Lance Reinheimer
Executive Director Vanderbilt Museum
In 2010, after a 35-year career in Suffolk County government with service in the Social Services, Parks and Labor departments, and for the Legislature, Lance retired as Assistant Director of the Legislature’s Budget Review Office.
In February 2011, Lance accepted the appointment as Executive Director of the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium in Centerport, NY. During his 21-year tenure in the Budget Review Office, he was responsible for overseeing the Vanderbilt Museum’s operating and capital budgets. William J. Lindsay, presiding officer of the Suffolk County Legislature, stated at the time of the appointment, “My long experience with Lance during his years with the Budget Review Office gives me the greatest confidence that he can continue the ongoing process of putting the museum on the right track. Lance was for years the man who kept track of the Vanderbilt’s struggles, both financial and as an institution in general. His familiarity with the operations of the Vanderbilt is vitally important.” Legislator Jon Cooper called Reinheimer’s appointment “brilliant.” “Lance has worked closely with the Vanderbilt Board of Trustees and administration through some difficult years,” he said. “He is the perfect person to transition the museum into this new phase of renovation, rejuvenation and rehabilitation.”
The Museum is the 43-acre estate of William K. Vanderbilt II, a naturalist and global explorer who circumnavigated the world in his yachts collecting artifacts for his personal museum on the estate. Vanderbilt’s estate transferred the property to Suffolk County upon his death. In 1950, the County opened the grounds, mansion and museum to the public as Suffolk County’s first park.
During his two and half year tenure at the museum his most exciting accomplishment was the renovation and technological upgrade of the museum’s 41-year old planetarium. This project included the installation of the $3 million Konica Minolta GeminiStar III projection system with full-dome video and surround sound systems.