About Us

Engaging Places, LLC, is a design and strategy firm that connects people and historic places. We help leaders make better decisions about the visitor experience, historical interpretation, and financial sustainability. We translate mission and vision into measurable visitor impact and organizational performance by focusing on outcomes—what visitors will know, feel, and do. We use the latest research, practical frameworks, and field-tested tools for planning, evaluation, and decision-making.

Our projects range from community museums to national institutions. We not only meet the professional standards of the American Alliance of Museums, American Association for State and Local History, American Historical Association, National Association for Interpretation, and the Secretary of the Interior, but also anticipate where the field is going— sharing our insights with museum and historic sites leaders on our blog, EngagingPlaces.net.

Areas of Expertise

Strategy & Planning Strategic and business planning Governance development and transitions Non-profit financial management	Visitor Experience & Interpretation Assessments and evaluation Interpretive planning and design Community engagement
Organizational Capacity Staff training and development Facilitation and consensus building	Collections & Resources Museum collections management Fundraising and membership development

Engaging Places, LLC is:

Max A. van Balgooy, President. One of the national leaders in historical interpretation and community engagement, with extensive experience in developing solutions in collaboration with volunteers, staff, trustees, residents, scholars, design professionals, business leaders, and elected officials. Recognized researcher, author, and speaker on the trends, challenges, and opportunities facing museums, historic sites, and cultural organizations. A skilled facilitator and knowledgeable consultant for developing plans for business strategy, historical interpretation, public programming, marketing, and online media. For more details, read his profile, check out the projects, and connect with him on LinkedIn.
Mary A. van Balgooy, Vice President, is a museum leader, public historian, and nonprofit executive with more than 25 years of experience guiding cultural organizations and historic sites. As Vice President at Engaging Places, she advises boards and staff on strategy, governance, and sustainability. A former executive director and collections management professional, she brings deep expertise in women’s history, historic preservation, and organizational leadership to strengthen mission-driven institutions. For more details, read Mary’s profile and connect with her on LinkedIn.
Quick one-page company profile and three project profiles: Caramoor, Haas-Lilienthal House, and the Molly Brown House.