2021 Annual Conference Presenters

Donald Boerger

A graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in City & Regional Planning, Donald currently serve on Marysville City Council. Boerger previously served on boards and commissions for Union County and the City of Marysville. Donald researches and assists local leaders in zoning changes, land use planning, and master plans. He live and breathe cities, with interests in areas that are connected with city planning, such as Community Identity, Historic Preservation, Social Justice through Community Development, Arts & Entertainment Planning, and Sustainability. We must create cities which welcome all.

Lisa Brownell

Lisa Brownell serves as the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program manager for the Ohio Department of Development. She earned an MA and PhD in geography from the University of Kentucky with a focus on cultural landscapes, historic preservation, and the ways communities value places. A constant theme throughout her research has been abandoned landscapes, and she is thrilled to be working with communities to rehabilitate buildings for new uses.

Lauren Pinney Burge

Lauren is a Principal in Perspectus’ Historic Architecture studio and a nationally recognized leader in the field of historic preservation. Her portfolio of award-winning projects is a testament to her talent for improving design in a manner sensitive to historic structures, reprogramming existing spaces for adaptive reuse, and solving the unique construction problems old buildings can present. She is an active member and past national chair of the AIA Historic Resources Committee, a peer reviewer for the Association of Preservation Technology International’s scholarly journal, and was part of the advisory group which helped establish the Ohio Historic Tax Credit application process.

Jessica DeLong

Jessica DeLong, Grants Administrator for the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, has a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University and has served the State Ohio for the past 11 years. OFCC is the state agency that oversees capital improvement grants funded though appropriations by the General Assembly and Governor for construction projects at Ohio’s cultural and sports facilities. 

Rachel Erie

Rachel Erie is the community manager of COhatch in downtown Springfield. Rachel loves to network and get to know others, especially if it involves a cup of coffee. In her free time, you can find her volunteering at local nonprofits. A retired softball player and Business Management grad from The University of Tennessee at Martin. Lover of interior design, charcuterie boards, and new series on Netflix.

Dr. Mindy Thompson Fullilove

Mindy Thompson Fullilove, MD, grew up in Orange, NJ in an activist family. Her father was a prominent civil rights activist and her mother was committed to anti-racism in all aspects of her life and work. Growing up, Mindy was torn and upset by the tension between the belief in her parents’ work and the costs of taking on the system. Yet the kinds of extravagant emotions she experienced were out-of-step with the buttoned-down world in which she lived. It was a great relief to discover psychiatry, and to be given tools to make sense of that rich and painful body of lived experience. Her training in family therapy gave her a sound understanding of social systems and a deep interest in interventions at levels of scale that could help many people. Her studies of urban epidemics — what she called the “mad plagues of the 90s” — led her to social psychiatry, the study of the ways in which social systems influence people’s mental health. Her observations of the destructive effects of mad plagues on inner-city neighborhoods led to the study of cities under the tutelage of the renowned French urbanist, Michel Cantal-Dupart. 

Dr. Fullilove has brought these three perspectives together to create a unique body of work. Her contributions to the scientific community include: early identification of the intersection of the crack and AIDS epidemics; documentation of the high levels of trauma among women in recovery from crack addiction and proposals to address that form of co-morbidity; the description of “root shock” in the aftermath of mass upheaval; the description of “serial forced displacement”, and the identification of nine elements of urban restoration. 

Her contributions to social interventions include: the adaptation of Uri Treisman’s PDP model to the medical school setting; the proposal to adapt of the Church of Latter Day Saints’s Family Home Evening program for Harlem and other inner-city families; the proposal of a trail to link Manhattan’s cliffside parks, the CLIMB project; the concept that Orange, NJ, was a university, an idea that led to the establishment the University of Orange; and the 2016 observation that the U.S. ought to observe the 2019 anniversary of the first landing of Africans at Jamestown.

Her work is the subject of feature articles, including the 2015 New York Times “The Town Shrink,” and she herself has published more than a hundred scientific papers and eight books. She has been given numerous awards for her work, including two honorary degrees, and was elected to honorary membership in the American Institute of Architects in 2016 and Life Fellowship in the American Psychiatric Association in 2018.

Donald Gillie

Don received a bachelor of science in civil engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2007. He performed structural design for new facilities for 10 years before joining the Investigative group at American Structurepoint. Don has performed thousands of investigations to determine the cause and extent of damage, and to provide repair recommendations.  His primary area of interest is to evaluate historic buildings, advocate for their care, and to provide repair recommendations.

Frances Jo Hamilton

Frances came to Heritage Ohio in August 2016 from Main Street Delaware where she had served as the Executive Director since 2007. She has a background in Art, Education, Ministry, Lighting Design and Drafting. She is a Delaware, Ohio native and began her career with Main Street Delaware, Inc. as a volunteer. Hamilton spent nearly 7 years volunteering for Main Street Delaware as a tour guide, committee member, committee chair person and board member before being offered the position of Executive Director in 2007. During her time as Executive Director, Main Street Delaware consistently achieved national accreditation from the Nation Trust for Historic Preservation and has received statewide recognition for its successful program. Currently, as the director of revitalization, Frances provides program support for Heritage Ohio’s Main Street programs, and works with communities interested in pursuing downtown revitalization.

Dale Henry

Dale Henry’s families have been in Clark County for 120 years. He is a graduate of Springfield South High School, Clark State Community College with an associate degree in landscaping, and Wright State University with a bachelor’s degree in urban affairs. Dale is also an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Army. He has been a member of American Legion Post 125 for 36 years where he serves currently as post commander. He is a lifetime member of AMVETS. He also served as commander and as secretary of the Clark County Veterans Council. Dale retired after 30 years at General Motors Corporation. He served 2 full terms as a Springfield city commissioner, 2 years as mayor and 6 years as assistant mayor. He served as Clark County Board of Elections deputy director for 3 years, regional liaison for the Ohio Secretary of State for 4 years. He also served 3 years as a member of the Clark County Board of Elections. He also works as a tutor at Lincoln Elementary School in the Springfield City Schools. Lastly, Dale has been the groundskeeper at the Gammon House for the past 17 years.

Melinda Huntley

Melinda Huntley is the executive director of the Ohio Travel Association (OTA), a nonprofit organization that provides support for museums, attractions, visitor bureaus, retail shops, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses wanting to attract travelers. OTA advocates for smart policies that increase travel in Ohio and helps businesses, produces the state tourism conference, keeps the industry up-to-date on market trends and news, and provides professional development. It also produces Heartland Travel Showcase, a 14-state regional meeting place for buying and selling group tours. With career experience in public relations at Cedar Point, running a CVB along Lake Erie and helping communities develop heritage and outdoor experiences through OSU’s Ohio Sea Grant College Program, she has a unique understanding of opportunities for businesses and communities of any size. She is a recipient of the Paul Sherlock Award, the highest honor bestowed to an Ohio tourism professional, and has received recognition from Hospitality and Sales Marketing International, American Library Association, the National Association of Environmental Professionals, and others.

Deqah Hussein-Wetzel

Deqah Hussein-Wetzel is a Cincinnati-based architectural historian with Urbanist Media and the host and producer of the Urban Roots Podcast. She studied Urban Planning at the University of Cincinnati, went on to graduate school at the University of Oregon, and was awarded her degree in historic preservation with a certificate in nonprofit management. Today, Deqah works within communities to activate and preserve their histories and is involved with important organizations that help facilitate such efforts such as Invest in Neighborhoods and the Cincinnati Preservation Association.

Peter Ketter

Peter Ketter is director of historic preservation at Sandvick Architects, a Cleveland-based firm specializing in the adaptive reuse of historic buildings. With over 20 years of experience as a preservation professional, his expertise includes the use of federal and state historic tax credits and related incentives, application of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, National Register of Historic Places designation, and the physical analysis and treatment of historic buildings. He has also completed graduate studies in real estate development and finance, gaining a thorough understanding of development economics and the role of incentives in facilitating historic rehabilitation projects. Maintaining an active role in preservation advocacy at all levels, Peter is chair of the Lakewood Heritage Advisory Board and has provided technical guidance and expert testimony to multiple state legislatures and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Bob Loversidge

Bob serves as a design principal and CEO of Schooley Caldwell. Bob’s strength lies in his ability to work with a client to quickly identify a vision for complex projects and lead the design team in implementing this vision.

Bob has earned a national reputation as an expert in historic preservation design through more than three decades of architectural practice. His passion for preservation began after the stealth demolition of a landmark train station (Daniel Burnham’s Union Station in Columbus), and has continued through work at four state capitols (including the National Historic Landmark Ohio Statehouse) and numerous other historic buildings.  He was awarded the AIA Ohio Public Service Award and AIA Ohio Gold Medal, has been involved with numerous preservation groups and was a founding member of the Columbus Landmarks Foundation.

Mary Oakley

Mary Oakley has been employed by the Ohio Development Services Agency’s Community Services Division since 1998. Mary serves as the Community Investments Manager for the Office of Community Development. In this capacity, Mary is responsible for oversight of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Community Development, Economic Development, Residential Public Infrastructure Grant, and Discretionary programs as well as Appalachian Regional Commission funding. Mary earned bachelor of science degree in economics and German from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and graduated from The Ohio State University’s master program in city and regional planning.

Mariangela Pfister

Mariangela Pfister, department head and deputy state historic preservation officer for technical preservation services at the State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection , heads the Technical Preservation Services Department which manages the Building Doctor program, answers questions about care of older buildings, and works with applicants for the Federal Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit and the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit. She has developed a wood conservation presentation, has written articles on preservation topics, and continues to work on a series of fact sheets entitled “Fast Facts” on common old-building maintenance issues. Pfister holds a master’s degree in history from The Ohio State University and bachelor’s degrees in history, English, and secondary education from Capital University.

Barbara Powers

Barbara Powers, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer for Inventory and Registration for the State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection, has 39 years of experience with historic survey and the National Register of Historic Places programs in Ohio. Powers serves on the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center Commission. She was the state coordinator for the Society of Architectural Historians online publication Archipedia Classic Buildings. Barbara has written and lectured on Ohio architectural history topics. She has conducted numerous tours of Columbus architecture and civic spaces and has given courses on Discovering Ohio Architecture: Early Settlement to Modern Ohio and Early 20th Century Trends in Architecture

Carrie Rhodus

Carrie Rhodus holds a BS in History and a MS in Historic Preservation from Ball State University. She has worked as a teacher, draftsperson, Realtor, and historic preservation specialist. Currently, she is serving her third term as a community surveyor with the City of Cincinnati for the Ohio History Service Corps. She is also a co-founder of Urbanist Media, a preservation and planning consulting and empowerment non-profit based in Cincinnati. Through these roles, Carrie has added over two hundred properties to the Ohio Historic Inventory, helped local community groups start the National Register of Historic Places and/or local designation nomination process for over twenty properties, and engaged in countless community outreach. 

Kevin Rose

Kevin Rose serves in the dual role of Historian and Director of Revitalization for the Turner Foundation in Springfield, Ohio. His research focuses on the history of Springfield’s built environment and how architectural sites are interpreted to the public. In addition, Kevin oversees the foundation’s work in historic preservation, cultural tourism, and creative placemaking. Through his work, he gives lectures and tours on history, architecture, and art topics throughout the Midwest. He has researched and developed over forty walking and bicycle tours, with topics ranging from early-Victorian neighborhoods to modern architectural landmarks of the 1970s. Kevin holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Wittenberg University and a Master of Arts in Interpretive Studies at the University of Leicester in England. He is a founder of the Westcott Center for Architecture + Design, Friends of the Hartman Rock Garden, and Lillian Gish Film Festival. In addition, Kevin serves on the state board of Heritage Ohio and Ohio Humanities and the national board of the Victorian Society in America.

Jonathan Sandvick

Jonathan Sandvick is president of Sandvick Architects, which he founded with the mission of assisting the revitalization of downtowns and urban neighborhoods, encouraging reinvestment in our nation’s existing building stock, finding new uses for underutilized buildings, and promoting planning with preservation as a central initiative to renew and invigorate community vitality and viability.  Jonathan is an expert in the architectural analysis of historic buildings, programming and feasibility studies, and the successful use of historic incentives to provide redevelopment financing for a wide variety of projects, including residential, commercial, hospitality and institutional. Jonathan’s unique, specialized skills in historic preservation, code analysis, adaptive reuse and urban design have been used by clients throughout Ohio as well as California, Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin.  Jonathan and his firm have been honored with over 60 awards for excellence. Jonathan is also very active in preservation and downtown revitalization organizations, serving as vice-chair of both Heritage Ohio and Downtown Cleveland Alliance, and a long-time trustee of the Cleveland Historic Warehouse District and Cleveland Restoration Society.

Chris Schutte

Chris Schutte is a Springfield native, and graduate of Kenton Ridge High School. Chris received his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Miami University in Oxford. Shortly after marrying, Chris and his wife Meighan Sheehan relocated to Hilton Head Island, SC where they owned and operated an antique store, and art gallery, in Harbour Town.

The family – which now includes children Flynn, Stella and Riley – moved back to Springfield in 2007. Chris currently serves as the Vice President of Destination Marketing and Communications for the Greater Springfield Partnership. His role includes oversight of the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, and creative direction of Champion City Guide + Supply. Under Chris’ direction the Greater Springfield CVB has collected more than 90 state and national awards for marketing excellence.  

Bella Sin

Bella Sin was born in Juarez, Chihuahua Mexico, They are an indigenous Mexican immigrant that is credited for the Northeast Ohio burlesque revival, This multi-award-winning burlesque performer, producer and instructor is also a historian in the fields of Latin Burlesque History and Mexican/Chicano Cleveland History, focusing on the institution “The Azteca Club”.

Kristi Tanner

Kristi Tanner is a senior managing director at JobsOhio. Tanner previously served as Assistant Director and COO of the Ohio Department of Development. Kristi holds a bachelor of arts degree from Morehead University.

Cristie Thomas

Cristie Thomas is currently the executive director for Marietta Main Street. In her time as director, Marietta Main Street launched new programs, executed marketing strategies that resulted in a 33% increase in revenue, and built strong community partnerships. Thomas’ accomplishments were recognized statewide in 2017 when she was awarded Main Street Director of the Year by Heritage Ohio. With a strong background in organizational management, nonprofit governance, community development, strategic planning, communications, and civic engagement, Cristie strives to build community, always, and to do all she can to contribute to Marietta’s vibrancy as a thriving town in rural Appalachia. Originally from Long Island, N.Y., she earned her B.A. from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA and her M.A. from SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, VT. Cristie now lives in Marietta with her husband and two sons.

Matt Wiederhold

Matt Wiederhold is the executive director of Main Street Medina, and has a passion for community development and revitalization. As a graduate of the National Main Street Center Certification Program, he’s been fortunate to use his expertise in revitalization and community organizing in Uptown Toledo, the Gordon Square Arts District in Cleveland, and most recently as executive director of Main Street Medina in Medina. Much like Will Rogers, Matt has rarely “met an old building he didn’t like”.

Jessica Wobig

Jessica R. Wobig is an architectural historian who practices heritage-inclusive planning strategies that encourage sustainable development in the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Africa, Japan, and the Republic of Georgia. She has presented at regional and national conferences about historic preservation, technology, and urban planning; and will present at the National Center for Preservation Training and Technology’s Preserving the Race for Space Symposium in 2022. She is an ARCUS fellow, AmeriCorps alum, Cleveland Heights Planning Commissioner, who provides professional volunteer services for communities facing urgent heritage conservation needs.

Marta Wojcik

Marta Wojcik has been involved with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House in Springfield, Ohio for over 16 years, first as the museum’s curator, and, since 2010, as executive director & curator. Wojcik grew up in Krakow, where she earned her master degree in art history at Jagiellonian University. At Westcott, she has successfully spearheaded many innovative programs recognized and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Wojcik presented on the importance of built environment and creative placemaking at TEDxDayton (“Building Memories”). She is a 2021 recipient of the Wright Spirit Award for outstanding leadership as executive director & curator of the Westcott House. After her work day spent at the renowned Prairie style house, she returns to her Victorian-era home that she and her husband have been restoring for many years.