The Cradle of Aviation Museum was supposed to be a quick layover for Andrew Parton.
With an MBA from St. John’s University and a long career in major-league marketing, he figured to give the then-startup museum a PR push. But that communications expertise – and his childhood love of air and space, fueled equally by “Star Trek” and real-life NASA missions – suggested more than a temporary gig.
Eighteen years later, the longtime museum president has helped craft a shining salute to the region’s glorious aerospace history, proudly anchoring Long Island’s impressive Museum Row.
In today’s episode, Andy joins Spark host Gregory Zeller to discuss his risky transition from corporate to nonprofit marketing, the Cradle of Aviation’s tireless dedication to regional education, the museum’s secret pandemic-survival sauce and its ongoing, interactive journey through time and space.
