Webinar: An Exploration of the American Stained Glass Industry
Wednesday, May 22nd – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Explore the rich history of American stained glass and the niche industry that supports so much of our architectural art glass environment. Looking to the future of stained glass restoration, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment. Success hinges upon our willingness to embrace creativity, and our ability to draw insights from past endeavors and forge collaborative pathways with communities. Fortunately, our history is steeped in a tradition of collaboration, service, and ingenuity, providing a sturdy foundation upon which to build.
About Our Presenter
Megan McElfresh is a third-generation stained glass artisan who became Executive Director of the Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA) in Fall of 2017. Her background in operations management and art history gives her unique qualifications as the leader for the National Trade Association as it celebrates its 120th anniversary of service to the industry. In her role with the SGAA, McElfresh is focused on sowing the seeds of long-term change and expanding the SGAA’s core programs. Her focus is on showcasing the Association as a hub for the industry through strong partnerships with manufacturers, preservation and stewardship groups, and education centers. By bringing together the nation’s foremost architectural art glass studios in technical skill and integrity, the Stained Glass Association’s cumulative knowledge can be combined for the benefit of all who are tasked with the care and investment of our nation’s living stained glass museum.
The Stained Glass Association of America, founded in 1903, is a 501(c)6 national professional trade association serving the architectural ornamental art glass industry across
North America and Internationally. In December 2017, the national headquarters office moved to Buffalo, NY. Coming up on its 120th anniversary, they are focused on strengthening their 501(c)3 Foundation, expanding their mission, and serving our nation’s emerging professionals.
The SGAA Foundation was founded in 2020 to promote public appreciation and knowledge of the stained glass and mosaic art form and champion the provenance of the material in architectural art. The mission of the Foundation is to foster proactive, responsible stewardship of our nation’s architectural art glass and mosaic treasures. Beauty must be abundant and accessible and we must collaborate with like-minded organizations to bring new voices into our industry while providing more resources to protect our nation’s stained glass heritage.
Become the Next Great Ohio Main Street Community
Do you love your downtown, and feel that it could benefit from being part of a national movement for revitalization? Are you interested in preserving your community history and supporting locally owned and operated businesses? Are you missing out on the economic impact of the heritage tourism economy in Ohio? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, maybe it’s time to consider the Ohio Main Street program.
Heritage Ohio, the State-wide coordinating agency under Main Street America, is looking to expand the program with five new Ohio Main Street communities. The Main Street approach, created in the late 1980s as a model for downtown revitalization, preservation, and economic development, is a nationally respected framework that is followed by over 2,000 communities that value their history and local economy. In Ohio, 52 historic communities are currently part of the Main Street program.
The path to becoming an Ohio Main Street Program begins with a Downtown Assessment Resource Team (DART) visit. Thanks to special funding, Heritage Ohio is currently able to scholarship up to 50% of the $5,000 cost of the DART visit and Main Street pipeline planning process for up to five Ohio communities. A DART is a two-day, deep dive workshop in a community, when Heritage Ohio staff conducts site visits, community visioning and input modeling, walking tours, and interviews with key community stakeholders to determine if there is capacity for a full Main Street program.
The initial application is due on May 10th.
Webinar: Using Statistics to Show Your Economic Impact
Wednesday, April 24th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Monthly reporting and gathering statistics are two of the least exciting parts of any downtown managers’ job, but what if you could use those numbers to show the value of your work, and the economic impact your local program is generating for your community?
Lorna Swisher and Matt Wiederhold, two former Ohio Main Street directors, will walk you through the process of completing monthly reports, and then share a reinvestment template as a tool to support funding requests, illustrate the local and regional impact your program is generating, and help you document in black and white how your downtown development initiatives are a vibrant economic development machine for your community.
About Our Presenters
Lorna Swisher joined Heritage Ohio’s staff in October 2023, having previously served as the Director of Mainstreet Piqua for 26 years. With a background in broadcasting and public relations, she describes herself as a nonprofit ‘wonk’, emphasizing the importance of organizational infrastructure for effective operation. Lorna served on the Hotel/Library Legacy Alliance, which successfully restored the Fort Piqua Plaza in downtown Piqua. This $22 million project revitalized a deteriorating hotel into a vibrant community asset housing the Piqua Public Library, a banquet facility, and restaurants. Under her leadership, the Main Street program in Piqua received national accreditation from Main Street America/National Trust for Historic Preservation each year. In her current role as Assistant Director of Revitalization, Lorna supports Heritage Ohio’s Main Street programs.
Matt Wiederhold joined Heritage Ohio in May 2022 as its executive director. Matt began his career in historic preservation and community development in 2001, with an Urban Main Street Program in Uptown, Toledo, Ohio, as part of a pilot project with LISC and the National Main Street Center. In 2003, he accepted a position on the west side of Cleveland with the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization, and guided the rehabilitation of numerous historic storefronts, recruited small businesses to fill the storefronts, and eventually became the project manager for the initial development of the Gordon Square Arts District, including the renovation of the Capitol Theatre. In 2008, Matt became the first executive director of Main Street Medina, and have spent most of the past 15 years working in that community, guiding the development of their historic district, and working to make Medina a notable, historic destination. Matt is a graduate of the University of Toledo with a degree in art history, having focused on American art and architecture, 1860-1940.
Webinar: Top Tips for National Register Nominations
Wednesday, March 27th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
What is the National Register of Historic Places? This webinar will cover the basics of what the National Register of Historic Places program is, what being listed in the program does and does not mean, and what benefits may come with a listing. Additionally, this webinar will outline the process of nominating resources to the National Register of Historic Places and provide insight and tips to preparing a nomination.
This webinar is registered for 1.00 LU AIA credit.
About Our Presenter
Abby Marshall, Survey and National Register Manager for Inventory and Registration for the State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection, holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Geography with a concentration in Travel and Tourism as well as a Master’s of Science degree in Historic Preservation – both from Ball State University. She began working at the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office in 2021 and currently serves on the Heritage Ohio Board as the Young Ohio Preservationist’s chair.
Webinar: Grow with Google
Wednesday, February 28th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Looking to expand the reach of your small business and get customers in the door?
Google is the #1 source current and potential customers will use to gain information about your business. Learn about all the tools Google can provide to your business to increase business traffic and drive sales.
About Our Presenter
Janet Hurn is a seasoned professional with a passion for education, digital innovation, brand design, and marketing. With over 30 years of experience, she has established herself as an expert in online course development, e-learning administration, and e-consulting. As the Co-Founder of Future Ready Consulting, Janet is dedicated to supporting new and scaling small businesses in their growth journey. Her extensive background as the Senior Director of Regional E-Campus at Miami University has equipped her with valuable insights into instructional technology and innovative methods for online learning. Janet’s expertise, combined with her commitment to staying ahead of the curve, enables her to provide strategic guidance and consultancy services to elevate brands, improve online presence, and effectively reach target audiences. Whether it’s through brand development, website design, or digital marketing strategies, Janet is ready to empower entrepreneurs and business owners to change the world.
Janet has had many accomplishments, innovations and awards. She holds a DMI Certified Marketing Professional certification, Google Analytics certification, and Google Ads certification. She is also the Grow with Google Ohio Digital Coach, where she teaches small businesses all over Ohio how to use Google tools to enhance their businesses. Janet has a strong background in education, with over 30 years of experience as a Senior Instructor of Physics at Miami University. Under her leadership, the Miami Regionals E-Campus was listed on US News and World Report’s Top Online Schools in 2023 and the top 20 Online Schools in 2021. Janet’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the University System of Ohio’s Faculty Innovator Award and the ASCUE.ORG Keynote Speaker honor. Her commitment to excellence and passion for online education make her a valuable asset to the field.