History Associates Historian Halley Fehner is NAI Certified Interpretive Planner

    ROCKVILLE, MD, August 05, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- History Associates is pleased to announce that Ms. Halley Fehner has been designated a Certified Interpretive Planner by the National Association for Interpretation (NAI). This certification indicates Ms. Fehner has met a high level of achievement and knowledge within the interpretive profession.

Interpretive planners are experienced in the systematic process of identifying the resources available to a cultural or historic attraction; the important elements and messages to emphasize at the site; and the best ways to engage and educate visitors. Ms. Fehner's interpretive planning experience includes projects for the National Park Service, the White House Visitor Center, the Washington Monument, and the Civil War Trust, among others.

"Halley has always worked to the highest standards for our clients," noted Dr. James Lide, director of interpretive planning services at History Associates. "Receiving certification from the National Association for Interpretation confirms her commitment to excellence and I'm proud of her accomplishment."

Certified Interpretive Planners have proven knowledge of the principles and practical application of interpretation. They have also demonstrated their skills in areas such as meeting facilitation, cost estimating, business and strategic planning, assessment of natural, cultural, and operational resources; development of thematic guidelines; writing measurable objectives; formative and summative evaluation; development of media guidelines and descriptions; and market analysis.

Receiving certification is a rigorous process. All applicants must meet minimum qualification standards, which include completion of a bachelor's degree and at least 40 credit hours related to natural, cultural, and/or historical sciences. To achieve certification, applicants must achieve an 80 percent score or better on an extensive literature review exam. They must also answer 4-6 essay questions which are designed to showcase their ability to apply their training to various interpretive situations. Finally, applicants provide two examples of plan documents they have prepared and two examples of final results. The essays and past performance materials are independently evaluated and scored by three members of the NAI's Certification Review Board, where average scores of 80 percent are required for certification.

The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit professional organization dedicated to advancing the profession of heritage interpretation, currently serving about 5,000 members in the United States, Canada, and over thirty other nations. Individual members include those who work at parks, museums, nature centers, zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums, historical and cultural sites, commercial tour companies, and theme parks. Commercial and institutional members include those who provide services to the heritage interpretation industry.

About History Associates
For over thirty years the historians and archivists at History Associates have demonstrated that history is valuable in the market as well as the marketplace of ideas. They provide professional interpretive planning, exhibit content, corporate histories, historical research, archival services, digital archives, records management, and collections management, to clients throughout the United States and around the world. History Associates strives to be The Best Company in History, serving corporate, government, legal, and nonprofit clients from its headquarters in Rockville, Maryland. For more information, call (301) 279-9697 or visit www.historyassociates.com.

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