The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology has announced the appointment of Frederick Boll as its new executive director. This decision follows a unanimous vote by the board of trustees after a comprehensive search process.
According to a press release, Fred Boll will assume his role as executive director on August 1, 2025. Boll brings over 30 years of experience in recreation, education, and nonprofit management. He previously led the Buckeye Imagination Museum in Mansfield, where he oversaw a major expansion project completed in 2023 and helped establish the museum as a creative community space.
"On behalf of The Works Board, we are thrilled to welcome Fred Boll as the new Executive Director of The Works," said Board Chair Susan Archer. "Fred has extensive experience in museum leadership and a passion for community collaboration. We are confident that Fred’s vision and expertise will build on our strong foundation and lead us into our next chapter of innovation and growth."
Boll's career began in outdoor education, leading youth programs focused on experiential learning. He later held leadership roles at Mohican State Park Resort and Conference Center, gaining operations experience across departments. He and his wife Ellen have been married since 1997; they have two children and enjoy outdoor activities as a family.
"It is with immense excitement and gratitude that I step into this new role at The Works," said Boll. "It’s an honor to lead this extraordinary institution, with its deep roots as a beacon of creativity, learning, and community engagement."
The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology is an interactive museum located in Newark, Ohio. It offers hands-on exhibits in science, art, local history, and glassblowing. Visitors can explore science labs, attend glassblowing demonstrations, experience the SciDome planetarium, and learn about the area’s industrial heritage. Established in the 1990s, the museum occupies the historic Scheidler Machine Works building and now spans an entire city block. It operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. Membership provides reciprocal benefits through networks like ASTC (Association of Science-Technology Centers) and NARM (North American Reciprocal Museum), offering access to hundreds of partner museums and cultural institutions worldwide.
