It’s really bittersweet,” Pearson said. “I’ve had a wonderful time in the last few years that I have been in this position. We have a great staff and board and have had many great accomplishments. I’ve had a great time and the RTPI has a great vision moving forward. The organization is in a good place to welcome a new leader that can help build on our success and take the organization in a new leap going forward.”

Pearson began his tenure as CEO in March 2020, right at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, so Pearson noted right off the bat his first order of business was helping the organization to navigate that, along with also dealing with an accidental electrical fire at that time as well. Other notable items during his time at the RTPI include; developing a new strategic plan to help them realize the Institute’s potential as an educational museum, launching their significant annual exhibit, “Art that Matters to the Planet” that helps to honor Roger Tory Peterson’s legacy and nurture the next generation of nature artists, and launching other new programs such as the Summer Swaree, Rodger’s Bird-Day Bash Music Festival, the Plein Air Festival and the Holidays at the Lodge event. Most recently, the RTPI also created a large mural downtown to honor Roger Tory Peterson, or as Pearson put it, “celebrating a hometown kid who did good.”

Pearson said during his time in the CEO role there have been two major accomplishments for him and RTPI on both the national and local level.

“On the national stage we positioned RTPI to be a national leader at the intersection of art and nature,” Pearson said. “Locally, we have also gotten into a position to be able to fulfill our potential to draw more tourists into both the Jamestown and Chautauqua County communities.”

As far as the future of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute goes, Pearson said “the sky’s the limit”, and not just because of the organization’s focus on birds. Roger Tory Peterson was worldwide famous, he said, adding that the RTPI is well positioned to be able to continue their responsibility to steward his legacy in a way that makes his accomplishments relevant to today.

And for Pearson, with his retirement he is looking forward to being able to work on some book projects, both fiction and non-fiction. He expressed his gratitude for the support that the community has given him and the RTPI over the years.

“I want to express my gratitude to the community for welcoming me and my wife to Jamestown, and for supporting our efforts to revitalize the mission of the RTPI,” Pearson said. “I hope you will continue to support the organization in their work as they continue to serve the community.”

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute is located at 311 Curtis Street Extension. For more information visit rtpi.org, or call (716)665-2473.