National Preservation Easement Summit

U.S. Representative Mike Carey of Ohio’s 15th Congressional District has emerged as a leading voice in Congress for historic preservation and the responsible use of preservation easements. A member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Vice Chairman of the Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus, Carey has worked to protect the federal incentives that help communities preserve historic buildings and revitalize neighborhoods.

Carey has been particularly active in advancing clarity and certainty for historic preservation easements, recognizing them as an important tool for permanently protecting the character of historic properties. In 2023, he led a bipartisan effort urging the IRS to provide clearer guidance and workable model agreements for preservation easements, helping ensure that property owners and preservationists can use the program without facing unnecessary regulatory uncertainty.

In 2026, Carey introduced the Historic Preservation and Land Conservation Certainty Act, legislation designed to address the backlog of conservation-easement litigation and strengthen confidence in legitimate preservation and conservation transactions. His efforts reflect a broader commitment to ensuring that historic preservation remains a practical component of community revitalization, adaptive reuse, and economic development.

Hollie joined Knox Heritage in August 2003 and is currently the Director of Preservation Services. She holds a BA in Art History from the University of Tennessee, which she earned in 2002. Hollie served on the Board of Directors for the East Tennessee Design Center from 2014 to 2020 and is presently a member of the Board of Directors for AIA East Tennessee.

Claire Jones has worked in the historic preservation field since 1997 and joined the Easement Program at the National Trust for Historic Preservation in January 2022. Claire is responsible for the general administration of the program and stewardship of half of the National Trust’s nationwide portfolio of 144 easement properties spanning 28 states and the District of Columbia. Prior to joining the Trust, she served for over twenty years as a city planner with local and regional governments in Virginia, specializing in long-range planning and local historic district administration.

Erica LeClaire has served as manager with the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Easement Program since joining the organization in January 2023. She works with owners of historic properties throughout the United States to ensure their preservation in perpetuity. Prior to joining the National Trust, she worked with local nonprofits to interpret and preserve places in a range of communities. Erica attended Michigan Technological University and the University of Arizona focusing on history and heritage conservation.

Michael Lundquist is Deputy Chief of Staff & Legislative Director for Representative Mike Carey (OH-15), who serves on the House Ways & Means Committee. In addition to overseeing the legislative operation, Michael handles a wide-ranging portfolio of issues that includes tax, housing, financial services, and energy. He joined Rep. Carey’s office in 2021 after previously working on President Trump’s 2020 Campaign, as well as interning for then-Leader Kevin McCarthy, and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Michael is from Great Falls, Viriginia, and studied Political Science at the University of Miami. 

Lauren was appointed President of The L’Enfant Trust in 2017, after serving as Executive Director and Director of Preservation. In 2012, she initiated the Trust’s Historic Properties Redevelopment Program. Lauren has a B.A. in Art History and Historic Preservation & Community Planning from the College of Charleston and a M.S. in Historic Preservation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Lauren is a past Chair of the Preservation Action Foundation, a former board member of the ACE DC Mentor Program, and a past citizen member of the Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee of Washington, DC’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C. She currently serves as President of the Latrobe Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians. In 2026, Lauren was appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Council of the District of Columbia to serve as an Architectural Historian on the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB).

Brad joined Maine Preservation in 2021 with over eight years of experience in historic preservation. Previously, he worked with Indiana Landmarks, the country’s largest statewide, historic preservation non-profit organization. After a one-year stint as a Community Preservation Specialist, he served as Director of the Northwest Field Office, where he assisted communities, local governments, and property owners in preserving historic buildings in a four-county region. Prior to his work in Indiana, Brad worked with the Somerville, Massachusetts, Historic Preservation Commission and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area.

He has served on the Board of Directors of the Calumet Heritage Partnership, Indiana Lincoln Highway Association, and was the Cultural Resources Advisory Board Member for the Indiana Lake Michigan Coastal Program. Brad holds a M.A. in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University and a B.A. in History from Gettysburg College. When he’s not busy looking at old buildings, he enjoys biking, hiking, and sampling locally roasted coffee.

As a principal and member of the executive team, Antonin Robert leads GBX Group’s advocacy, government, and community relations. Focusing on federal, state and local programs that are indispensable to the company’s real estate investments, Antonin works with the preservation community, development partners and other stakeholders to ensure continued support for the preservation and rehabilitation space. Antonin developed and led GBX’s real estate data and analysis team, which focuses on capturing industry financials and economic trends to support the company’s investments. Demonstrating the economic impact of GBX’s projects has proven critical to the company’s advocacy initiatives. Building on the community support around the country helps the company identify investments and growth opportunities.

A frequent speaker at industry events on topics related to historic preservation and its impact on economic development, Antonin serves on various boards related to community development, business improvement districts, and historic preservation. He works closely with numerous historic preservation advocacy groups around the country.

Jennifer Robinson serves as the Director of Preservation Services at the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia where she manages a 250-property easement portfolio, the newly created HPRP, the Philadelphia Fund for Black Sacred Places program, as well as numerous special projects. In addition to her work at the Preservation Alliance, Jennifer is also the Chair of the Pennsylvania State Review Board for National Register Nominations, and on the board of a historic schoolhouse and cemetery in northwest Philadelphia, on the moderation team for the Historic Preservation Professionals Facebook group. When she’s not saving old buildings (which is basically all of her time), she sews, quilts, knits, and sails.

A Columbia native, author, and historian, John Sherrer has worked at Historic Columbia since 1996. As Director of Preservation, he heads the organization’s historic preservation advocacy efforts involving related research and programming, management of a 15-property easement portfolio, and historic tax credit fee-for-service projects. John holds degrees from Clemson University (BA, MA: English) and the University of South Carolina (MA: Public History) and currently serves on the City of Columbia’s Historic Preservation Design Review Commission and the Elmwood Park Neighborhood Association board. Past service included board positions with the Columbia Development Corporation, the Columbia Design League, and the South Carolina Federation of Museums. John is a Leadership Columbia Class of 2014 alumna and a 2023 Ambassador for ExperienceColumbiaSC.

Shaw Sprague joined the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2012 and is the Vice President of Government Relations, where he oversees the organization’s federal advocacy priorities before Congress and the Administration. Shaw leads a dynamic team of advocacy professionals in support of funding for historic preservation programs, strengthening state and federal incentives that promote building reuse, and preserving the places and stories that provide meaning to our nation. Prior to his time with the National Trust, Shaw advocated for land conservation funding while working for The Trust for Public Land. For several years, Shaw worked on Capitol Hill for Senator Susan Collins as her principal advisor on National Resource, Trade, and Judiciary issues. Shaw is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts, where he concentrated on environmental, municipal, and land use law.

Seth Unger leads GBX Group’s government relations, public affairs, and coalition initiatives. This includes relationship building with government officials and policymakers, key media outlets, and stakeholder groups. Additionally, Seth identifies thought leadership opportunities for GBX’s experts in the areas of tax, historic preservation, economic impact, and community development. He oversees efforts to build strategic partnerships with local, state and federal audiences.

Prior to joining GBX, Seth was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he worked to promote Administration priorities including the successful passage and implementation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. During his tenure, he served as the chief spokesperson for Treasury’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

Before Seth’s time at Treasury, he was the battleground state communications director for the 2016 Trump campaign in Ohio. Seth also worked as Senior Policy Advisor for Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel and as a spokesperson for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Administration. His career includes a combined 20 years in government, media, and politics including 15 years of service at the state and federal level.

April Wood, Director of Preservation at Historic Charleston Foundation, oversees the Foundation’s Preservation Pillar initiatives including HCF’s Easement and Covenant Program, neighborhood preservation initiatives, and the Foundation’s Revolving Fund, a program that has become a model for preservation organizations around the country. Originally from Raleigh, NC, April received her Master’s in Historic Preservation from Columbia University and previously worked as an architectural conservator in New York City before moving to Charleston and joining the Foundation in 2007 as its Manager of Easements and Technical Outreach. Passionate about the preservation of historic buildings as well as preserving the historic character and culture of Charleston’s community, April has continued to grow the Foundation’s preservation work with the establishment of the Common Cause Loan Fund and Saving Grace Initiative, a new program focused on the preservation of Charleston’s historic Black churches.