Raif Copeland (he/him/his), Office Manager, has 15 years’ experience in the museum field. In 2004, during three major traveling exhibits, Princess Diana, King Tut, and the Cradle of Christianity, Raif was the Assistant Store Manager at the NSU Museum of Art |Fort Lauderdale museum store.
In 2007, Raif was hired as a Visitor Services Supervisor at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science to strengthen customer service, hire engaged staff and volunteers, and team with all departments. Several years later, Raif was promoted to Visitor Services Manager. Raif supervised more than 50 staff and volunteers orchestrating of the front-line including the Box Office, Information Desk, and IMAX Theater. In 2019, he took on the opportunity to work for the Stonewall National Museum Archives and Library but sadly with COVID’s arrival in 2020, his Operations Manager position ended. In 2021, he assisted in managing the busiest Silverspot Cinemas location. When the Office Manager position arose at Stonewall in December 2024, Raif jumped at the opportunity to return.
Using his bachelor’s degree in history, his Multimedia Studies associate’s degree, and years of retail museum experience, Raif has brought a diverse knowledge and skill set to every job. Raif journeyed to south Florida from Portland, Oregon with his partner, Toni, 21 years ago, happily trading cold, grey, and rainy winters for warm, sunny, and dry ones. Now a widower, Raif continues his journey with his cats, Frankie and Gracie, focused on improving himself and fostering community connections.
