SEAL COVE — The Seal Cove Auto Museum Board of Directors welcomes Executive Director Ethan Yankura to the Seal Cove team.
 
A veteran nonprofit professional with an auto museum background, Yankura served as education director, curator, and in a variety of other roles during nearly two decades at the Owls Head Transportation Museum. He later served as the executive director of the Children’s House Montessori School in Camden, and most recently as the executive director of the General Henry Knox Museum in Thomaston. Additionally he sits on the board of the Camden-Rockport Historical Society. 
 
A native of West Gardiner, Maine Yankura is a 1994 graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington and holds a BS in education. He has earned a variety of certifications and distinctions, including prior work as an instructor with the American Red Cross and he maintains a current Maine Auctioneers License. 
 
Yankura’s work with the collection at Owls Head afforded him the opportunity to research, interpret, educate, and share his passion for brass era transportation through a variety of means. His responsibilities included on-site educational programming for all ages, school based outreach, general programming, television appearances, exhibition design, interpretation, creation of peripheral materials, volunteer management and training, acquiring loans, donation acquisition, and more. Additionally he played an integral role in the execution of their Annual New England Auto Auction. 
 
Yankura looks forward to continuing to share his knowledge and passion, as well as building on many years of warm relationships within the national automobile collector and museum communities. 
 
According to Seal Cove, in a news release, Yankura said he could not imagine an organization that he would rather be part of, or one that better suits his background, talents, and expertise. 
 
“I have long admired the Seal Cove collection and the organization as a whole,” said Yankura. “When the opportunity presented to be considered for the role of Executive Director it was like a lightning bolt. I can’t imagine an organization or a location where I would be more fortunate to have this opportunity. I look forward to a long and happy career at Seal Cove and bringing my knowledge and relationships to the Seal Cove family as well as building many new ones.”
 
Seal Cove Auto Museum Board President Jeryl Schriever added, “In Ethan we have found what Seal Cove needed most to further the museum’s mission: an educator and museum professional with deep grounding and appreciation for the importance of early transportation in America’s history. The Board of Directors could not be happier that Ethan has joined our team of seasoned professionals.”
 
Yankura and his wife, Jenna Lookner, have recently purchased a home in the greater Mount Desert Island area and will be permanently relocating from their home in Camden. They share a passion for early transportation, history, homesteading, education, and exploring their natural and academic surroundings, often in one of their pre-1973 British automobiles. They both look forward to joining the year-round community and continuing to share their enthusiasm for brass era transportation with the Seal Cove family and community at large. 
 
Yankura has three adult children, all residents of Maine. His parents still reside in West Gardiner. 
 
The Seal Cove Auto Museum is located at 1414 Tremont Road in Seal Cove, ME, just 20 minutes from Bar Harbor. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week from May through October and by appointment Mondays and Tuesdays from November through April.

For more information please contact Ethan Yankura via email at ethan@sealcoveautomuseum.org, call 207-244-9242 or visit online at www.sealcoveautomuseum.org.