Team
Maria Elena Gutierrez
Founder & President
Maria Elena Gutierrez brings more than 20 years of experience in cultural planning, museum strategy, and organizational development. She has led strategic planning, economic feasibility, and fundraising engagements for museums across the United States.
Her work is distinguished by a disciplined strategic approach, strong financial grounding, and a nuanced understanding of institutional dynamics. As Founder and President of Chora, she leads client engagements to ensure every deliverable is practical, rigorous, and responsive to client needs. She also spearheads the firm’s research and innovation efforts, with a focus on evolving offerings and improved practices.
We are your collaborative thought partners.
Chora’s work is led by senior practitioners with deep experience across the cultural sector, including museum operations, finance, governance, data, programming, exhibitions, and organizational management.
Every engagement is led by experienced professionals who understand both the realities facing museums today and the governance environments in which decisions are made.
In Loving Memory
Robert “Sully” Sullivan
We honor the legacy of Robert “Sully” Sullivan, founding principal of our firm, whose vision and leadership continue to shape our work. Though he is no longer with us, his enduring influence guides how we think, collaborate, and serve our clients.
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Gianna Donati
ASSOCIATE
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Lily Kleppertknoop
SENIOR RESEARCHER
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Shuda Li
DATA SCIENCE CONSULTANT
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Lindsey Popovnak
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
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Heather Rostker
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
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Pier Luigi Sacco
CULTURAL ECONOMIST
OECD SENIOR ADVISOR
HARVARD’S metaLAB RESEARCHER AFFILIATE
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Kip Tatusko
CONTROLLER & DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
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Yannan Wang
DATA ANALYST