The following is a text-only press release from the federal Institute of
Museum and Library Services (IMLS). An HTML version of this release and
a photo can be viewed on the agency's Web site at
http://test.imls.gov/news/2010/081010.shtm.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 10, 2010

IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, [log in to unmask]
Mamie Bittner, [log in to unmask]

IMLS Welcomes Justin Estoque as New Chief Operating Officer 

Washington, DC-The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
announces that Justin Estoque has joined its staff as chief operating
officer. In this new position, Estoque will oversee the offices of
finance, administration and contracting, human resources, and
information technology (IT) and will serve as a member of IMLS's
executive leadership team. He comes to IMLS from the Smithsonian
Institution's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) where he
served as the director of the executive planning office.

"We are delighted to welcome Justin to our staff. He brings a powerful
combination of talent and executive experience," said IMLS Acting
Director Marsha L. Semmel. "This is a win-win opportunity: In addition
to overseeing our key mission-support areas, Justin can enable IMLS to
fine-tune its Native American grant programs for museums and libraries,
and his IMLS experiences may help him advance NMAI's mission to
preserve, study, and exhibit the life, languages, literature, history,
and arts of Native Americans."

Estoque is on a one-year detail from the NMAI. Since 2005, he has
overseen the analysis and presentation of proposals for new exhibits and
projects, including all major exhibits in New York and Washington, large
collections loans, publications, public programs, IT and media master
planning, landscape installations, and outreach initiatives to Native
communities. He managed NMAI's safety program and directly supervised
senior project managers who coordinate diverse project teams, technical
and budget analysts, and support staff. He was directly responsible for
a program budget of $16 million in federal funds and more than a dozen
private funding sources. 

From 2002-2005, Estoque was senior project manager for the NMAI's mall
transition team, a three-stage move-in of collections, exhibitions, and
staff into the new building. He coordinated the work of 15
multi-departmental staff liaisons to all NMAI inaugural programs,
developed and implemented management policies and procedures for all
federal and private funding budgets and schedules in support of the
museum opening, and ensured that contracting and procurement activity
met Smithsonian procedures and policies. He represented NMAI during
negotiations with the Smithsonian Institution Office of Engineering
Design and Construction, Office of Protection Services, Office of the
Treasurer, and Smithsonian Business Ventures.

Having graduated with a master's degree in architecture, Estoque has
managed major capital projects throughout the Smithsonian. He served as
planning manager for the Smithsonian Office of Design and Construction,
project manager for a $12 million security modernization program at the
Office of Protection Services, and project manager for the National Air
and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, where he managed all
financial resources and a project team of program and exhibit staff,
architects, engineers, and contractors for construction of the new $311
million museum. Fluent in Spanish, Estoque has ample experience
negotiating complex issues with diverse groups. 

He has worked with libraries and library resource centers in Washington
and throughout the Native American world. He recently served on IMLS's
National Leadership Grant review panel.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services 
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of
federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums.
The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that
connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the
national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to
sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and
innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about
the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.