Richmond, Virginia - The Maymont Foundation is pleased to announce that Thomas Zydel has been selected as the Senior Director of Advancement. He joined Maymont on January 10.

Zydel will lead the teams responsible for planning, developing and managing marketing, development and guest services activities for Maymont to increase engagement with the community, guests, prospects, and donors. Serving on the senior leadership team, he will work closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to develop overall strategy and play a key role in long-term planning and strategic advancement at Maymont.

Most recently, Zydel worked at EAB Advancement Marketing Services as Senior Strategic Leader, where he led a diverse team of creative and analytics specialists in the development and execution of fundraising strategies for over 40 higher education institutions. Zydel brings over a decade of hands-on experience in fundraising, membership and marketing planning for large cultural institutions, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Zydel’s initiatives in membership recruitment and engagement led to sustainable growth and earned national media attention.

“Tom is a dynamic and creative leader who brings significant skills and experience, as well as great enthusiasm, to serve Maymont’s mission and fulfill our organizational goals,” said Parke Richeson, Maymont Executive Director. “I’m confident he will bring positive energy and strategic thinking to advance our efforts and expand Maymont’s service to the community.”

Zydel earned a Master of Science degree in Global Marketing Management from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Classical Civilization from the University of Richmond. He and his wife Jordan and their two sons enjoy hiking and are frequent visitors to Maymont.

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Maymont is a well-preserved, historic 100-acre American estate on the banks overlooking the James River that was given to the public by James and Sallie Dooley, who lived there from 1893 to 1925. Today, Maymont is a welcoming community gathering place, with many unique experiences for all to enjoy, including the historic Maymont Mansion, The Robins Nature Center, an arboretum, formal gardens, and habitats for native Virginia wildlife and farm animals. Consistently ranked one of Central Virginia’s top attractions by travelers and locals alike, Maymont serves over 800,000 guests annually, with free admission to the grounds, plus guided and self-guided tours, seasonal events, programs and rental spaces. Since 1975, Maymont has been maintained and operated by the nonprofit Maymont Foundation, committed to creating programs and experiences that delight, educate and inspire its guests.

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