Heurich House Museum Names Alex Fraioli Executive Director

The Heurich House Museum’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the selection of Alex Fraioli as our next Executive Director. Currently serving as Interim Executive Director, Alex succeeds longtime Executive Director Kim Bender as the leader of this dynamic organization exploring American civic identity. Alex steps into her new role on June 1, 2026.

Her succession marks the next chapter in the Heurich House Museum’s growth. As Executive Director, Alex will ensure that Heurich House continues to play a vital role at the intersection of history, culture, small business development, and creative placemaking. 

“Since joining the Heurich House Museum in 2018, Alex has demonstrated time and again that she has a deep passion for our mission and a vision for the museum’s future,” said Chris Van Orden, Board Chair. “As Interim Executive Director, her strong leadership has set up Heurich House for success in the future. The board and I are thrilled to welcome her as the organization’s new leader and look forward to continuing our partnership with her in the years to come.”

Following the Heurich House Museum’s announced leadership transition in early 2026, the organization embarked on a nationwide Executive Director search in partnership with Good Insight, a Washington, DC-based search firm focused on nonprofit leadership. Among a competitive pool of nearly 100 applicants, Alex received the Board of Trustees’ unanimous approval as Executive Director. 

Alex is a nonprofit leader with a decade of experience working with local DC nonprofits. She joined the Heurich House Museum in 2018 as Marketing & Communications Manager before growing into progressively senior roles, most recently as Assistant Director, spanning external relations, earned revenue development, and program creation. This breadth of experience has given her rare insight into both the operational and mission-driven dimensions of the institution, from stewarding external partnerships and scaling the biergarten, to establishing the Urban Manufacturing Incubator and leading the Christmas Markt. Through the Incubator program, Alex supported the founding of the DC Makers' Guild and management of the DC Brewers’ Guild. Named Interim Executive Director earlier this year, Alex brings a focus on financial management, governance, and institutional resilience. Beyond the Museum, Alex serves as Board Chair of the Rainbow History Project and has consulted for many years with cultural institutions including the DC History Center. She brings to this role deep community & institutional knowledge and an unwavering commitment to the Museum's future.

“It is the honor of a lifetime to lead the Heurich House Museum into this next chapter as Executive Director.” Alex said. "This institution has always been more than a historic house, it is a living community that connects the past and present, supports local makers, and opens its doors to all of DC. I look forward to working alongside the board and staff to build on the foundation of my predecessors to ensure the Museum can pursue its mission for generations to come."

As the Heurich House Museum completes its executive transition, the Board of Trustees looks forward to celebrating Alex’s leadership of the organization later this summer. Details to come.