WPA NOLA REGIONAL CONFERENCE

Join us for an informative and fun filled Window Preservation Alliance Regional Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana March 10-11, 2023.

These regional meetings are designed to bring together a smaller group of window restorers than our big splashy Annual Meetings. We also aim to bring in our allies like architects, preservation professionals, and historic preservation advocates. And let’s not forget our wonderful vendors of products that enable us to do what we do.

Sign up by February 15th to get the best pricing. If you are not a member, become one today! New businesses enjoy half off the regular membership rate.

Friday, March 10, 2023
Noon-1:00 pm // Registration and Lunch   

1:00-2:00 pm // Session One: The Preservation of New Orleans
Efforts to protect the unique architectural history of this city takes, well, an entire city. Learn about how this is happening and why it is so important.
Speakers: Brook Tesler, Executive Director, Vieux Carre Commission
Michelle Shoriak, Director, Preservation Resource Center

2:15-3:15 pm // Session Two: Selection of Historic Tradespeople for Historic Properties
Learn from the other side of the table. What is the process that property owners go through to create a scope of work, find funding and select the team that will execute preservation projects? A recent project to restore eight windows in the Beauregard Keyes House will be used as an example.
Speaker: Annie Irvin, Executive Director of the Beauregard Keyes House

3:15-4:00 pm // Session Three: Architectural Specification for Historic Window Restoration
One of the projects the WPA Board has been working on is crafting a specification that can be used by architects who work on historic preservation projects involving windows. Learn more about this document.
Speakers: Jackson Hoggard, Double Hung LLC
Ty McBride, Preservan

4:00-5:00 // Private Tour of the Beauregard Keyes House
Led by Executive Director Annie Irvin we’ll get the public and private view of this fabled house and its newly restored windows!

7:00 pm // Dinner
Location to be determined. Registration and payment separate.

Saturday March 11, 2023
9:30-10:00 am // Registration and coffee
Pastries sponsored by Preservan

10:00-11:00 am // Session One: Do I Want Employees?
There are plusses and minuses to being a solo operator and an employer of a team. During this session we’ll discuss the considerations and costs associated with the options.
Presentation Leaders: Val Vides, NOLA Wood Windows
Ty McBride, Old Home Rescue
Adam Butler, Iconic Windows

11:15-12:30 pm // Session Two: Long Range Business Planning and the Small Business Administration
Just getting a window restoration business started is challenging enough, but what about keeping it running? Learn from the source what resources are available for you, whatever stage business you are.
Speaker: TBD

12:30-1:30 pm // Lunch and Networking

1:30-3:30 pm // Session Three: I Don’t Know What I Don’t Know
A forum to discuss the joys and woes of running or working in a window restoration business. This is your chance to ask questions, offer helpful insight, share your vision, and give others the advice you wish you’d been given when you started.

4:00 pm // Closing Remarks, Announcements, and Adjournment