Sessions and Speakers
Click here to pre-register for workshops, walking tours, and field sessions. All Wednesday presentations do not require pre-registration.
TUESDAY, May 6th
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Pre-Conference CLG Training 9:45 AM - 3:00 PMPresented by National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC)
Required for CLG Scholarship recipients.
9:45 – 10:00 | Welcome and Introduction
10:00 – 11:00 | Legal Basics Will Cook
11:00 – 12:00 | Preservation Planning Chris Skelly
12:00 – 12:45 | Lunch Break
12:45 – 1:45 | Meeting Procedures and the Role of the Commissioner Will Cook
1:45 – 2:45 | Alternative Materials Chris Skelly
2:45 – 3:00 | Wrap-up
Speakers
Chris Skelly served as the Director of Local Government Programs at the Massachusetts Historical Commission from 1997 to 2021, providing preservation planning guidance to over 400 local boards and commissions across the state. Today, as the founder of Skelly Preservation Services, he provides consultant services to local, regional and state governments on historic preservation planning. His particular interests are preservation commission training, strategic commission guidance, and the preparation of study reports, design guidelines and preservation plans. His degrees include a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the State University of New York- College of Environmental Science and Forestry and a Master in Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. While at the Massachusetts Historical Commission, Mr. Skelly was also an instructor at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, teaching Cultural Resource Management. He thoroughly enjoys sharing his several decades of experience with students and local commissions.
Will Cook is a nationally recognized attorney, scholar, and law professor with a successful record for protecting National Historic Landmarks, significant landscapes, historic viewsheds, and traditional cultural properties. His practice focuses on balancing historic preservation with economic development so that historic preservation and cultural heritage law is more efficient, effective, and predictable. Will has studied American fine and decorative arts at the graduate level and helped develop standards regarding the direct care of collections and institutional deaccessioning practices. He lectures regularly to national audiences.
Handling and Cleaning Historic Silver
Are you using pink silver polish, baking soda, or toothpaste to clean the silver at your museum or home? You should reconsider! Join Greater Hudson Heritage Network for a hands-on workshop on handling and cleaning historic silver. You'll learn basic facts about silver, the causes of deterioration, cleaning and preservation strategies, and demonstrate how to use museum-approved cleaning supplies. You'll also learn what not to do and who/when to call for professional conservation help. All materials, supplies, and handouts will be provided. Feel free to bring one small piece of tarnished silver from your home to clean. (We can't guarantee results due to factors such as the level of tarnish and silver quality.) Space is limited and RSVP is required.
Speakers
Beautiful Old Windows
Beautiful Old Windows! - there is nothing like the detail and matching architecture of Old Windows. If you have windows in an old house or building built before 1940 then you have some of the best windows ever made. This age of windows are much better to restore, rather than replace with lesser modern options. Come join Brandon Fleishour, from The Old Window Company, for an overview of restoring an old window to make it beautiful and functional again. Better yet, get hands on experience with one of the important steps in the restoration process - putting Glazing Putty around the glass - to form a new seal so your old windows can go another 100 years.
Speaker
Brandon is currently training the 6th generation of craftspeople in his family’s tradition of building in America, now in its niche of Old Window Restoration with his company and shop – The Old Window Company.
After helping lead a team of craftspeople to restore windows for the Senate in Washington DC, Brandon came back home and decided to convert his construction company to 100% Old Window Restoration. Brandon leads with the truth that people are the most valuable thing in Architecture.
Public Art in Poughkeepsie
Artist and muralist Franc Palaia leads leisurely two-hour walking tours of public art in a three-block area of downtown Poughkeepsie. Poughkeepsie is full of history and historic, important public art and architecture from the 1600s to today. The tour includes historic and contemporary indoor and outdoor murals, sculpture, historical monuments, architecture, street art, and more, amounting to approximately 50 works of art.
Tour Guide
Franc Palaia is an American photographer, painter, sculptor and muralist. He has presented over 300 solo and group exhibitions which include the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY, as well as other exhibitions nationally and internationally. He is also the recipient of over 20 grants and fellowships. He has experience as a set designer for NY theaters, a cable TV cameraman, program host and producer, college art instructor, a gallerist and musician (a percussionist) with performances throughout the NY metro area. He has curated over 35 art exhibitions in the US and Italy and created the “Guided Walking Tour of Public Art in Poughkeepsie, NY,” the only tour of its kind in the Hudson Valley.
In the Shadow of the Walkway
Located below the Walkway Over the Hudson, the Mt. Carmel neighborhood stands witness to a complex narrative of immigrant stories from the early 19th century to today. Motivated by hope, work, and seeking “home”, waves of European, African-American and Latino peoples have contributed to the fabric of the city for nearly two centuries. The vernacular building traditions of the neighborhood support their stories of adversity and community. Marginalized by religion, race and language barriers they sought to connect and interact in a new world. This rich history begins with the Dutch gentry and continues through the harsh reality of Nativism and the persistence of tight-knit communities during the Progressive urbanization of Poughkeepsie. Understand the trauma of urban renewal, the resulting demise of 200-year-old neighborhoods and the relevancy of this district today.
Tour Guide
Antonia Mauro was born and raised in the Mt. Carmel neighborhood while attending Mt. Carmel Church and School. Following retirement as an art educator in Poughkeepsie, she rejoined the Dutchess County Historical Society as a Trustee having earlier created the DCHS Historic House Tour. A former Commissioner with the City of Poughkeepsie Historic Districts and Landmarks Preservation Commission, Antonia served the city’s historic property owners and worked to protect Poughkeepsie’s architectural heritage. A committed preservationist and local historian, Antonia continues to research and write about Poughkeepsie’s local history and historic architecture. She is the creator and admin of her Facebook page “Preserving Poughkeepsie’s Architectural Heritage and Local History.”
Poughkeepsie: A Historic Preservation Commissioner's Perspective
Embark on a walking tour through Downtown Poughkeepsie to the Garfield Place and Academy Street Historic Districts and back, guided by a Historic Preservation Commissioner. This tour offers a unique perspective on the architectural and cultural heritage that defines these neighborhoods and the efforts of the Poughkeepsie Historic District and Landmark Preservation Commission (HDLPC) in safeguarding these architectural treasures.
Tour Guide
Brian Hooper is a commissioner on Poughkeepsie’s Historic District & Landmarks Preservation Commission (HDLPC), a role he has held since September 2022. With a BFA in Interior Design from Virginia Commonwealth University, Brian has a deep-rooted passion for architecture and design, which has evolved to include historic preservation. As a resident of the Academy Street Historic District, he is personally committed to helping preserve Poughkeepsie’s rich architectural heritage. Beyond his professional background in retail business and technology, Brian actively participates in community and preservation initiatives.
WedneSDAY, May 7th
1A | Saving Endangered Historic Truss Bridges of the Hudson Valley
New York is known for its bridges. However, across the State, historic bridges are threatened by demolition, demolition by neglect, or removal and replacement with modern spans. In Dutchess County, several “orphaned” truss bridges constructed between 1912 and 1928 span the Amtrak line along the Hudson River. While the bridges exhibit deteriorating elements, they are largely intact. As “orphans,” however, they possess no clear owner and, as a result, they are not receiving necessary inspections, maintenance, and repair. Further, railroad policy imposes financial impediments to those who would seek grant funding to save these bridges.Ten bridges are located in and are contributing features of the Hudson River National Landmark District; two others are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Further several of these historic bridges are located in parks and historic sites. This session focuses opportunities and threats at two bridges. The Federal Highway Administration recommended three times—in 2020, 2014, and most recently 2023—that the FDR/Crum Elbow Warren Truss Bridge be removed immediately. The Hoyt Carriageway Warren Truss Bridge in Mills Norrie State Park has funding for repairs but CSX has imposed unreasonable demands on Calvert Vaux Preservation Alliance, the 501c3 that has stepped up to save the bridge. We hope that when restored and reopened, the bridges will provide historic preservation benefits; educational and interpretive opportunities; increase safe access to the Hudson River and important National and State historic sites.
Speakers
Jeffrey Anzevino, AICP, Director of Land Use Advocacy, Scenic Hudson: Jeff is Director of Land Use Advocacy at Scenic Hudson where he works with communities to ensure that riverfront development is resilient, stimulates the economy, connects people with the river, and conserves views and natural resources. Passionate about expanding public shoreline access to the Hudson River, Jeff is responsible for Scenic Hudson’s river access initiative which resulted in the production of the Hudson River Access Plan (2023), Historic Steel Truss Bridge Cultural Resource Survey (2021), How to Reduce Risk and Improve Shoreline Access Along Passenger Rail Lines (2021), and At-Grade Passenger Rail Pedestrian & Trail Crossings Empire Corridor South (2019). In addition, Jeff is co-author of Revitalizing Hudson Riverfronts (2010), which won a US Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Environmental Quality Award in 2013. He earned accreditation from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) in 2003.
Mr. Anzevino is also an adjunct instructor at Marist College’s Department of Environmental Science and Policy where he has taught a senior-level course in Environmental Planning since 2011. Previously, Mr. Anzevino was a planner for the City of Cape Coral, Florida, where he served as chair of the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Advisory Committee, drafted the city’s historic preservation ordinance and authored the Community Facilities Element of the city’s Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Anzevino graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a B.A. in Geography (1985), and holds three A.A. degrees (Geography, Community Planning and Cartography (1983) from Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland.
Jon Lawson, Board Chair of Calvert Vaux Preservation Alliance (CVPA), recently retired from the Shubert Organization in New York City as the Lighting and Electric Supervisor at the Schoenfeld and Cort Theatres on Broadway. Jon was Lighting and Electric Supervisor for more than 40 Broadway shows since 1984 and also worked on numerous national and international ballet and theatre tours, including Rudolph Nureyev’s farewell tour, Dance Theatre of Harlem, “Dreamgirls,” “Titanic” and “42nd Street.” He also supervised the lighting operation for the 1988 and 1992 political conventions in New Orleans and New York City, and the early Spoleto USA Festivals in Charleston, SC. Jon lives in Rhinebeck and is an avid fruit and vegetable gardener and a partner in a local maple syrup operation. CVPA is dedicated to the restoration and re-use of The Point, Calvert Vaux’s historic 1855 creation for the Hoyt family in Staatsburg, NY.
Peter is the Owner of Peter Melewski, LLC, a firm which provides visionary transportation and planning advisory services to public, private and not-for-profit clients. Peter is a Fellow with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and a licensed professional engineer. He received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Syracuse University, and an M.S. in Urban and Environmental Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has over 40 years of experience in the public sector and private sectors. In the public sector, Peter served as Superintendent of Maintenance and Director of Design for the NYS Thruway Authority (NYSTA). He was also the Executive Project Manager for the I-287/Tappan Zee Bridge Environmental Process which assessed various rehabilitation/replacement alternatives for the 3 mile long bridge spanning the Hudson River. In the private sector, He served as Project Manager for the conversion of the historic 1.25-mile-long Poughkeepsie Highland Railroad Bridge into the Walkway over the Hudson State Historical Park. Peter was the consultant Project Manager for the Cultural Resource Survey Historic Steel Truss Bridges via a grant issued by the Preservation League of NYS to Scenic Hudson, Inc. to identify, research, and preserve twelve early 20th Century historic steel truss bridges. He was lead author for the 2022 American Society of Civil Engineer’s New York State Infrastructure Report Card, as well as chair of the bridge committee.
Amy is the National Park Service Superintendent for the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Van Buren, and the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Sites in Upstate New York. She began her career with the NPS in 2007 at Mount Rushmore National Memorial and has also served at Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park and Saratoga National Historical Park. She holds master’s degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Georgia in art history and historic preservation, respectively. She is originally from Atlanta, Georgia and attended Emory University for her undergraduate studies.
1B | Climate Change Related Disaster Planning at Hanford Mills Museum
As the impacts of climate change become more apparent, disaster planning has become a higher priority for historic organizations across the United States. However, maintaining the historic integrity of these resources can be a challenge when faced with the increased potential for natural disaster. This talk will outline the process of developing a Flood Preparedness Plan for Hanford Mills Museum. Located in the foothills of the Catskills, Hanford Mills represents a classic case of the need to be prepared for a natural disaster such as a flood without the ability to move or significantly alter the buildings and structures of the museum. The presentation will discuss which resources were used to create the Plan, including online toolkits and information from other museums that have put similar plans in place. It will use Hanford Mills as an example for how others in the field could use these resources to help with disaster planning.
Speaker
Liz Brown is completing her Master’s degree in Sustainable Communities from Binghamton University. The focus of her research is on the intersection of historic preservation and climate change adaptation, specifically at Hanford Mills Museum. Her professional background is in environmental education and interpretation. She has worked at Hanford Mills as an educator since 2016, recently transitioning into the role of Community Engagement Coordinator. She is particularly interested in bringing community members together to work towards sustainable solutions that will benefit everyone.
1C | Real Clothes, Real Lives: Everyday Clothes Connect Us to the Past
This presentation highlights the significance of everyday clothing worn by ordinary women, a topic often overlooked in history. It will include garments from the "Real Clothes, Real Lives: 200 Years of What Women Wore" exhibition at the New York Historical. Most garments discussed are modest, inexpensive, and bear marks of heavy use. Some were saved to preserve a memory of a specific occasion, like a Quinceañera dress; others are survivors of everyday use, such as a faded floral work dress from the Depression era. Each object holds valuable information about history, economics, and technology. Clothes like these are rarely saved or displayed in a museum, yet they offer clues about the women who wore them, those who made them, and the time and place they were worn. This is a new way of thinking about old clothes. It encourages us to view old clothes not as mere rags but as valuable relics that connect us to the past.
Speaker
Rebecca Shea is an independent researcher, writer, curator, and exhibition designer specializing in historic clothing. She holds an M.A. in Fashion and Textile Studies from the Fashion Institute of Technology and a B.A. in Painting from Smith College. Rebecca has curated over thirty acclaimed exhibitions, including “Real Clothes, Real Lives: 200 Years of What Women Wore” (2024), and “Helen Gould & Madam CJ Walker: Irvington Neighbors Empowering Women” (2019). She has also taught in the MA Fashion Studies program at FIT and consulted for Hines Real Estate’s art collection and the Smith College Historic Clothing Collection. Her work has appeared in various publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, and WWD.
1D | Welcoming to All: Integrating Accessibility into Museum and Preservation Practice
As stewards of public historic sites, the Historic House Trust of NYC and its partner museums have a responsibility to be affordable and accessible for all New Yorkers to not just experience but also to enjoy. Using our recently completed Accessibility & Innovation Initiative as a starting point, we’ll explore how to integrate accessibility into everyday processes and decision-making at your museum. From creative programming to large-scale capital projects, there’s a wide range of methods for centering disability and becoming more welcoming to all.
Speaker
Giulietta Fiore (she/they) has been with the Historic House Trust of New York City since 2019. As Acting Director and formerly Deputy Director, Giulietta works with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and over 20 museum partners to preserve 23 historic sites located on public parkland across all five boroughs of NYC. They have an in-depth understanding of the unique needs of NYC’s house museums as well as a nuanced view of the role of layered stakeholders in maintaining cultural heritage. Prior to their role at the Historic House Trust, Giulietta served as Director of the Brinton 1704 House & Historic Site in Pennsylvania, and contracted with a variety of nonprofit and environmental consulting firms to preserve material culture. Giulietta holds a degree in Archaeology from McGill University, and has experience working in various sectors related to history including cultural resource management, historic preservation, and museum administration.
2A | The Federal Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program and the Use of Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits for Public Housing
This panel discussion session will introduce the basics of the federal Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program and highlight how it has facilitated rehabilitation of historic public housing complexes in New York City, Troy, and Albany through the federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credit program.
Speakers
Olivia Brazee is Senior Historic Site Restoration Coordinator at the Division for Historic Preservation of the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (State Historic Preservation Office), where she supervises the Technical Services Unit and administers the Barn Tax Credit program. In her free time she serves as President of the Board of TAP, Inc., a community design center, and as a member of the Troy, NY Historic Review Commission. Olivia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Latin American Studies from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University, and worked at the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission prior to coming to SHPO.
John Larounis is a Development Senior Project Manager at MDG. Since joining MDG in February 2018, John has played an intricate role on current development and construction projects along with sourcing and acquiring new development and construction opportunities. John is currently the Senior Development Project Manager over seeing $640mm worth of development and construction projects. Throughout his time at MDG, John has served on numerous projects throughout the country, including the five boroughs of NYC, New York’s Capital Region, South Carolina, US Virgin Islands, and West Viriginia. John has recently completed the construction loan closings of a two bundle, five scattered site redevelopment that consisted of 733 units spread across 68 buildings in Troy, New York. This complex redevelopment project was a historical preservation project with an intricate financing structure; working with the State of New York Housing Finance Authority, John was able to finance the first and second Master Lease/Lease Pass project in the history of New York State Housing Finance Authority. With this financing, John was able to generate another $15+ million dollars in LIHTC equity. Working in tandem with State & Federal Agencies, multiple Tax Credit investors and lenders, and a plethora of third-party consultants, John spear headed this large-scale portfolio, closing both bundles within eight months of each other. In its entirety, this portfolio had a total development cost exceeding $288 million dollars.
Albert Rex is the Principal of the Historic Tax Credit group at Ryan, LLC. Albert has over thirty years of experience working in preservation and historic tax credits. Ryan is an award-winning global tax services and software provider. Ryan’s credits and incentives practices help businesses realize and maximize opportunities that align with their overall business goals. Our full-service practice covers credits (including federal and state historic tax credits and the New Market Tax Credit), incentives, site selection services, and historic preservation consulting. In just the last year, the HTC group helped our clients secure over $500 million in federal and state historic tax credits for their historic rehabilitations. Albert is the current Chair of the Historic Tax Credit Coalition (HTCC), the only group dedicated to improving and expanding the program at the federal level. Prior to Ryan, Albert was a Partner and CEO at MacRostie Historic Advisors, LLC, a national historic tax credit consulting firm. Albert’s career has really focused on the intersection of historic preservation and real estate. First working with several different non-profits in Massachusetts and New England and then with MHA. In addition to being the Chair of the HTCC, he is on the board of the National Housing and Rehabilitation Association (NH & RA) and the board of Preservation Massachusetts and is the past chair and former board member of the Crossroads Continuum in Marlborough, MA an organization that support individuals on the autistic spectrum.
Cindy Hamilton is president of Heritage Consulting Group, a national historic tax credit consulting firm based in Philadelphia. In this capacity, Ms. Hamilton develops strategies for owners to maximize rehabilitation incentives and she represents clients in negotiations through all aspects of the historic tax credit review process. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Ms. Hamilton has a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory process and is adept at identifying creative solutions to achieve favorable outcomes for clients. She has been involved in the restoration and rehabilitation of hundreds of historic tax credit projects throughout the United States. Ms. Hamilton received a B.S in Environmental Design and Planning from the State University of New York at Buffalo and an M.S. in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania.
Michael Jones is an architect and Director of Design for Real Estate Development at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Since joining NYCHA in 2018, Michael and his team have led the design oversight for the preservation and new construction portfolios at the Authority. With the strong partnership of NYCHA residents and community development partners, Michael and the Real Estate Development Department have contributed to the preservation and substantial rehabilitation of 24,000 units and $6.9B in capital improvements completed or under construction. The portfolio includes over 25 developments now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In partnership with the NYC Department of City Planning, Michael contributed to the NYCHA Connected Communities Guidebook, an initiative that established urban design and community engagement principles for the Authority.
Before joining NYCHA, Michael led an architecture practice in the San Francisco Bay Area and served as a Program Manager at the not-for-profit Architecture For Humanity, overseeing the design and construction of community, technology, and education facilities across 4 continents. Michael earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, attended a year-long program at DIS: Danish International Study program, and has been a guest lecturer and design critic at the University of California Berkeley, Yale, Cooper Union, and Cornell University.
Kathleen LaFrank has an M.A. in architecture and design criticism from Parsons School of Design. She is the coordinator of the Tax Credit Part 1 Unit at the New York State Historic Preservation Office, where she works with a small team to assist sponsors with applications and reviews them for submission to the National Park Service. She has extensive expertise with all aspects of the National Register and Tax Credit part 1 programs.
Darren Scott joined NYS Homes and Community Renewal in 2017 as Upstate East Director of Development. Mr. Scott has over thirty years of experience, as Director of Development for the Albany Housing Authority, volunteering on the boards of housing and supportive service providers, and by assisting local government and stakeholders to improve quality of life in their communities through the development of affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization. Darren is committed to expanding housing opportunities for all New Yorkers by increasing awareness of and providing greater access to HCR funding programs and expertise.
2B | Telling a Fuller Story: Historic Preservation in Underrepresented Communities of Buffalo, NY
This session will explore issues of equity and accessibility within preservation efforts in underrepresented communities with case studies in Buffalo, NY. The panelists have deep experience in helping underrepresented communities to protect their cultural heritage, historic and cultural sites and buildings. They will discuss opportunities, challenges, funding sources, and some of the proposed solutions in their preservation projects. These case studies of historic preservation and cultural reconciliation will inspire and inform you!
Speakers
Jill brings nearly twenty years of experience in historic preservation project management to CBCA. She holds a Master of Historic Preservation degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a BFA in Interior Design from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She specializes in Historic Structure Reports, Investment Tax Credit applications and design consistency with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. She performs historic preservation project management on restoration and rehabilitation projects, including design development, construction documents, and construction contract administration.
The Juneteenth Festival, Inc. is a charitable and educational non-profit organization that promotes African American heritage. They are responsible for the Juneteenth Festival of Buffalo, one of the longest-running Juneteenth celebrations in the country. 1517 Genesee Street, now home to the Juneteenth Festival Inc., is a historic former bank building located on the East Side of Buffalo, NY. How to provide accessibility respectfully of the historic building that highlights the cultural heritage significance of the organization within?
Built in 1893, the house at 36 Nash Street was the former residence of the Rev. J. Edward Nash from 1925 until 1987. Rev. Nash was the pastor of the Michigan Avenue Baptist Church from 1892 until his retirement in 1953. Opening as a museum in 2007, the house showcases the Nash Family archives and artifacts and is a testament to Buffalo’s African American heritage. CBCA was engaged to prepare a Building Conditions Report for the building and an Addition Preliminary Design with funding from a Preserve New York grant from the Preservation League of New York State.
The Coles House Project is a non-profit organization that preserves and stewards the National Register listed Coles House and Studio as a community space. We uplift and nurture the legacy of advocacy and architecture of Buffalo-born architect Robert Traynham Coles, FAIA, through public programming, community driven design, and architecture and planning. A Mellon Foundation Humanities in Place Grant and a National Trust African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Conserving Black Modernism grant are fueling a collaborative plan for the house and its community.
2C | Erasing Disability: Public Memory, FDR, and the Problem with Wheelchairs
There exists a great irony in FDR’s public memory. While he is one of the most recognizable disabled historical figures, his disability is commonly represented in ways that marginalize its significance. Historians and biographers regularly highlight the few surviving photos of FDR using a wheelchair as evidence that he hid his disability from the public. This narrow interpretive framework has caused us to overlook his regular use of other mobility devices. The public frequently observed FDR using leg braces, crutches, canes, and even automobiles to navigate his surroundings. The National Park Service is reframing the narrative in a new exhibit that demonstrates how FDR challenged public perceptions and may have changed the way Americans understood the meaning of disability.
Speakers
Dr. Shelby Landmark is the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Disability Representation at Historic Sites at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. She earned her PhD in Communication at Texas A&M University. Her areas of expertise are in representation of disability, sexuality, and marginalized identities.
Frank Futral is curator and museum program manager at Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. He earned his M.A. in Art History at the University of Texas at Austin. His areas of interest include disability history and the material culture of marginalized identities.
Seth Frost is a museum technician at Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. He earned his M.A. in public history at Northern Kentucky University. His areas of study are the American Presidency, the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era, and Disability History.
2D | Entrepreneurship Meets Preservation: Revitalizing Historic Spaces with Technology and Community-Driven Business Models
Historic preservation must evolve to meet the needs of modern communities. By combining entrepreneurship with thoughtful preservation practices, we can protect our shared heritage while creating spaces that are financially viable and culturally enriching. This session will inspire attendees to think creatively about how they can contribute to this movement—whether through business ventures, artistic endeavors, or technological innovation. This pitch highlights how entrepreneurial thinking—combined with creative ideation and technology—can transform historic properties into sustainable community assets. It emphasizes real-world examples from New York State while offering actionable insights for conference attendees on how they can apply these concepts locally.
Speakers
Michelle Toch Dinsmore is a creative entrepreneur and brand strategist passionate about historic preservation and innovative business. As a partner at Overit, she crafts forward-thinking strategies across industries, with expertise in adaptive reuse evident in projects like the Turner Farmhouse in Colonie, NY, and transforming Overit’s headquarters into a creative studio. As Albany’s Airbnb Community Leader and a board member for arts and historical organizations, Michelle advocates for community-driven development. Her philosophy highlights how investing in preservation fuels growth. As a speaker, she emphasizes balancing technology with history to amplify a community’s unique sense of place.
Under the visionary leadership of Johanna Batman, the Shaker Heritage Society is embarking on a transformative 15-year master plan. This modern and thoughtful approach not only preserves a vital chapter of American history but also enhances the quality of life in the community and drives economic development.
Everything House of Brinson does is exceptional. From sourcing materials, to brand, strategy, and perfectly capturing every special moment with their work. They provide an authentic heartbeat in their community while remaining a responsible steward and champion of continued growth.
Jeff is a respected real estate developer and ongoing economic development advocate. He is an expert at navigating the historic tax credit process, having completed more than 25 historic tax credit projects, totaling more than $200 million in investment. An accidental preservationist, he has been extremely successful in procuring local, state and national grants for many of his projects. He also recently founded “Do the Next Good Thing” a philanthropic kindness project that has garnered national media.
Sarah earned her BA in Psychology and Women’s Studies from the University of Vermont, where she honed her organizing skills as an activist. Since taking the reins at Caffè Lena in 1995, she has worked to honor Lena Spencer’s legacy by fostering community through music, building friendships, careers, and connection. Sarah mentors emerging artists and presenters, contributes to national music publications, and shares her expertise as a panelist at conferences across the US and Canada. A resident of rural Shushan, NY, she balances her work with gardening, novel writing, and exploring ecology, theology, psychology, and social justice.
Room to Grow: Preservation Strategies for Material Erasure
The safeguarding of the places where historically marginalized populations have lived presents a myriad of challenges within our current preservation policy framework. Federal standards, often adopted and modified for state and local statutes, have traditionally privileged material integrity and strict adherence to the Secretary of Interior’s standards. With little flexibility and a commitment to outdated procedure, the homes, businesses, community centers, schools, places of worship, etc., of under resourced, yet creatively resilient peoples, suffer from purposefully agnostic professional opinions on their inherent value and suitability for preservation.
If the field has indeed moved beyond the models of freezing a place in a specific period of significance and of lifting up the exceptional over the everyday, as scholars and practitioners espouse, then why do we find so many historic spaces representing diverse experiences denied care, attention, and resources?
In this talk, Wiley will discuss case studies demonstrating expansive approaches to the preservation of historic Black sites. She will focus on historic resources that have suffered from material erasure – compromised physical integrity due to decay, alterations, and outright demolition – as well as archival erasure. In her lecture, she will argue for the power of memory work, art, and the imagination as legitimate tactics to develop preservation plans and direct policy. As preservationists, Wiley posits, we should always be looking for room to grow our professional toolkits. This keynote will offer up some strategies to document spaces with material loss.
SPEAKER
Amber N. Wiley, PhD, is the Wick Cary Director of the Institute for Quality Communities. An award-winning scholar, Wiley brings more than 15 years of experience in teaching, research and professional practice in historic preservation, architecture and community engagement. She has dedicated her professional career to advancing the history and narrative of design and preservation in Black communities, as well as advocating for theoretically rigorous, thoughtful and inclusive expansions of preservation policy and practice. Wiley joined OU from the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design, where she served as the Matt and Erika Nord director of the Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites and as a Presidential Associate Professor of Historic Preservation. Her publications cover African American and African diasporic cultural heritage, urbanism in New Orleans, school design, urban renewal, and preservation policy. Her book, Model Schools in the Model City: Race, Planning, and Education in the Nation’s Capital will be published by the University of Pittsburgh Press in March 2025.
She has served on the National Park System Advisory Board Landmarks Committee, and on the boards of the Vernacular Architecture Forum, Latrobe Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians, and the Yale Black Alumni Association. Wiley holds a Ph.D. in American studies from George Washington University, a master’s in architectural history and a certificate in historic preservation from the University of Virginia, and a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Yale University. She is an Oklahoma City native with roots in Oklahoma, Washington, DC, Arkansas, and North Carolina.
[1.0 LU]
3A | Preserving Your Community's Preservation History: A Collaborative Workshop
New Yorkers work to save our state’s architectural, cultural, and community resources. Despite the value of preservation to community revitalization and sustainability, this work remains under attack and under-documented. The New York Preservation Archive Project is a nonprofit dedicated to documenting, preserving, celebrating, and educating the public about the history of historic preservation in New York City. Through public programming, regrants, oral histories, and providing access to information, the Archive Project demonstrates the importance of this history to the continued health, success, and growth of the preservation movement. Join the Archive Project for a presentation and workshop on applying methodologies of documenting preservation history to your community and gain skills to advocate for the preservation movement on a local and statewide level.
[1.25 LU]
Speaker
Emily Kahn is a historic preservationist, public historian, and experienced nonprofit leader who started as the Executive Director of the New York Preservation Archive Project in July 2023. She previously worked at the National Trust for Historic Preservation as well as at numerous small preservation advocacy organizations, where she developed interdisciplinary skills in archival research, storytelling, museum interpretation, grantmaking, public programming, and fundraising. Passionate about increasing equity in the preservation field, she serves as the President of Columbia’s Preservation Alumni. A lifelong New Yorker, Emily holds a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation from Columbia University (New York, NY) and a Bachelor’s degree in History from Colgate University (Hamilton, NY).
3B | Preserving Heritage While Advancing Sustainability
The presentation is centered around three key questions: Part I: How can restoring Fringe Cities can address our global climate crisis, while at the same time preserving disinvested buildings and infrastructure that reflect our collective industrial heritage? Part II: How can the social and environmental mission of a regional environmental organization be reflected through its adaptive reuse capital project? Part III: How can friction points between historic and environmental preservation be leveraged to the benefit of both? Through case studies, we will examine how adaptive reuse design solutions can mitigate climate impacts, revive local economies, and provide new community assets. Attendees will learn how these strategies uplift industrial heritage, while still promoting resilience and carbon neutrality.
Speakers
Justin Brown believes in architecture’s potential to address seemingly insurmountable challenges. As a Co-founder and Principal at MASS Design Group, Justin leads the Fringe Cities Design Lab in Poughkeepsie, New York. At the Fringe Cities Design Lab, Justin leads research on disinvested mid-size American cities and uses community-engaged design practices to unlock capital that will transform existing liabilities into future assets. Before joining MASS, Justin led award-winning projects at Gensler in Washington DC, Perez APC in New Orleans, and Toshiko Mori Architect in New York. Justin holds a Master of Architecture from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.
Caroline is leading one of the most ambitious projects in Scenic Hudson’s 60-year history. As a project manager at the environmental organization, she is involved in all aspects—from concept through construction—of the Northside Hub, an adaptive reuse of a derelict historic factory in Poughkeepsie. When completed in 2025, this venture will transform a polluted industrial site into a vibrant, carbon-neutral community resource, housing staff offices, community spaces, trail connections, and more. Before joining Scenic Hudson, Caroline worked for five years at MASS Design Group as a lead architect on several key projects. Caroline graduated magna cum laude with a professional B.Arch from Virginia Tech, where she spent a year studying at the USI Accademia di Architettura in Switzerland.
Heather joined MASS Design Group in 2021 and is a Design Director based out of the Poughkeepsie office. She is motivated to build upon her experience in practice and academia to contribute to designs that promote equity, build trust within a community, and embody creative sustainable solutions. Prior to joining MASS, Heather practiced in Arkansas and New York City, where she was involved in the design and construction of a wide range of cultural, institutional, and state department projects. Heather received her Masters of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis and her Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Lehigh University.
3C | After the Collapse: Rebuilding Boscobel After Unexpected Disaster
Following the collapse of a ceiling, Boscobel’s team found themselves at a crucial juncture: the need for immediate disaster response of the House and collection items, the unexpected opportunity to take a contemporary lens on the Historic House Museum, and meeting imperative programming needs despite the disruption. Hear from staff on their strategy for “Boscobel 3.0” that has gone beyond the walls of the House to include major programmatic pivots, strategic communications and partnerships, and creative exhibitions, all while working to safeguard and recontextualize the collection. Using a bootstrap approach that places emphasis on flexibility, transparency, and creatively capitalizing on existing resources and networks has not only laid the groundwork for a major reopening, but in the interim, has created opportunities for visitors like never before - all in the spirit of Boscobel’s history of resilience and reinvention.
Speakers
Riley Richards is a historian of American decorative arts and material culture. She supports the interpretation, care, and growth of Boscobel’s historic collection and period rooms. She graduated from Wesleyan University with a BA in Art History and is a graduate of the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture. Riley formerly served as the Tiffany & Co. Foundation Curatorial Intern in American Decorative Arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she assisted with the exhibition Collecting Inspiration: Edward C. Moore and Tiffany & Co. and curated rotations of design drawings from Louis C. Tiffany and Tiffany Studios. Riley’s current research interests revolve around the making, use, and meaning of nineteenth century ceramics and glass in local communities.
Abby Addams leads all marketing and communication efforts at Boscobel, overseeing media relations, social media strategy, graphic design, external communications, advertisements, and strategic partnerships. Addams has worked with a range of public relations firms across the fine arts, design, and lifestyle categories, having worked with distinguished organizations including The Smithsonian Archives of American Art, Acquavella Galleries, Chairish, The City of Miami Beach Art in Public Places, RISD Museum, Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, among others. Abby received her B.A. in Art History and Communications from Manhattan College.
Jennifer Carlquist is a 30-year museum professional celebrating historic landscapes, buildings, and interiors; their contents and contexts as powerful tools for community engagement. As Boscobel’s Executive Director she has launched free exhibitions in the Visitor Center, digital tours, an annual Chamber Music Festival, and led major site improvements including a Native Meadow. Ms. Carlquist lectures on museum practice and design history and has served on advisory and grants panels for the Greater Hudson Heritage Network, Preservation League of NYS, Victorian Society Summer Schools, and the Attingham Summer School. She holds a certificate in Museum Management and is a graduate of Cooper-Hewitt’s M.A. Program in the History of Design and Curatorial Studies, the University of Minnesota.
3D | New York at 250: A County Perspective on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution
The year 2025 marks 250 years since the shots fired at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, ignited the British imperial crisis of the 1760s and early 1770s into an actual colonial rebellion and secession movement. As the modern United States draws closer to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, organizations across the nation and our state are working to deliver programming that commemorates this vital anniversary and engages the public in a thoughtful examination of the past. The leaders of the planning groups for Westchester, Saratoga, and Dutchess Counties will offer a local perspective, detailing their successful experiences of both planning and delivering engaging programming that engages New Yorkers as we consider what the American Revolution mean to contemporaries and how has it shaped the subsequent 250 years of lived experience.
Speakers
Constance Kehoe formed Revolutionary Westchester 250 in 2018 after leading a project to memorialize the early military veterans of the Village of Irvington, which she served as Deputy Mayor. As President of RW250 and a member of the NYS 250th Commission, she has tirelessly campaigned for greater awareness of the impact of the American Revolution and created a expanding array of engaging local history programming. Constance holds degrees from Vassar College and Wesleyan University, and directed Literacy Warehouse, an educational sales and consulting business, for 20 years. Constance represents the Westchester and New York history communities at 250th events and conferences across the East Coast.
Lauren Roberts serves as the Saratoga County Historian, a position which she has held since 2009. Lauren holds the position of 2nd Vice President for the Association of Public Historians of New York State (APHNYS). In 2017, she was co-producer of the highly successful documentary Harnessing Nature: Building the Great Sacandaga. Since 2019, Lauren has been the co-host for WAMC Northeast Public Radio’s award-winning podcast A New York Minute in History. She currently serves as Chair of the Saratoga County 250th American Revolution Commission and as a commissioner on the New York State 250th Commission. She holds a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and American Studies from Skidmore College and a Master’s Degree in Public History from the University at Albany.
William P. Tatum III has served as Dutchess County Historian since October 2012. He holds a BA in History from the College of William & Mary in Virginia and a MA and PhD in History from Brown University. His work has ranged from digital archives initiatives, including the Dutchess County Ancient Documents Project, to engaging public programming series like the Dutchess County Historic Tavern Trail. Will became Chair of the Dutchess County Rev250 Committee in 2019, leading local planning efforts that have resulted in direct county funding for Rev250 programming. In addition to his work on Dutchess County History, Will is a peer-reviewed published scholar and authority on the Eighteenth-Century British Army.
Devin Lander is New York’s 16th State Historian and co- chair of the NYS 250th Commission. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Museum Association of New York (MANY) and worked as Deputy Legislative and Policy Director for the Chair of the New York State Assembly’s Tourism, Arts, Parks, and Sports Development and Governmental Operations Committees. He holds a BA in History from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and a MA in Public History from the University at Albany where he is currently completing work on his PhD dissertation. Devin is also co-host of the award-winning podcast A New York Minute in History and co-editor of the New York History journal published by Cornell University Press.
4A | How Preservation, Reuse, and Circularity Can (Re)Build Communities
Circularity, Reuse, and Zero Waste Development (CR0WD) is a network of planners, preservationists, architects, policymakers, salvage and reuse professionals, community leaders, and university researchers working toward a sustainable built environment and circular economy. In this session, CR0WD will explain how preservation professionals and advocates are helping communities realize the environmental, economic, and cultural benefits of reusing buildings and building materials. The session will tour new resources for preservationists, including: a NYS economic impact analysis and policy recommendations; a local government workbook on embodying justice in the built environment; and projects led by nonprofits, local governments, and youth. Attendees will also learn about deconstruction programs in other states from nationally recognized expert, Mae Bowley, owner of Big Tree Projects and former executive director of Re:Purpose Savannah.
[1.25 LU]
Speaker
Andrew Boghossian is the Deconstruction Coordinator at Finger lakes ReUse. Andrew has performed work across the AEC industry with a focus on innovative and sustainable building practices for buildings, materials, and their life cycles. As Deconstruction Coordinator, Andrew leads salvage and deconstruction operations in the Finger Lakes region with a hybrid model of workforce development and volunteer-based workshops: teaching deconstruction skills and maximizing the diversion of building materials from landfills. Collaborating with AEC industry professionals, nonprofits, and researchers, Finger Lakes ReUse is able to widen the network of deconstruction practitioners and demonstrate to municipalities that deconstruction is a viable waste reduction strategy for building materials.
As director of social enterprise, Mae Bowley leads circular economy initiatives for Rebuilding Exchange, a 501(c)3 non-profit that invests in Chicago’s communities by reusing building materials, reducing construction waste, and training, supporting, and connecting people seeking careers in the building trades. Bowley owns Big Tree Projects, a deconstruction, salvage, and reuse consultancy working to advance circularity in the built environment through a community-based historic preservation lens, and was formerly the executive director of Re:Purpose Savannah, a women+ run non-profit dedicated to sustainability, inclusion, and preservation through the deconstruction and reuse of historic fabric.
Bryan McCracken holds a master’s degree in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University. He has worked in economic development and has witnessed the successful use of historic preservation to economically transform struggling downtowns. He currently works as the Historic Preservation Planner for the City of Ithaca, a community working to save its historic resources while facing considerable development pressures.
Caitlin Meives is the Director of Preservation at the Preservation League of New York State. In her previous position, Caitlin served as the Director of Preservation at The Landmark Society of Western New York where she organized the New York Statewide Preservation Conference and co-founded the Young Urban Preservationists (YUPs). Caitlin holds a M.S. in historic preservation from the University of Vermont and B.A. in history and Spanish from the University of Rochester. She serves on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions and the Gustav Stickley House Foundation.
Jennifer Minner, Ph.D., is Director of Graduate Studies and Associate Professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cornell University. She directs the Just Places Lab, a platform for research and creative action centered on community memory, imagination, and the just care of places. Her research and teaching focus on equitable land use planning and climate action through the reuse and adaptation of buildings and landscapes.
Dr. Christine O’Malley is the Preservation Services Director at Historic Ithaca, leading their efforts in education, advocacy, and community engagement and consulting with property owners, businesses, city and county government officials, and educators. She has written several successful local and National Register nominations and presented at several conferences including NYSAR3, the Vernacular Architectural Forum, and the New York Statewide Preservation Conference. As part of CR0WD (Circularity, Reuse, Zero Waste Development), she participates in efforts to promote reuse, salvage and sustainability in Ithaca and Tompkins County.
4B | We See Value Here: Community-Led Historic Tax Credit Investing
Despite the fact that the tax code makes rehabilitation tax credits available to upwards of 140 million taxpayers (95%+), the financing of historic tax credit projects is dominated by very large companies and very wealthy individuals. We believe this fact has narrowed the types of projects that attract third-party capital. Nearly all third-party tax credit investors want to do projects with more than $10 million in qualified rehabilitation expenses that are located in top 150 metros. But that is not the vast majority of projects. We have built a first of its kind process that capitalizes these credit investments by focusing on community-led investing. Using the crowd-funding exemption as the backbone of our financing model, we are able to pool investments from investors of all sizes to help bring overlooked projects and overlooked places back to life. This dramatically expands the geography of viable projects (almost every historic building has a neighborhood), and dramatically expands the pool of people that can participate as tax-leveraged real estate investors. This process of buying real estate with money you will pay in income taxes in the future can be transformative not just for what projects can get done, but also for how entire communities perceive themselves. We see value in all kinds of places that have been overlooked and are deploying an intrastate fund in communities across New York right now, as well as other places across the country.
[1.25 LU]
Speakers
Will is the co-founder and CEO of the Reimagine Development Partners (“Reimagine”), which educates real estate developers and their supporters about how to use money they were already going to pay in taxes to invest in real estate projects. Will is a career real estate developer and educator. Prior to launching Reimagine, Will was co-founder and CEO of Green Coast Enterprises (a triple-bottom line development firm), which he started in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He is also a founding faculty member of the Sustainable Real Estate Development Program at Tulane University, where he has taught since 2008. On May 15, 2022, Will launched the Property Lines podcast, which tells stories of land, who owns it, who works it, who has access to the wealth pulled from it, and how those stories affect the reality we find today. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts. Will has been named an Echoing Green fellow, a distinguished Alumnus of Davidson College, and a Champion of Change by President Obama. Will holds a Ph.D. and two Masters’ degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an A.B. with Honors in Cross-Cultural Studies from Davidson College.
Richard is an urban planner and attorney in Buffalo, New York. As a principal at Urban Vantage, he focuses on creative problem-solving to help public and private sector projects work from concept into implementation. He frequently interfaces with clients, related professionals, and the public to work collaboratively on public and private sector projects. His work at the firm generally includes preparing financial projections and evaluating the applicability and utility of certain incentive programs for specific projects. In addition to his role as a principal at Urban Vantage, Rich is a Shareholder at Yots Law Firm P.C., where he concentrates his practice on real estate financing closings, particularly in Historic and New Market Tax Credit Investments and Qualified Opportunity Zone incentives. He is also a Manager of Common Owner, a web-based platform designed to attract capital to community and economic development projects while democratizing investment opportunities. Richard decided to pursue Urban Planning while hiking on the Appalachian Trail prior to entering his first year of law school. His motivation to become a planner is largely to protect and provide increased access to natural and scenic resources, which frequently includes researching methods and advocating for suburban sprawl prevention. Richard’s academic work focuses on how to use land use and economic laws and policies to conserve land and promote smart growth-oriented (re)development. In his free time, he enjoys playing and coaching rugby, backpacking and wilderness camping, attending music festivals and concerts, and participating in local preservation and urban advocacy groups.
Derek King is the Director of Operations and one of the principals at Preservation Studios, a historic preservation consulting firm based in Buffalo, NY that specializes in securing historic tax credits for adaptive reuse projects. Through this work, some patterns became clear: larger projects were able to leverage higher HTC totals in a way small projects couldn’t; experienced developers had access to financing and investors that small developers didn’t; neighbors of projects seldom benefited directly from projects in their communities. It was after discussing these obstacles that he, Richard Rogers, and several others started a funding portal and have since joined Small Change to help great projects reach their true potential.
4C | "If I Had a Hammer": Preservation Partnerships and Community Engagement
This joint session brings together two distinct preservation efforts—Seward House’s transformative rehabilitation of its barn and carriage house, and the Reher Center’s culturally rooted preservation of a historic immigrant bakery— to explore how preservation can serve both structural restoration and community engagement.
The Seward House Museum (SHM) and its cohort will discuss the nuances of SHM’s Barn and Carriage House Rehabilitation, a watershed project for the Museum. SHM staff will discuss the financing of the effort, which was achieved through the pursuit of a mixture of grant sources. Landmark Consulting, a preservation architecture firm, will emphasize the elements of the barn and carriage house’s rehabilitation and adaptive reuse. Then, Martha Lyon Landscape Architecture will showcase that historic preservation and landscape accessibility can be harmonized.
The Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History will present on the preservation journey of a former Jewish bakery in Kingston’s Rondout neighborhood, which now serves as the Center’s home. Through preservation, the site has been transformed into an urban house museum and cultural resource. The Reher Center is both rooted in history and through its programs, gallery, and gatherings is actively creating the present. Presenters will trace the arc of rehabilitation work—including roof and masonry restoration, stair and window rehabilitation, and planning—and how these efforts have supported the Center’s dual role as a site of memory and a space for contemporary cultural exchange. The session will highlight how preservation is a tool for protection, and also for activation, inclusion, and community impact.
Speakers
Maniccia served as the project administrator for the Seward House Museum during its barn and carriage house project. He has been involved with the Museum for more than a decade and has leveraged more than $2.3 million in public and private funds towards preservation projects at the Museum. Of note is the $1.863 million in grant funding he secured for the Museum’s barn and carriage house project. He is an alumnus of the Center for Creative Leadership and has served several times on the American Association of Museum’s National Program Committee. Maniccia also leads local boards and preservation committees.
Jack is the principal preservation architect of Landmark Consulting, LLC which was founded in 2002 as an Albany, NY-based preservation architecture and consulting firm. Significant projects include an adaptive use of a historic school building into a mixed-use community center, various house museum restoration projects in Virginia, (Jefferson’s Poplar Forest), Rhode Island (Isaac Bell House & The Elms) and California (Carolands Estate). Jack has a Bachelor of Architecture degree, summa cum laude from Syracuse University.
Martha H. Lyon, ASLA is principal of Martha Lyon Landscape Architecture, LLC, a Northampton, Massachusetts-based practice specializing in planning and design for historic and cultural landscapes. Significant projects include restoration of the Emily Dickinson Museum (Amherst, MA), Oneida Community Mansion House (Oneida, NY), Ten Broeck Mansion (Albany, NY), and the Quarry Farm, summer home of Mark Twain (Elmira, NY). A licensed practitioner, Martha holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Massachusetts.
Marilyn Kaplan, principal of Preservation Architecture in Albany, NY, has worked with the Reher Center for more than 20 years, part of the Center’s team that has brought a vacant building to its partially-restored current status. Ms. Kaplan has worked on scores of historic buildings owned by universities and non-profit and religious organizations throughout New York and the northeast. She previously served as Senior Historic Site Restoration Coordinator for the NY State Historic Preservation Office, and has worked with private architectural firms and other NY state agencies on a wide range of historic projects. She is expert in the application of fire protection and building codes to historic buildings, and among her many publications is the National Park Service’s 2024 Preservation Brief 51, Building Codes for Historic and Existing Buildings.
Marissa Marvelli is an independent historic preservation professional based in Kingston, New York. She has directed a wide range of cultural resource surveys and authored numerous National Register nominations in addition to consulting on historic tax credit projects. Her 2021-2022 cultural resource survey of East Harlem South/El Barrio has been recognized with awards from the Preservation League of New York and the state government for its comprehensive approach to heritage documentation. She has been active in the Kingston community since moving there in 2014, serving on the local landmarks commission, volunteering with the Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History, and regularly hosting local presentations about historic preservation.
Kira Manso Brown is the Executive Director of the Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History, an urban historic house museum and bakery site rooted in preserving immigrant histories and uplifting immigrant contributions in Kingston and the Hudson Valley. She brings a background in cultural preservation, community engagement, and organizational development, having worked and consulted for cultural and anti-poverty organizations, as well as in the SaaS-tech sector. Her work centers on how gathering spaces—historic or contemporary—can foster inclusive, prosperous, and joyful experiences that sustain community, deepen knowledge, and drive engagement.
Before joining the Reher Center, Manso Brown co-founded MBG LLC, a consulting practice focused on building organizational capacity to cultivate equity in professional, educational, and arts environments. Her path to the Reher Center has included roles in museums, leading teams in non-profits and philanthropic organizations, a preservation archive, and the production of live performance, as well as time spent assisting a ship’s doctor and anthropologist—experiences that have reinforced her commitment to the power of place, memory, and storytelling.
She is a proud alumna of Smith College, Columbia University, and Northfield Mount Hermon School, where she serves as Chair of the Alumni Council’s DEI Committee. Kira calls Dutchess County home and can often be found out for a walk in one of the cities or villages along the Muhheakantuk (Hudson River).
thursday, May 8th
10 AM-12 PM Field Session 5A | Tour the Walkway: History and Views from the World's Longest Elevated Pedestrian Bridge
Join a Walkway Ambassador Docent for a guided tour of the 1.28-mile Walkway Over the Hudson—the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. You'll journey through its rich history, from its days as a bustling railroad bridge to the 1974 fire that shut it down, and the grassroots effort that transformed it into a beloved state park. The tour begins on the East (Poughkeepsie) side at the Walkway gates. The bridge is flat and paved, making it accessible for most visitors. Expect about 2.5 miles of walking over two hours.
Street parking is available on Parker Avenue, Washington Street, Orchard Place, and at Pulaski Park. The closest address to the stairs is 127 Washington Street, Poughkeepsie, NY.
Speakers
Lorraine is a retiree of the NYS Insurance Fund in NYC (Tribeca). She did some of her work at 2 World Trade Center and has fond memories of it. She retired to Dutchess County because although it is still accessible to the city, it offers small farms, wineries, historical sites and natural beauty. She has lived most of my life within 20 minutes of the Hudson River and gravitates toward it, hence, volunteering at the Walkway Over the Hudson is a natural fit. She is also a Certified Tourism Ambassador for the County, a literacy tutor, a member of Vassar Lifelong Learning Institute, and a Board member of Meals on Wheels Poughkeepsie.
Kevin has been a proud resident of Poughkeepsie for over fifty years, deeply engaged in the city’s cultural and historical life. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from SUNY New Paltz and a Master’s degree from Long Island University, with additional graduate study at SUNY New Paltz and Amherst College. His career includes leadership as a library director in both Poughkeepsie and Middletown, NY. A strong advocate for historic preservation, Kevin led the effort to establish the Dwight Street/Hooker Avenue Historic District and served as a member of the Historic District & Landmark Commission. He contributed to the Journal of Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society and New York History, and was a founding editorial board member of the Hudson Valley Regional Review. He also served on the Poughkeepsie Tricentennial Committee and has been a dedicated WOTH volunteer since 2011.
10 AM-12 PM Field Session 5B | Historic Spaces, Modern Purposes: The Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory as a Model for Mixed-Use Development
This session explores the transformation of the historic Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory, built in 1874, into a vibrant community hub. Once a bustling manufacturing site producing high-quality undergarments, the factory fell into disuse before its revival by Hudson River Housing in 2017. Now a mixed-use space featuring affordable housing, artist studios, and a shared commercial kitchen, it exemplifies how adaptive reuse can preserve history while addressing modern needs. Learn how this project blends historic preservation, housing, and small business development to foster economic growth and community engagement in the Hudson Valley.
Speakers
Mary Linge is currently the Vice President of Real Estate Development and has been with Hudson River Housing since August 2000. She is a dedicated professional with over two decades of experience in real estate development, housing counseling, and community service. She has held various leadership positions at Hudson River Housing where she has played a pivotal role in establishing partnerships with developers and municipalities, securing funding for housing projects, and overseeing housing development and various housing counseling programs. Mary’s major achievements include establishing the NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center of Dutchess County and assisting in the creation of over 900 units of housing over the course of her career. Outside of work, she is actively involved in community organizations such as The Poughkeepsie Alliance, The Reformed Church, and various church-related boards, demonstrating a strong commitment to community and service.
Elizabeth Druback Celaya serves as Director, Community Initiatives for NeighborWorks America, a national nonprofit organization working to create opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities. Within NeighborWorks America, the Community Initiatives Department supports efforts to build vibrant local communities that provide equitable opportunities for people to thrive. As Director, Elizabeth supports team operations, resources and programming to advance comprehensive, place-based, and resident-led efforts within the NeighborWorks network and across the community development field. Elizabeth joined the NeighborWorks America team in 2022.
Prior to NeighborWorks America, Elizabeth was Director of Strategic Initiatives with Hudson River Housing, Inc., a nonprofit housing and community development organization based in Poughkeepsie, NY, where she provided leadership on communications, program design, equity, impact, and resource development. Elizabeth’s work has resulted in millions of dollars of private and public investment in local economies. She has presented her work at national conferences organized by NeighborWorks America, the Community Preservation Corporation, and the American Planning Association, among others. Elizabeth is a graduate of Vassar College and holds a Masters Degree in Nonprofit Management from The New School.
10 AM-12 PM Field Session 5C | Presenting Place-Based Disability History at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt
FDR’s home presents a unique opportunity to consider disability through the power and relevancy of historic places. Join the National Park Service for a special walking tour highlighting a range of mobility devices in the house and on the land that FDR used and designed to make his world less disabling.
Speakers
Dr. Shelby Landmark is the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Disability Representation at Historic Sites at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. She earned her PhD in Communication at Texas A&M University. Her areas of expertise are in representation of disability, sexuality, and marginalized identities.
10 AM-2 PM Field Session 5D | Boscobel & Manitoga: Preservation Efforts at Two Very Different Historic House Museums
Experience a rare behind-the-scenes tour of Boscobel House and Gardens during its ongoing restoration following the Library ceiling collapse in April 2024. The tour will offer our field colleagues an unparalleled glimpse into the intricate processes of historic preservation in-action, emergency conservation, and what it takes to return from an unexpected disaster. This exclusive opportunity explores how contemporary preservation practices balance historical accuracy with modern standards, as Boscobel's team of experts works to safeguard this iconic Federal-period home. Afterwards, a 10- minute drive down the road finds you at Manitoga, the landmarked former modernist home and studio (Dragon Rock) and 75-acre woodland landscape of industrial designer Russel Wright (1904-1976), envisioned with his wife and business partner Mary Einstein (1905-1952) for their family. This field session provides you with a unique opportunity to not only tour this incredible site, but to learn about the ongoing preservation efforts at Dragon Rock, the experimental home which Wright built onto the rock ledge of an abandoned quarry while masterfully orchestrating the surrounding landscape into a series of outdoor rooms of varying character and delight. This field session is limited to 30 people.
Manitoga’s Tour Path leads from the Public Parking Lot up to the House, Studio and the Russel & Mary Wright Design Gallery. All tours require a walk up this path, which is primarily comprised of uneven surfaces lined with wood chips, pea gravel, or other naturally occurring materials and includes areas of incline and decline, several sets of stone steps (including a set of 40+ stone steps with a handrail), and two water crossings (wooden bridge). Once at the structures, the interiors also have uneven surfaces and several areas with steps and stairs, most with handrails. Guests must be able to traverse the terrain of the Tour Path and interiors in order to participate in the tour.
