2024 Annual Conference Schedule
This year’s Annual Conference will be held in various locations in Rocky Mount on 10/16 and 10/17, and Tarboro on 10/18. Please note location details in the schedule below to assist you in planning. (RMM = Rocky Mount Mills)
CLICK HERE FOR CONFERENCE REGISTRATION.
Deadline to register: 10/7/24
Speakers and Sponsors will use a separate ticketing link provided by PNC staff.
Link will take you to our conference ticketing site powered by Humanitix. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call Mary Frances Wilson at 919-832-3652 ext. 224.
Confirmation emails with final conference details will be emailed on Friday, October 11.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16: ROCKY MOUNT
10:30-12:00: CONCURRENT MORNING TOURS
All tours require additional registration fee.
TOUR: Historic Downtown Overview
Join Adrienne Copland and Peter Varney of Preservation Rocky Mount as they lead a dynamic downtown walkabout to showcase important historical landmarks, and their significant architectural features. Learn more about the mix of retail, restaurants, and livable revitalized spaces. Please wear comfortable shoes. Max 30 people
TOUR: Revitalization in Rocky Mount
Benton Moss of Simmons & Harris, and Twin County Media, takes you on a walk downtown to discuss preservation projects and the local history of the more than 166 contributing buildings on Main Street. With a strong foundation in real estate development, we learn from his commercial development efforts to bring this city core back to life. Please wear comfortable shoes. Max 30 people
TOUR: Matsumoto in Rocky Mount
Jeffrey Anderson of Joseph K. Oppermann – Architect, PA takes us on a “preservation in progress” exploration of the 1956 Thomas & Marian Hicks House, a modernist gem in the West Haven Historic District. Boasting a unique design of Matsumoto’s small houses, tour a house that prioritizes both privacy and transparency through the expert use of courtyard spaces and floor-to-ceiling glazing. Please wear comfortable shoes. Max 15 people
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12:30: REGISTRATION OPENS (Booker T Theater)
1:30-2:45: PLENARY: Preservation Year in Review (Booker T Theater)
*Dr. Darin Waters, Deputy Secretary of the Office of Archives and History
*Benjamin Briggs, President and CEO of Preservation NC
*Jack Thompson, Cathleen Turner, and Maggie Gregg, Regional Directors of Preservation NC
Join leadership from Preservation NC and the State Historic Preservation Office to hear about ongoing projects around the state. Election of board officers will also occur during this time as part of Preservation NC’s annual business meeting.
2:45-3:00: BREAK
3:00-4:00: PLENARY: Welcome to Rocky Mount (Booker T Theater)
Speakers will orient you to Rocky Mount and give a broad architectural overview.
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4:00-5:30: BREAK/CHECK IN TO HOTELS
5:30-8:30: EVENT: Honor Awards Reception and Ceremony (RMM Power House)
Celebrate Preservation North Carolina’s 2024 Honor Awards Recipients at a special reception in The Power House at Rocky Mount Mills. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, followed by the awards presentation. Additional registration fee.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17: ROCKY MOUNT MILLS
8:30-9:30: EVENT: PAN Member Coffee & Conversation (RMM)
Enjoy coffee and networking with fellow members of PNC’s Professional Associates Network and PNC staff. Join or renew your PAN membership today.
8:30: REGISTRATION OPENS (RMM Power House)
Hospitality Sponsor: Foss and Company
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9:30-10:30: CONCURRENT EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (RMM)
SESSION: The Ripple Effect of Residential Redevelopment in Our Historic Downtowns
*David Maurer, President, Maurer Architecture and TightLines DesignsOver the past decade, 8,000 upper-story residential units have been constructed utilizing historic tax credits in NC Main Street districts! What has the economic and social impact been? How have downtowns evolved with residential infrastructure? This session will share real stories on the “ripple effect” of adding residential units in our historic downtowns.
SESSION: An Artifactual Journey Through Rocky Mount and Tarboro
*Philip J. Merrill, CEO and Founder, Nanny Jack LLC
*Veronica A. Carr, Digital Media Strategist and Researcher
*Celeste Beatty, Founder & Brewer, Harlem Brewing CompanyUsing material culture (also known as artifacts) coupled with research is an excellent method for discovering and uncovering history. As a former TV personality on Antiques Roadshow and consultant to the Smithsonian, John Hopkins University, and the History Channel, Philip J. Merrill has dedicated his life to uncovering hidden African American history. Join him for an artifactual journey through Rocky Mount and Tarboro.
SESSION: Grave Matters: Unearthing Solutions to Preserve African American Cemeteries
*Julianne Patterson, Executive Director, Preservation Durham
*Debra Taylor Gonzalez-Garcia, Author of In Plain Sight and African American Cemetery Preservation AdvocateWe hear almost daily of hidden African American cemeteries in danger of being erased, and the people working tirelessly to preserve them. Many are struggling with ownership, maintenance, identification, and funding. How can we protect and honor these sacred burial spaces? See an overview of these spaces in Durham County, and the efforts – and challenges – to identify and protect them.
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10:30-11:00: BREAK
Hospitality Sponsor: Foss and Company
11:00-12:00: PLENARY: Rocky Mount Mills: Past, Present & Future
*Evan Covington Chavez, Director of Real Estate for Rocky Mount Mill/Capital Broadcasting Company
Two hundred years ago when the first Rocky Mount Mill was erected, no one could have imagined what it would become in the 21st Century. Enjoy a dialog with one of the movers and shakers of this vibrant community as she discusses the future initiatives of the mill. How does it continue to evolve? What is the 10-year, 20-year, 200-year plan? And where does it fit in the context of Rocky Mount? Q&A at the end.
12:00-1:30: GROUP LUNCH (INCLUDED WITH REGISTRATION)
Sponsored by Belk Architecture
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1:30-2:30: CONCURRENT EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS
SESSION: Small, Medium, Large: Innovations in House Museums
*Natalie Pass Miller, Owner, The Historic Magnolia House & Change Management Leader
*Gareth Evans, Executive Director, Bellamy Mansion Museum
*Dr. Mark L. Pickel, Chief Financial Officer, The Biltmore CompanyThe Biltmore Estate is unrivaled in its development of revenue streams. Bellamy flips the script on house museums by having a complicated discussion of race and revolving exhibits that bring in new crowds. Magnolia House is an experiential museum where you can learn about Green Book era history by staying, eating, and enjoying music in a historic space. This panel discussion will showcase each of these sites as innovative role models.
SESSION: Cultural Displacement – Restoration Declaration
*Amanda Boyd, Executive Director, Alliance for Historic Hillsborough
*Carmen Cauthen, Author, Historic Black Neighborhoods of Raleigh
*Judge Beverly Scarlett, Founder, Indigenous Memories
*Dr. Freddie Parker, Professor of History at North Carolina Central University
*Anita Scott Neville, Director, Hayti Reborn Community Action CouncilAn enlightening panel discussion on the initiatives dedicated to gathering, preserving, and revitalizing the narratives and legacies of communities affected by cultural displacement. Learn from and with this panel of experts on how to champion the revival of oral histories and sacred spaces, as they foster preservation restoration!
SESSION: New Views on Old Places
*Cynthia de Miranda, Principal and Architectural Historian, MdM Historical Consultants
*Jennifer Martin, Architectural Historian, MdM Historical Consultants
*Pofue Yang, Architectural Historian, Richard Grubb & Associates
*Ellen Turco, Principal, NC Branch Manager, Richard Grubb & AssociatesPanel members have recently completed extensive architectural survey work in Edgecombe County, Tarboro, and Rocky Mount. This architectural history session will highlight a number of interesting and exciting resources, previously overlooked.
2:30-3:00: BREAK
Hospitality Sponsor: Foss and Company
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3:00-4:00: CONCURRENT EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS
SESSION: Communication and Public Engagement Tools for Preservation Commissions
*Annie McDonald, Senior Architectural Historian, Richard Grubb & AssociatesHas your preservation commission been accused of being “out of control”? Does your commission agonize over how to effectively communicate with elected officials and administrative leadership? Are you a commission staffer overwhelmed with different programmatic responsibilities, leaving little time for proactive engagement of your commission members? THIS SESSION IS FOR YOU! We will address image management and communication strategies, and include practical tools for building outreach capacity.
SESSION: Stabilization for Beautification
*David Riccio, Principal and President, John Canning & Co.John Canning & Co. is an architectural arts restoration contractor with over 45 years of experience in national landmarks, museums, religious establishments, educational institutions, and government buildings (including the NC Capitol). Join this session for a refresher in the ornamental and the lath. Learn about the relevance of North Carolina’s historic structures in this field, and explore a truly impressive portfolio of some of the most important structures in the United States (with some plaster instruction along the way).
FIELD SESSION: The New Rocky Mount Preservation Movement
Rocky Mount Fusion will host a walking tour of some of the most important structures in local African American history along the 400 block of downtown, just north of the historic Booker T. Theater. Learn more about the local community and the people who lived here, like State Senator Dred Wimberly (1889), and meet some of his direct descendants in attendance. Please wear comfortable shoes.
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4:00-4:30: BREAK
Hospitality Sponsor: Foss and Company
4:30-5:30: MARION S. COVINGTON KEYNOTE ADDRESS
*Carol Quillen, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
*Kim Trent, Executive Director of the National Preservation Partners Network
The new President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the new Executive Director of the National Preservation Partners Network, will team up to discuss the opportunities and challenges of historic preservation from the national level to the local.
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5:30-8:30: EVENT: Brew and Cue Block Party at Rocky Mount Mills (RMM Power House)
Enjoy an evening of Beer and BBQ and experience life at Rocky Mount Mills! Music, food and drink, and tours of the mill, the 1835 Battle House, and surrounding mill village. Additional registration fee.
8:30-10:30: EVENT: YOUNG PRESERVATIONISTS AFTER-PARTY (RMM)
Not ready to end the night? Grab a beer with other young preservationists (and the young at heart!) in the epicenter of eastern NC craft brewing!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18: TARBORO
8:30: REGISTRATION OPENS / COFFEE & CONVERSATION (Calvary Episcopal Church)
Enjoy an open house-style tour of the historic church and churchyard. The Gothic Revival building was completed in 1867. The churchyard contains both exotic and native trees, shrubs, and ivy, and is regarded regionally and beyond as a grand arboretum. Both building and grounds are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
9:30-10:30: PLENARY: The History and Architecture of Tarboro and Edgecombe County (Calvary Episcopal Church)
Speakers will give an architectural overview of the town and county, through different historical lenses.
10:30-11:00: BREAK
11:00-12:00: KEYNOTE: On the Square: The Community That Made a Restaurant (Calvary Episcopal Church)
*Inez Ribustello, Author and Entrepreneur
From Tarboro to New York and back again, Inez Ribustello will discuss the journey that includes her preservation of buildings in Tarboro that have become mainstays of Downtown Tarboro. A signing of her new cookbook, On the Square: The Community That Made a Restaurant, will follow.
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12:00-2:00: LUNCH ON YOUR OWN
Enjoy lunch with other conference attendees at designated locations around downtown, including food trucks at Tarboro Brewing Company and Taps on Main! Details will be provided day of event.
12:00-4:00: TARBORO RAMBLE
The historic Town of Tarboro is opening its doors for a full afternoon of tours! Ramble around town at your leisure to visit numerous historic homes and buildings concentrated around the beautiful 15-acre historic Town Common. Additional registration fee.