The American Historic Trades Summit

Ann joined World Monuments Fund as Regional Director of North America in 2021. Her work encompasses all aspects of cultural heritage for a variety of public, private, and government partnerships with a particular focus on public lands. Ann’s professional role is multifaceted and involves a mix of performing on-site condition assessments, hands on-treatments, and training young emerging historic preservation professionals in the care of historic materials. She coordinates multidisciplinary teams of tradespeople, architects, historians, and stakeholders for a holistic preservation approach. Ann holds a BA and MA in Archaeology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 

Kris Turgeon joined NRF in 2021 to develop and launch a series of programs aimed to harness the knowledge of local preservation craftsmen and impart their skills to the next generation. These programs now include carpentry mill internships for trade school students, field work for college preservation majors, job shadowing for career changers, and upskill training for general contractors.  Kris has a background in workforce development, non-profit management, and a love of the stories old buildings have to tell. She has served on the board of Old Colony Habitat for Humanity and volunteered for several women focused organizations. Prior to working with NRF, Kris guided the launch of P-TECH in Rhode Island which allows high school students to earn college credit with the guidance of a mentor in their chosen field of study.  Kris presented her best practices approach to recruiting and managing corporate mentors for high school students at the 2019 IBM P-TECH International Conference. Kris graduated from Michigan State University. She has spent the last 35+ years in New England, never being more than 1 hour from her happy place by the sea. 

Laura Parrish is a passionate advocate for historic properties and has a strong commitment to their restoration. As the owner of boutique short-term rentals in Southeastern Massachusetts, Laura has meticulously curated a unique collection of guest accommodations: The Whalehouse, an exquisite c.1855 mansion in New Bedford; The Minnow, a charming vintage sea cottage from the 1940s on Cape Cod; and Old Crowell Farm, a historic farm that holds the distinction of being the oldest in Bourne. 
 
Laura’s dedication extends beyond her own ventures, as she actively serves on the board of organizations dedicated to preserving and revitalizing historic buildings in need of extensive repair. While she is not much of a DIY-er, Laura recognizes the significance of collaborating with skilled tradespeople who possess the specialized expertise required for each unique restoration task. 
 
In her professional life, Laura serves as a Creative Director in the digital advertising industry. Leveraging her extensive marketing experience, she advocates for the restoration and preservation of historic structures, utilizing her social media platform to emphasize their cultural and historical significance. 
 
During her leisure time, Laura relishes moments with her husband and three beloved dogs, engaging in antique shopping and indulging in dreams of future endeavors. As an old home enthusiast and a tireless advocate for preserving our architectural heritage, Laura exemplifies a profound commitment to safeguarding the past while envisioning a vibrant future. 

Kevin Sullivan is a Client Executive in the National Trust Insurance Services (NTIS) division of Baltimore-based insurance agency Maury, Donnelly & Parr. NTIS is a joint venture between MDP and the National Trust for Historic Preservation which was formed in 2003 to meet the challenging insurance issues facing historic properties across this Country. In short, NTIS is a specialized insurance broker, consultant, and program administrator specifically created for the owners and stewards of historically prominent buildings (and the organizations that operate within). NTIS operates in all 50 States. As part of the NTIS team, Kevin oversees current client service and new client procurement. He is a graduate of Denison University and earned an MBA from the University of Baltimore. He also holds the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation. 

Brent Runyon is the Executive Director of the Providence Preservation Society, where he has been since fall 2013. Prior to that, he was the Executive Director of Thomasville Landmarks in Georgia for 8 years. He received his Masters in Historic Preservation degree from the University of Georgia. While at UGA, he focused on community planning and affordable housing issues, and worked on several community-based design charrettes.  In 2005, he attended a summer service learning program in Ghana, West Africa, where he and five others created a heritage tourism plan to help boost the local economy. In Providence, he has led the organization through a $1.4M capital campaign, two strategic plans, and a major rehabilitation of the 1769 Old Brick School House. Under his leadership, the City has created one new local historic district on the East Side. He firmly believes that historic preservation can be a tool for progress, equity, and justice for all of our neighborhoods. 

Amber joined Historic New England’s Property Care Team in January 2023. Based at the Eustis Estate in Milton, Massachusetts, she works as a Facilities and Grounds Technician. She previously served in the Massachusetts Historic Preservation Corps, completing carpentry, masonry, landscaping, and window restoration projects with the National Parks of Boston and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Amber lives in Massachusetts on the South Shore. 

Melanie is a graduate of Clemson University’s Master in Historic Preservation, and has a bachelors degree in history from Mills College.  Melanie spent her early career restoring windows, although quickly rose to become responsible for overseeing preservation, maintenance, and capital improvements of structures and landscapes for Historic New England at the Eustis Estate in Milton, Massachusetts as well as nine other properties in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

Today Melanie is our General Manager,  responsible for the oversight, development, and outreach for Heritage, along with teaching education programs, building surveys, estimates, and development/oversight of assigned projects. Her trusted companion Maggie is always close behind.

Rob is a graduate of the Historic Preservation Program (Architecture minor) at Roger Williams University, apprenticing for several years, later becoming the Director at the Institute for Preservation Training (IPT), a program at Goodwill Industries of RI. Projects included work at several National Park Service sites and hundreds of state historic sites and private homes around New England.

Rob has served on numerous committees over the years, including Preservation Trades Network, Preserve Rhode Island, Providence Preservation Society, the Advisory Committee for the Health Insurance Commissioner of RI, US Green Building Council RI, and the Greater Providence Workforce Development Board. He is an occasional adjunct professor at Roger Williams University.

Today Rob remains the President of Heritage Restoration, Inc, Vice-President of Sutherland Welles, LTD, and serve as the chair of the South Kingstown Zoning Board.