in addition to the shreveport museum, waddell is the regional state administrator under louisiana secretary of state tom schedler, in which capacity he oversees six other state museums. from 2010 through 2015, he secured $8 million from the louisiana capital outlay budget for three construction projects, one of which is the covering for the museum courtyard. waddell has also stressed fundraising and interactive and educational experiences for museum visitors and visitors. state senator gregory tarver, a democrat, said that waddell "knows how to go out and beg for money, and you literally have to beg ... it is not an easy task. and, he gives you information you need to know so (you) can make an intelligent decision about money."