Presenters:

• Elizabeth (Liz) Waytkus

  Elizabeth (Liz) Waytkus

  

  Liz Waytkus is a preservationist specializing in advocacy and education of historic architecture and design of the 20th century. She is the first Executive Director of Docomomo US, the nation’s foremost organization dedicated to the preservation of Modern architecture. She oversees Docomomo US’ vast network of chapters, members and colleagues and is responsible for the development of new programming including the Docomomo US National Symposium, the Modernism in America Awards and Docomomo educational travel tours. She is a leading voice in threatened Modern sites and spear-headed efforts to landmark the Ambassador Grill, the AT&T Building and the former Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. She is known for her work to save the Marcel Breuer designed Geller House and her call to make it the Penn Station moment for Modern homes. She received her Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Pratt Institute and resides in New York City. 

Presenters:

• Guy Weston

  Guy Weston

  

  Guy’s current work encompasses research and public history initiatives to raise the profile of Timbuctoo, NJ, where his 4th great grandfather purchased land in 1829. These have included interpretive signage in Timbuctoo, coordination of a curriculum development project in collaboration with local teachers, and preservation efforts for the Timbuctoo cemetery, where the oldest gravestone is dated 1847. He currently serves as Managing Director of the Timbuctoo Historical Society, is the editor of Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) Journal, and is a Visiting Scholar at Rutgers University. He has contributed articles about his research to AAHGS Journal, AAHGS News, National Genealogical Society Magazine, and New Jersey Studies. He maintains a website at www.timbuctoonj.com 

• Linda Epps

  Linda Epps

  

  Linda J. Caldwell Epps is President and CEO of 1804 Consultants, a consulting firm dedicated to the advancement of educational and cultural organizations. Linda has more than 40 years of experience working with educational and cultural institutions, including the New Jersey Historical Society and New Jersey Network Television and Radio. Linda is a founder of the Sankofa Collaborative, whose mission is to build the capacity of individuals, groups, and organizations to learn about, present, and discuss the complex and difficult issues in the history and current experiences of African American citizens of New Jersey. The Sankofa Collaborative developed an inventory of Black Cemeteries in New Jersey with funding from the New Jersey Historical Commission. 

Presenters:

• Gregory Lattanzi , Ph.D.

  Gregory Lattanzi

  Ph.D.

  

  Gregory Lattanzi, Ph.D. is Curator/State Archaeologist for the Bureau of Archaeology & Ethnography at the New Jersey State Museum. Dr. Lattanzi was previously employed at several contract archaeological firms in the northeast participating in excavations in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. He has published several articles, book reviews, and given public presentations. His current research includes the role of copper during the Early to Middle Woodland periods and Middle Woodland Abbott zoned ceramics and their implications on social organization in the Middle Atlantic region. 

• Bonney Hartley

  Bonney Hartley

  

  Bonney Hartley is a member of the Stockbridge Munsee Mohican Nation and for ten years has served the historic preservation interests of the Tribe from an extension office in Williamstown, Massachusetts. In her capacity of Program Manager, she leads the work to protect Mohican and Munsee (Lenape) cultural sites and repatriate cultural items. Prior to this role she held posts with the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and in grantmaking to Tribal Nations with the Seva Foundation. Bonney holds a Master of Social Science Degree in International Relations, from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She serves on the Board of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the National NAGPRA Community of Practice Steering Committee. She is a member of the Mohican Writers Circle. 

• Gina Rosseland

  Gina Rosseland

  

  Gina Rosseland is the Assistant Administrator of the Warren County Division of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located at Historic Shippen Manor. Ms. Rosseland works with the Bicentennial Cultural & Heritage Advisory Board to develop programs of public interest in local and county history, in the arts, and in the cultural values, goals and traditions of the community, the State and the Nation. Ms. Rosseland has experience with NAGPRA compliance from the county perspective. 

• James S. Lee

  James S. Lee

  

  James Lee has over 26 years’ experience in cultural resource management. He has directed background research and fieldwork activities, overseen laboratory operations, contributed to and authored hundreds of technical reports, and coordinated with clients and review agencies. Mr. Lee has extensive archaeological experience in New Jersey and Pennsylvania on prehistoric, historic, historic industrial and urban sites. Although Mr. Lee’s primary interest lies in prehistoric archaeology, he has developed a special interest in industrial archaeology, particularly that of the region’s canals. Over the last several years Mr. Lee has directed over a dozen cultural resources projects related to the rehabilitation of historic features along the Delaware and Raritan Canal and the Morris Canal. 

Moderator:

• Rachel Thimke

  Rachel Thimke

  

  Rachel Thimke is the Programs & Communications Manager for the New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC), a division of the New Jersey Department of State. In her role, she oversees annual theme programming, manages the agency’s social media accounts and press relations, and contributes to New Jersey’s 250th commemoration planning. Rachel holds a M. Phil in International History from Trinity College Dublin and a Bachelor of Arts from New York University. 

Presenters:

• Patricia Wilson Aden

  Patricia Wilson Aden

  

  Patricia Wilson Aden brings over three decades of experience as a senior executive in non-profit management to her position as President & CEO of The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, an arts advocacy organization representing over 400 organizations throughout the Philadelphia region. Prior to joining the Cultural Alliance, Aden served as President of The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee. Previously, Aden led local, regional, and national non-profit organizations including positions as the President of the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Executive Director of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, Director of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and President of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. Aden specializes in organizations that preserve and celebrate cultural resources and has extensive experience in leading organizations through strategic change. 

  Aden holds a BA in History from Spelman College and an MA in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University. 

• Adam Perle

  Adam Perle

  

  As President & CEO, Adam Perle manages all ArtPride operations. He leads the senior management team and is responsible for resource development, as well as fiduciary oversight. Prior to joining ArtPride, Adam was the Vice President of the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, where he led membership and tourism marketing efforts. During his time at the Chamber, Adam was a key part of the leadership team that doubled the size of the organization and was instrumental in the expansion of the Princeton Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau. Before his work in the nonprofit sector, Adam worked on several political campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels. 

• Kelly Ruffel

  Kelly Ruffel

  

  Kelly C. Ruffel, is the Director of the Department of Cultural & Historic Affairs for the County of Passaic and serves as the Assistant County Administrator. In her role, she oversees all of Passaic County’s historic assets from administering program and preservation grants, capital improvement and planning projects, to the development and implementation of cultural and interpretive programming; and management of content and creation of marketing products for print and digital platforms for the County’s See Passaic brand. Through these different facets, Ruffel dedicates her time to the preservation and promotion of Passaic County’s cultural heritage. A New Jersey native, Ms. Ruffel holds her BA in History, BA in Anthropology, and an MA in History from William Paterson University – with additional coursework in cemetery preservation. 

Presenters:

• Jennifer Boggs

  Jennifer Boggs

  

  Jennifer has been with the NJ Historic Trust since 2023 as a Historic Preservation Specialist. She has much experience in the fields of archaeology, architectural conservation, cultural resource management, and architectural history. She holds an M.A. in Art History & Archaeology from the Institute of Fine Arts, NYU and an M.S. in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania. 

• Shannon Bremer

  Shannon Bremer

  

  Shannon Bremer is a Historic Preservation Specialist for the New Jersey Historic Trust. She has overseen numerous grant-funded, preservation projects ranging from preservation plans and construction documents to ADA accessibility and capital improvement projects since she began working for the Trust in 2022. Ms. Bremer also provides technical assistance to grantees and the public at large as well as oversees the Trust’s Emergency Intervention Fund. Outside of her work with the Trust, Ms. Bremer is an instructor for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities (MARCH) at Rutgers-Camden. Ms. Bremer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Mary Washington (Fredericksburg, VA) and a Master of Arts in American Studies from the College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA). She also holds a certificate in Material Culture and Public History from the National Institute of American History and Democracy at the College of William & Mary. 

Presenters:

• Olivia Chaudhury

  Olivia Chaudhury

  

  Olivia VF Chaudhury was born in New York and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She earned a B.S. Urban and Regional Studies and an M.A. Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University. Her research explores the American imaginary through events such as the World’s Fairs and the United States’ anniversaries, culminating in her M.A. thesis. “How America Remembers Itself: An Analysis of Programming in the Bicentennial, Semiquincentennial and American Girl, Centering Indigenous Perspectives.” Olivia is a Historic Preservation Specialist at the New Jersey Historic Trust. 

Presenters:

• Allison Pierson

  Allison Pierson

  

  Allison Pierson has been the executive director of Whitesbog Preservation Trust since 2015. The Trust is the caretaker for the 3,000 acre farm site of 25 buildings and an active cranberry and blueberry farm owned by the state of New Jersey. Allison has supervised the oral history program since 2017 and used the interviews to train new staff and volunteers, update interpretive signage and develop new app tours of the Village. She has a masters in landscape architecture, has worked with several historic sites combining history and landscape interpretation and was a teacher. 

Presenters:

• Katherine Quigley

  Katherine Quigley

  

  The curator at Liberty Hall Museum, Katherine has a strong background in both historical research and interpretation for public audiences. A recent graduate of New York University’s Archives and Public History master’s program, she spent several years conducting original historical research for publication at the American Enterprise Institute and through fellowships at the Newport Historical Society and Historic Deerfield. In addition to this research background, Katherine also has experience in education through her work with Fulbright Austria/ the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education. 

Moderator:

• Anne Jennings

  Anne Jennings

  

  Anne Jennings is an architectural historian/cultural resource specialist who, spurred on by her love of old buildings and structures, received her master’s degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Vermont in 2002. Since then, she has primarily worked on government contracts, assisting federal, state, and local agencies comply with the NHPA and other regulations. Her projects have taken her across the country, where she has surveyed, evaluated, and documented a wide variety of resources, ranging from a Missile Alert Facility in Wyoming to a small-scale stone culvert in Connecticut. Anne also worked at the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission and the NYC Parks Department, helping to preserve NYC’s significant built resources. Currently, she is assisting the Maritime Administration with the decommissioning and disposition of the NHL Nuclear Ship Savannah, to ensure that the work is done in compliance with the NHPA, with an end goal of preservation of the ship. 

Presenters:

• Erhard Koehler

  Erhard Koehler

  

  Erhard Koehler is a 1987 graduate of the State University of New York Maritime College, with a BE degree in Naval Architecture. After 3-½ years as a structural and field-support engineer with the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, he joined MARAD’s Office of Ship Operations in Washington, DC in 1991. An avid amateur maritime historian, Erhard enthusiastically jumped at the assignment in late 1992 to oversee Savannah’s return to MARAD custody from the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, and her subsequent 1994 drydocking and relocation to the agency’s reserve fleet site near Newport News, Virginia. He remained with the ship as a project engineer and member of the licensee organization during its protective storage period. In 2004 he succeeded to the agency’s senior Savannah management positions, and is responsible for all program activities related to licensed operations, maintenance, repair, custody and preservation of the Savannah. 

Moderator:

• Sophia Hudzik

  Sophia Hudzik

  

  Sophia Hudzik is an interdisciplinary research specialist with applied experience in anthropology, public history, and archaeological research methods. She currently serves as Project Manager for the RevolutionNJ initiative, helping historic sites engage with the public in preparation for the 250th anniversary of the United States. Sophia also teaches as an adjunct professor at Montclair State University. 

Presenters:

• Sara Cureton

  Sara Cureton

  

  Sara Cureton joined the staff of the New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) in 2004 and now serves as its executive director. She oversees funding programs totaling $5.5 million that support history organizations and activities across New Jersey. The NJHC also offers a variety of programs in New Jersey history, including an annual conference, professional development training, and an online journal, New Jersey Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal. Ms. Cureton is actively engaged in preparations for the Semiquincentennial in 2026, both as executive director of the New Jersey Historical Commission, and as chair of the 250th Coordinating Committee of the American Association for State and Local History. 

• Marc Lorenc , Ph.D.

  Marc Lorenc

  Ph.D.

  

  Marc Lorenc, Ph.D. is the Chief Public Historian at the New Jersey Historical Commission overseeing multiple aspects of RevolutionNJ, New Jersey’s official commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. He earned his doctorate in anthropology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and holds a graduate certificate in African Diaspora Studies. He is also the Director of the Dr. James Still Community Archaeology Project, sits on the board of the Dr. James Still Historic Office Association, and is the Founder of Unstuck in Time Gaming, an anthropological board game company. 

Presenters:

• Stephanie Hoagland

  Stephanie Hoagland

  

  Stephanie M. Hoagland is a Principal and Senior Architectural Conservator with Jablonski Building Conservation Inc. in New York City where she has been employed since 2003. She has been extensively involved in the preservation of graffiti including presentations for the American Institute for Conservation (AIC), the Association for Preservation Technology (APT), and Drayton Hall. She’s written an article for the National Trust for Historic Preservation; organized a workshop entitled “Graffiti Management in a changing world: should it stay or should it go” for APT; been a guest editor for a special graffiti based issue of the APT Journal, and has written a Practice Point for APT on establishing guidelines to determine the significance of graffiti. She has also been involved in the conservation of sailor graffiti on the USS Intrepid; Civil War-era graffiti at Historic Blenheim in Fairfax, VA; and prisoner graffiti at the Burlington County Prison Museum, NJ. 

• Meris Westberg

  Meris Westberg

  

  Meris Westberg is an architectural conservator and historic building materials specialist living and working in New York City. She spent her early career working in paper conservation at the National Archives and then in decorative arts and preventive conservation at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. In 2021, she received her Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration on architectural conservation. She currently works for the architectural and engineering firm Wiss, Janey, Elstner & Associates as a historic preservation and building enclosures associate, is a registered Professional Member of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and serves as a volunteer and working group member for the National Heritage Responders. In October 2023, while working as for Jablonski Building Conservation, Westberg performed conservation on the historic paint and graffiti inside the Burlington County Prison Museum. 

Presenters:

• Ronnie Cameron Jr.

  Ronnie Cameron Jr.

  

  Ronnie Cameron, Jr., Senior Architectural Designer at Historic Building Architects, LLC, has a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Drexel University. At HBA, he prepares drawings, renders and other construction documents. Ronnie is a Part 107 FAA Certified Pilot, responsible for HBA’s SUASs. Ronnie has also led community outreach and vision planning / community workshops for multiple organizations and nonprofits. Ronnie currently serves as a cochair on the Inclusion Advocacy Committee of the Association for Preservation Technology (APT) International. 

• Alison Eberhardt

  Alison Eberhardt

  

  Alison Eberhardt, Preservation Architectural Associate at Historic Building Architects, LLC, (Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs) has a Bachelors degree in Architecture and a Master of Science degree in Historic Preservation from Thomas Jefferson University. Alison is trained in architecture and historic preservation with a focus on modern architecture and photographic documentation. They have professional experience in existing building documentation, cultural resources management, and preservation design in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. 

• Molly Dykstra

  Molly Dykstra

  

  The Rev. Molly Dykstra is the founding staff member of 120 East State. As Project Leader, Molly has been executing all aspects of the organization’s mission to preserve, steward and operate First Presbyterian Church of Trenton’s property for community benefit. Together with Historic Building Architects and other consultants, Molly leads in all aspects of the planning and development of the Steeple Center. Molly began work in Trenton in 2014, coming to the downtown in 2019 by stepping into a transitional pastoral role with First Presbyterian Church of Trenton, and bridging between the church and the newly formed 120 East State in 2022. Previously she served congregations in Mexico City, Mexico; Dubuque, Iowa; and across central New Jersey in various capacities through the Presbyterian Church USA. Molly was sole proprietor of a commercially compostable disposables company, chairs the Mercer County COAD, serves her denomination in the local Commission on Ministry. She holds a B.A. from the University of California, Davis and an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Moderator:

• Margaret Hickey

  Margaret Hickey

  

  Margaret M. Hickey, AIA serves as the Historic Preservation Specialist for Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects, an architectural and preservation firm concentrating on the restoration and rehabilitation of historic resources with a focus on New Jersey properties. In addition to guiding the preservation of historic resources through the preparation of National Register Nominations, planning documents, and design and contract documents, Margaret helps both nonprofit and government clients obtain funding through the preparation of planning and capital grants including navigating the requirements once the grants are funded. Margaret served as the Historic Preservation Consultant for the Glen Ridge HPC from 2016 until 2024 and has worked with several other HPCs in the development of Intensive-Level Surveys, National Register Nominations, Design Guidelines, and addressing thorny preservation issues impacting the integrity of historic districts. Margaret holds her B.Architecture from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and MS in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. 

Presenters:

• Kelly Ruffel

  Kelly Ruffel

  

  Kelly C. Ruffel, is the Director of the Department of Cultural & Historic Affairs for the County of Passaic and serves as the Assistant County Administrator. In her role, she oversees all of Passaic County’s historic assets from administering program and preservation grants, capital improvement and planning projects, to the development and implementation of cultural and interpretive programming; and management of content and creation of marketing products for print and digital platforms for the County’s See Passaic brand. Through these different facets, Ruffel dedicates her time to the preservation and promotion of Passaic County’s cultural heritage. A New Jersey native, Ms. Ruffel holds her BA in History, BA in Anthropology, and an MA in History from William Paterson University – with additional coursework in cemetery preservation. 

• Amanda Gold

  Amanda Gold

  

  Amanda Gold, AIA, NCARB, is a historic preservation architect with Preservation Design Partnership with over 24 years of experience in preservation planning, architectural design, and construction administration for historic restoration and rehabilitation projects throughout the United States. She also has a passion for historic building research, documentation, and writing and has contributed to historic structure reports and assessments for various historic buildings and sites. Amanda currently serves at the Preservation Architect for the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund where she is responsible for the review of grant applications for planning and capital grants and provides guidance and recommendations to the County’s MCHPTF Board for grant awards based on the scope of the project, the project team, and other factors. Amanda holds her BA in Architecture from Lehigh University and MS in Historic Preservation of the University of Pennsylvania. 

• Amy Curry

  Amy Curry

  

  Amy Curry is the Executive Director of the Morris County Historical Society (MCHS), a nonprofit organization that owns and operates Acorn Hall. Amy has guided the vision for MCHS since 2012 so it continues to have forward movement and development by finding new ways for the organization to better realize its mission while also securing the funds to execute it. A Massachusetts native, Amy holds BA from The Pennsylvania State University, and a MS from Millersville University of PA. Amy has successfully grant funded and managed projects ranging from the recovery of Acorn Hall’s six acre cultural landscape, decimated by Superstorm Sandy, to the complete exterior restoration of both Acorn Hall and its carriage house, a total of $2.5 million in investments. In addition to the capital projects, Amy has overseen the exponential growth, organization, and diversification of MCHS’s membership, collections, and archives. 

Moderator:

• Kathy Kelly

  Kathy Kelly

  

  Kathy Kelly is the curator and historian of The Paranormal Museum in Asbury Park, NJ, where she captivates visitors with her deep knowledge of the supernatural and engaging storytelling. She also leads the Asbury Park Tour Company, offering unique walking tours that uncover the rich history and hidden legends of the area. As the founder of Asbury Park Dinner Table, Kathy is dedicated to supporting the local community by addressing food insecurity through grassroots initiatives. Her passion for history and folklore makes her a respected storyteller, preserving New Jersey’s haunted history and cultural heritage for future generations. 

Presenters:

• Dawn Reichard

  Dawn Reichard

  

  Dawn Reichard graduated from the Art Institute of Philadelphia and worked as a graphic artist in the printing industry. After purchasing a home in 1997, Dawn discovered that it was haunted. That sparked her curiosity to discover more. After ghost hunting for a few years, she investigated White Hill Mansion and decided to get involved in its preservation. Since 2010, she has worked to involve as many people as possible in many different areas of expertise, learning the many different facets of a project this size.

• Rachael Goldberg

  Rachael Goldberg

  

  Rachael Goldberg is the Executive Director of Liberty Hall Museum, Gardens, and Arboretum. Rachael’s career in museums began at Liberty Hall in 2008. She was originally hired as a museum educator to conduct daily public tours, work with school children and assist in producing special events. After working as a museum educator for a year, Rachael was promoted to the museum’s Coordinator of Collections and Exhibits. Her role was to begin the daunting process of inventorying the museum’s extensive collections and creating exhibitions that interpreted the collection for contemporary audiences, as well as overseeing the museum’s archival building. She has been Liberty Hall’s Executive Director since 2019 and oversees the daily operations of the museum. Rachael received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from the University of Rhode Island as well as a Master of Arts in American History from Monmouth University. In 2013, she completed Drew University’s Historic Preservation certificate program and in 2023 completed her Executive MBA at Rider University.

Moderator:

• Mark Texel

  Mark Texel

  

  Mark has worked professionally in historic sites, living history/outdoor museums, and public parks since 1988. He holds B.A.’s in American History and American Music, and a Certificate in Historic Preservation from Drew University. Currently Administrator for the New Jersey Office of Historic Sites, Mark is responsible for stewardship of over 50 state historic/cultural sites, and guides the work of 20+ history professionals, and 24 nonprofit partners. He previously served as Director of the New Jersey State Park Service (including its Office of Historic Sites) from 2012 – 2021. He is the Vice-President for the Association of Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums and set to become its President in summer 2025. He has portrayed both civilian and military as a member of progressive living history units and active with the New Jersey Living History Advisory Council.  Mark is directing the overall visitor readiness preparation, including capital and programmatic planning, of New Jersey’s State Historic Sites for the Semiquincentennial (250th) commemoration.

Presenters:

• Sean Holland

  Sean Holland

  

  Sean is an Access Nature and Disability Advocate. He graduated with a B.A. in American History & Political Science from Rutgers University. Since 2014 he’s worked for the New Jersey Park Service at Batsto Historic Village. Needing the use of leg braces and forearm crutches, Sean has overcome many physical life challenges, but that doesn’t hold him back from accomplishing his goals. Sean is a lifelong Southern New Jersey resident and avid outdoorsman. He enjoys kayaking the many rivers of the Pinelands and exploring historic/cultural sites. He’s devoted to the preservation of natural, cultural, and historic sites and is a proud member of the American Battlefield Trust. He’s thrilled about working in an organization that shares the same goals and commitments as he does for preserving, restoring, and interpreting natural and historic resources for current and future generations and ensuring everyone in our diverse collective community has a chance to enjoy the splendor of New Jersey’s great outdoors and cultural sites.

• John Hebble

  John Hebble

  

  John Hebble serves as the Resource Interpretive Specialist at Wharton State Forest, where he is responsible for the historic interpretation of Batsto Village Historic Site, Atsion Mansion Historic Site, and other significant sites throughout New Jersey’s Pine Barrens. His work for the New Jersey State Park Service at Wharton State Forest combines historic preservation, collections management, and public history. John received his BA in History from East Stroudsburg University and earned his MA in Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University. He was named Patterson Research Fellow at the Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There, he completed his master’s thesis, titled “Rethinking the Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House of 1759: From Colonial America to the Colonial Revival and Beyond.” John’s current research interests include the social and architectural history of the American Gilded Age, labor history, and the integration of popular and material culture into public history programming. Since 2014, he has taught undergraduate history, art history, and humanities courses at various colleges and universities.

Presenters:

• David Abramson

  David Abramson

  

  David V. Abramson, AIA, APT is a principal at CTS Group Architecture/Planning PA in Chatham, NJ. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. He has devoted his career to restoration and preservation projects which included detailed planning, conditions assessments as well as restoration design and construction. David has taught and lectured throughout his career. David served on Newark’s Landmarks and Preservation Commission, including 9 years as chairperson, and on The New Jersey State Review Board since 1976. He is the recipient of numerous honors including as partner-in-charge of CTS’s 2022 and 2024 Lucy G. Moses award-winning restoration projects from the New York Landmarks Conservancy and Preservation New Jersey’s 2023 Preservation Craftsmanship Award. 

• Eric Holtermann

  Eric Holtermann

  

  Eric Holtermann, AIA is a Principal at HMR Architects in Princeton, NJ. He has worked on both new and historic projects throughout his career, with a particular interest in the appropriate use of old buildings and sensitive integration of new design within historic contexts. Recent projects include the Farmhouse at Howell Living History Farm, Loew’s Jersey Theatre in Jersey City, and new housing at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. A resident of Pennington since 1999, Mr. Holtermann worked closely with the Borough Council in 2011 to draft a Master Plan Element and subsequent Historic Preservation Ordinance. He is currently chair of the Pennington Historic Preservation Commission. 

• Thomas Connolly

  Thomas Connolly

  

  Thomas B. Connolly, R.A., AIA, is the Principal Architect for Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects, located in Cranford, NJ. Tom has a Bachelor of Architecture from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and has worked in the preservation of historic buildings since 1994. As principal of Connolly & Hickey since 2003, he has guided the firm in their efforts to restore, rehabilitate and adaptively use a variety of historic resources with specific focuses on New Jersey’s industrial and transportation-related historic resources. Some recent projects of the firm that have received recognition include a Preservation New Jersey’s 2024 Preservation Craftmanship Award for Lock 2 East of the Morris Canal, a 2024 Design Gold Award in Historic Preservation for Folly’s of the Morris Canal from AIA Newark & Suburban Architects, and the 2022 Design Merit for Excellence in Architecture for the Lake Hopatcong Train Station from AIA New Jersey. 

Moderator:

• Frank Caruso

  Frank Caruso

  

  Frank F. Caruso has served on the Burlington City Historic Preservation Commission since 2016 as and has held the position of Chair since 2023. Mr. Caruso is a local product of Burlington City and graduated from Rutgers Camden in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in museum studies. His time at Rutgers included an internship at the Camden County Historical Society under the direction of John Seitter and Judy Snyder. Mr. Caruso is also a current member of the Annual Preservation Conference Planning Committee. In his professional life, Mr. Caruso serves as the Executive Director for the Government Records Council, an affiliate of the N.J. Department of Community Affairs.

Presenters:

• Margaret Hickey

  Margaret Hickey

  

  Margaret M. Hickey, AIA serves as the Historic Preservation Specialist for Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects, an architectural and preservation firm concentrating on the restoration and rehabilitation of historic resources with a focus on New Jersey properties. In addition to guiding the preservation of historic resources through the preparation of National Register Nominations, planning documents, and design and contract documents, Margaret helps both nonprofit and government clients obtain funding through the preparation of planning and capital grants including navigating the requirements once the grants are funded. Margaret served as the Historic Preservation Consultant for the Glen Ridge HPC from 2016 until 2024 and has worked with several other HPCs in the development of Intensive-Level Surveys, National Register Nominations, Design Guidelines, and addressing thorny preservation issues impacting the integrity of historic districts. Margaret holds her B.Architecture from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and MS in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. 

• Susan Ryan

  Susan Ryan

  

  Susan Ryan is a licensed architect in the State of New Jersey. She received her B. Architecture from Kent State University and a M.S. Historic Preservation from Columbia University. Susan first worked in private architectural practice for historic preservation/restoration/adaptive reuse firms located in New York, Cleveland and Philadelphia. She then shifted to project management at institutions, first at Burlington County College (now RCBC). She’s currently Historic Architect for approximately 1000 buildings within the Rutgers University portfolio. In this role she interfaces with the Camden HPC, the Newark LHPC and the NJ HPO. Alongside her professional career, Susan has put her historic preservation training and experience to use as a volunteer. She was a commissioner on the Mount Holly HPC, where she served as ViceChair. She also volunteered with Main Street Mount Holly on the Design Committee. Susan has served on the Cranbury HPC since 2016, with three terms as Chair. 

• Kathleen Bennett

  Kathleen Bennett

  

  Kathleen M. Bennett is the Chairperson of the Montclair Historic Preservation Commission. She holds a BA in Fine Arts Education and an MA in Decorative Art History from the Cooper/Hewitt, NYU School in NYC. Since completing the Preservation Certificate course at Drew University, she has devoted her energy to the preservation and identification of the multitude of historic structures and districts within the Township of Montclair. She has written and lectured on 18th century topics in Italy and the United States, focusing on the Rococo and the transmission of that style to Sicily. Additionally, she has researched and lectured on Montclair subjects such as the Nolen Plan, the Lackawanna Railroad Terminal, and Montclair’s 19th century manufacturing district. Currently, she is working on an historic structure survey for Caldwell, NJ. 

Moderator:

• Donna Ann Harris

  Donna Ann Harris

  

  Donna Ann Harris is the principal of Heritage Consulting Inc., a Philadelphia-based consulting firm that works nationwide in three practice areas: downtown and commercial district revitalization, historic preservation, and nonprofit organizational development. Prior to starting her firm, Ms. Harris worked in downtown revitalization field for 15 years. Ms. Harris spent the first 17 years of her career as an executive director of three start-ups and two mature preservation organizations, each with its own organizational and fundraising challenges.  

Presenters:

• Lynne Calamia

  Lynne Calamia

  

  Lynne Calamia is a leader in the field of Public History with more than a decade of broad, hands-on experience. She is committed to building strong, sustainable organizations and uses her expertise in non-profit strategy and management to bring creative solutions to small museums and historic sites. As Executive Director of Roebling Museum, Dr. Calamia has built a strong coalition of staff, board members, volunteers from the community, and donors. She introduced innovative, mission-driven strategies to prepare Roebling Museum to step up to the next level of organizational development. Lynne has a PhD and MA from Penn State University. She is a labor historian, and her research focuses on the history of historic preservation and museum building in the early 20th century.

• Rhonda DiMascio

  Rhonda DiMascio

  

  Rhonda DiMascio is the newly appointed Executive Director of Morven Museum and Garden. Most recently, DiMascio has served as Executive Director of Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, the nonprofit affiliate of two nationally recognized historic cemeteries. During her tenure there she was responsible for developing and implementing educational programming, executing fundraising initiatives as well as collaborating with local schools, nonprofit groups and historic organizations. Previously, DiMascio was Development Director of Grounds for Sculpture, where she established a fundraising program which included fundraising events, interacting with donors to encourage ongoing contributions and seeking out opportunities for financial support through grants and sponsorships. Prior to that, she served as executive director of the Alice Paul Institute, a historic site and women’s leadership organization. DiMascio, a New Jersey native, has spent more than a quarter century as an executive at museums and gardens and brings significant leadership experience in program and fund development, a passion for history and preservation, and a commitment to educational programming and community outreach.  

• Bobbi Hornbeck

  Bobbi Hornbeck

  

  Bobbi Hornbeck is an Assistant Professor of Archaeology at Stockton University. She also serves as the Vice President of the Cape May County Historical & Genealogical Society (CMCHGS), managing stewardship of their NJ State and National Historic Register listed Cresse-Holmes House (c. 1704/1830) and their archival vault of historic texts and photographs. As an officer of the board for the CMCHGS, Bobbi specializes in the inclusive preservation of local histories and public accessibility. Bobbi has integrated her cross-disciplinary experience into the development of high-impact learning opportunities for undergraduate students at Stockton University in laboratory, field, and archival settings. Through her programming, students learn about the importance of applying ethical standards and decolonizing frameworks to cultural resource management, the promotion of inclusive histories, and what studying the life-history of landscapes can tell us about the relationships between diverse cultural identities.