JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — Journey Gunderson, the executive director of the National Comedy Center, the nation’s official cultural institution dedicated to the art of comedy, was named to the Blooloop 50 Museum Influencer List during the Blooloop V-Expo, the first international online conference and exhibition for the global visitor attractions industry.

Blooloop’s inaugural Museum Influencer List recognizes 50 of the most influential people in the museum sector worldwide, celebrating the innovation, excellence and creativity of these professionals who are shaping the development and future of the museum industry during this uniquely challenging time.

Gunderson was one of only 20 museum professionals based in the United States to be selected by a panel of industry experts.

Blooloop is a leading international authority and online resource for professionals in the visitor attractions industry, including theme parks, museums, aquariums, and family entertainment centers.

Blooloop has been writing about trends and developments in the museum sector for over a decade and its reporting is read worldwide by professionals in over 150 countries.

A Chautauqua County native, Gunderson was selected for “managing the museum through the pandemic with dedication and expertise, while creating innovative ways to stay engaged with comedy fans across the country,” including the launch of the new National Comedy Center Anywhere online content platform, creating the first virtual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival this past August and reopening the National Comedy Center this past July with its new award-winning LaughSafe health and safety program, which has “transformed one of the most interactive museums in the country and revamped the experience with protocols specifically designed for the COVID era. As a result, the museum experience delivered has been not only touch-free, but stress-free.”