On April 8, 2018, Cordoba’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Randall D. Martinez, Board Member of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, provided closing remarks at the Smithsonian’s “Presidential Stories” program at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in the nation’s capital commemorating the successful closing of the Smithsonian Campaign’s multi-year $1.88 billion capital campaign.
Randall provided his remarks after the well attended “Presidential Stories” program featuring presidential historian and Pulitizer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin in conversation with David M. Rubenstein, Smithsonian Campaign Co-Chair and Chair of the Smithsonian Board of Regents. “Presidential Stories” was part of the Your Impact / Your Smithsonian End of Campaign Reception and related program events that took place during the weekend of April 7-8, 2018.
Following presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin is a hard act to follow, but as noted by Robert J. Spiller, Assistant Secretary for Advancement at the Smithsonian Institution, Randall “held his own and kept people’s attention as (he) spoke from the heart about what the Smithsonian means to (him).” In his message to Randall, Mr. Spiller thanked Randall from the Office of Advancement for his involvement at the event thanked him for his service on the board of the Museum of American History, expressing to Randall that he is “greatly appreciated” there.
Video of the entire “Presidential Stories” presentation, including Randall’s closing remarks, which start at 55:59, is available at the following link on Cordoba Corporation’s YouTube channel: Smithsonian Presidential Stories Program Video.
More than 535,000 donors have contributed to the Smithsonian Campaign, the largest amount ever raised in a fundraising campaign by a cultural organization. This generosity in support of the institution, which came from foundations, corporations and individuals from every state and 107 countries, will enable generations to come to experience and benefit from the Smithsonian’s treasures, educational resources and research centers.
“Although my own interest is American History, I am inspired to be part of a larger community of donors who share the passion for the work of the Smithsonian, whatever their connection might be,” stated Randall D. Martinez.
Randall’s participation as part of the Smithsonian’s series of events honoring the successful closure of the museum’s capital campaign marked another milestone in Cordoba Corporation’s important relationship with the Smithsonian. In October 2017, Cordoba announced a pledge of $200,000 in support of Latino history initiatives at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The gift will allow the Museum to expand its efforts, focus and scholarship on Latino history by highlighting contributions to the political, social and cultural landscape of the United States.
In announcing the gift in October 2017, Randall stated, “The Smithsonian Institution has a long history that dates back to 1846, honoring a mission to increase and diffuse new knowledge. In my opinion, a challenge for the Institution has always been the compartmentalization of American history, which results in stories of individual communities disappearing from the national narrative. Our gift is intended to assist the museum in its creative efforts to make the stories of Latinos come to life and resonate as truly American stories.”
Cordoba’s donation will support the work of two curators, Mireya Loza who is based in the museum’s division of work and industry, and Margaret Salazar-Porzio, who is in the division of home and community life. For more information on Cordoba’s donation supporting National Museum of American History, please go to the following link: Cordoba Corporation Pledges Gift to Expand the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History’s Efforts Focused on Latino History.
For more information or to support the National Museum of American History, please go to: americanhistory.si.edu/
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Contact: Communications Department, Cordoba Corporation
Phone: (213) 895-0224 Email: communications@cordobacorp.com
About Cordoba Corporation: Cordoba Corporation is a California-based statewide full-service engineering, program and construction management firm specializing in the delivery of infrastructure projects in the transportation, education, water and energy sectors, and is recognized by Engineering News Record (ENR) as a ENR Top 50 Program Management Firm and Top 100 Construction Management-for-Fee Firm.
