We are all going through a very challenging time on many levels: the health threat of COVID-19, the financial security of our families, the future of our jobs, and more. This has caused me to pause, reflect upon the history of The Conservation Center, and consider how we might use our past to inform our future as a team and company during this difficult time.
To us, The Center means a quiet place of work where we truly enjoy performing at our best. We are a group of talented people focused on a mission that we cherish and respect. During this critical time, it is important to reflect, share, and learn from our company’s history of creativity, commitment to the arts, risks, rewards, and challenges as we have changed in size and scale over the years. Through taking a moment to remember where we have been, we recall valuable lessons we have learned over the years. In turn, these lessons provide a compass through which we can attempt to navigate the current challenges.
Work, and how work is home to us:
How have we spent our time at The Center for 37 years? As an example, below is a time-lapse video from “a day in the life” at The Center. It reminds me of what it means to enter the doors of The Center each day. By sharing it with you all, I want to give you a glimpse into what working within our facility looks like. I hope that someday soon, we can all return to such a level of close collaboration.
Our work environment is an open landscape of numerous workstations, windows of light, and tables spotted with microscopes and hands-on tools. More importantly, the people filling the space have spent decades fostering and fine-tuning their specific abilities. Our facility is a meditative environment. When combining the rare space and talent, we create our quiet magic.
I have walked through The Center for 31 years now, daily taking in the slow migration of treatments at each workstation and with each conservator, registrar, art handler, and administrator. When people tour through our 30,000 square foot facility, so many say, “this must be such a special place to work.” “Yes, it is!” is always the resounding answer. Patience, exactness, ethics, and experience are just a few of the primary values which breathe life into our laboratory daily.
Passion and purpose for what we do:
Everyone at the company has an interesting story to tell about how and why they arrived at their current role, and for many of them, it is related to a passion for the arts. In summary, it is loyalty to doing what we feel is our individual passion and purpose. How do we execute this unique purpose? We do so by preserving the history enveloped within the objects we are saving. Sad but true, many of these unique works will likely outlive most of us and continue to tell their inherent stories. Each object and work of art we treat is an opportunity to share a small but important part of the work’s history and future.
Reflecting on the past, and risks required:
I started working at The Center in 1989. Over the years, I have been faced with countless challenges to navigate. One important lesson I have learned is that these challenges can never be overcome alone.
In 2002, the founder of The Center expressed to me he was interested in retiring, and he knew I had a desire to one day own the company. I did not have the financial ability to purchase the company, so I asked my mentor, Marshall Field V., for guidance. Mr. Field had been a great supporter of The Center from its inception, and he suggested I meet with Norm Bobins, the then Chairman of LaSalle Bank. Mr. Bobins assisted me with pursuing a Small Business Loan through the bank and guided me through that detailed process. On August 6, 2003, I was able to take ownership of the company. This meant I went into significant debt, but I was willing to take the required risk because my instincts told me I could foster this company into something very special.
The importance of mentorship:
Throughout the highs and lows, I have realized the importance of support and mentorship. Shortly after acquiring the company in 2003, I decided to create an Advisory Board for The Center. Marshall Field V. and Norm Bobins were the first two advisors to join this group, and it slowly grew to twelve people covering many aspects of business. Together, the board has worked to help me navigate countless difficulties. To this day, during the current times, Mr. Field and Mr. Bobins are still offering support and guidance to us regularly. For this, we are so grateful. Nobody can weather these times alone.
You, our clients, and your years of loyalty:
We must also reflect on where our work is coming from, and that is where you – our readers, audience, and clients – play such an important role in the definition of this company. We would not be here if it weren’t for you. Many of you have brought items of concern to us for decades, and we are so grateful for this. We want to continue to be an educational resource for you all, hence our monthly newsletter going out for over a decade. We welcome your involvement, questions, and interaction during this curious time.
Our ongoing message – strength to survive and thrive again:
We want to make sure our special work environment remains resilient during this challenging time. We have gone through so many periods of ups and downs as a company – but I have found each of these unique occurrences has made us stronger as a company and as a developing team.
I look back, and I am so glad we took such risks. Every day I enjoy what has been built through years of dedication by myself, our incredible team, and its advisors. We are proud to have such an amazing culture of talent to preserve works of art from all centuries and origins.
The entire team at The Center sincerely appreciates your support and confidence during this time. We will be here when you need us, and we will be backed by each other, our clients, our mentors, and the passion for what we love to do.
We wish you and your family good health and well-being.
Sincerely, Heather Becker
CEO of The Conservation Center
Watch more from The Center on our YouTube channel!
We're proud to help our community. Our team was able to donate the following supplies to the Illinois Association of Hospitals:
- 65 N-95 masks
- 27 Tyvek suits
- 2,650 sterile gloves
