Modern Technology Powers the Future for Genesee Country Village & Museum

Nestled in the heart of Mumford, New York, Genesee Country Village & Museum provides a window into 19th-century life—a dynamic institution that bridges the past and present. As New York State’s largest living history museum, Genesee attracts thousands of visitors annually to experience its historic buildings, engaging events, and educational programming.

To keep history alive and relevant, the museum continually updates its offerings, drawing in new and younger audiences. Genesee Country Village offers something for everyone, from Summer Camp programs to seasonal festivals. Behind the scenes, however, the museum faced challenges managing its complex operations with outdated financial systems.

The challenge of outdated systems

Like many nonprofits, Genesee Country Village relied on an accounting system that initially met their needs, but as they grew the original system struggled to meet the demands of the museum’s $18 million operation. Managing multiple grants, departmental budgets, and data from diverse applications—including point-of-sale systems, eCommerce platforms, and payroll—required extensive manual effort. Leadership often lacked access to real-time financial data, leaving them waiting for insights to guide decision-making.

“We were spending too much time on workarounds and manual processes,” says Liz Marr, CFO at Genesee Country Village. “It wasn’t efficient, and it kept us from focusing on our mission.”

Building a stronger foundation

In 2022, the museum transitioned to a modern financial foundation with Sage Intacct, supported by Net at Work and its Fractional CIO & Advisory team. The implementation involved a comprehensive review of the museum’s software ecosystem, with Net at Work identifying opportunities to integrate applications and streamline operations.

“Net at Work wasn’t just supporting the software—they were supporting our entire organization. Their team was always available, open, and honest, and they helped us make the most of this transition.”
Liz Marr, CFO, Genesee Country Village & Museum

For Marr, Sage Intacct quickly became the “sun in our solar system,” centralizing data from across the museum’s operations. With intuitive dashboards, advanced reporting capabilities, and seamless integrations, Sage Intacct has transformed the way Genesee manages its finances.

Net at Work’s expertise made the transition smooth, even as it involved significant changes to long-standing processes. “Net at Work wasn’t just supporting the software—they were supporting our entire organization,” Marr explains. “Their team was always available, open, and honest, and they helped us make the most of this transition.”

Real-time data for smarter decisions

One of the most transformative aspects of Sage Intacct has been its ability to provide real-time financial insights. Previously, managing departmental budgets required hours of manual updates in Excel, and managers often operated with outdated information. Today, department heads can access dashboards to monitor their budgets, track special events, and adjust spending as needed.

“For example, managers can see if seasonal wages are approaching the budget and take action right away,” Marr shares. “We’ve gone from reacting to issues to proactively managing our resources.”

Significant time savings

The museum’s budgeting process, once a major pain point, has also seen dramatic improvements. Marr designed templates that integrate seamlessly with Sage Intacct, reducing a process that used to take about 12 hours per year to just a few minutes.

Empowering a small but mighty team

With just 3.5 full-time equivalents on the finance team, efficiency is essential for Genesee Country Village. Marr estimates that without Sage Intacct, she would need to hire at least two additional staff members to manage the workload. Instead, the museum has been able to operate with agility, focusing its resources on its mission rather than administrative tasks.

“Sage Intacct allows us to automate what can be automated,” Marr explains. “It frees us to concentrate our resources on what matters most.”

Partnering for success

For Genesee Country Village, Net at Work has been more than a vendor—they’ve been a true partner. Net at Work has provided the expertise and support needed to ensure success, from facilitating integrations to guiding the museum through its transition to Sage Intacct.

“They feel like an extension of our team,” Marr says. “Their depth of knowledge and willingness to help have been critical in making Sage Intacct the backbone of our operations.”

Preparing for the future

Genesee Country Village isn’t slowing down. With Sage Intacct and Net at Work, the museum is well-positioned to continue fulfilling its mission while finding new efficiencies.
“We feel a deep responsibility to our mission,” Marr concludes. “With the right tools and partner, we’re ready to continue preserving history for the next generation.”

Download the full Net at Work success story to read more about Genesee Country Village & Museum’s pathway to operational excellence.