Team

Woman wearing a navy dress and pearl necklace seated in an elegant living room

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.

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We are your collaborative thought partners.

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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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  • Smiling woman with long brown hair wearing a black top and necklace in an elegant dining room

    Gianna Donati

    SENIOR ASSOCIATE

    gdonati@chora-group.com

  • Smiling woman in a black blazer standing inside an elegant restaurant with gold-trimmed mirrors and chandeliers

    Xizhu Jiang

    DATA ANALYST

  • Close-up portrait of a woman with purple hair and black cat-eye glasses indoors

    Lily Kleppertknoop

    SENIOR RESEARCHER

  • Smiling woman with long dark hair wearing a sleeveless navy top against a light background

    Shuda Li

    FINANCIAL ANALYST & DATA STRATEGIST

  • Smiling woman in a black turtleneck standing in an ornate, gold-trimmed interior with mirrors and chandeliers

    Lindsey Popovnak

    GRAPHIC DESIGNER

  • Smiling woman with curly dark hair standing inside an ornate, brightly lit dining hall.

    Heather Rostker

    DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT LEAD

    hrostker@chora-group.com

  • Smiling man in a blue plaid shirt seated in front of bookshelves

    Kip Tatusko

    CONTROLLER & DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

  • Close-up portrait of a woman with long dark hair wearing a dark green shirt against a plain wall

    Yannan Wang

    FINANCIAL ANALYST