Beyond Places: How Historic Preservation Helps Build Stronger Communities

Full Title: Beyond Places: How Historic Preservation Helps to Build Stronger Communities

Melissa Wyllie, CEO & President of Florida Trust for Historic Preservation

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

6-7pm

McCulloch Pavilion, 265 S Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236

Parking is available in the lots East of the McCulloch Pavilion and South of Morril Street.

ABOUT THE LECTURE

Join Florida Trust CEO & President Melissa Wyllie in a welcome to the preservation movement and a discussion on how historic presrvation can benefit communities. Explore how preservation works, and how you can be part of the effort in your commuity.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Melissa Wyllie is CEO and President of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, the statewide nonprofit dedicated to the preservation and inclusive sharing of Florida’s history and heritage. Under her leadership the Florida Trust seeks to connect with a broader community to protect places of architectural, historical and archeological importance throughout the state. Her preservation background includes serving as president of Historic Nashville, consulting for the Tennessee Preservation Trust and collaborating with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She is a frequent presenter and spokesperson for preservation initiatives. She leads training sessions through the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions to educate and strengthen preservation at the local level. In addition to nonprofit leadership, she is a writer, led marketing and strategic communications for a publicly traded company and founded a successful integrated communications firm. Melissa is a Certified Nonprofit Professional who crafts strategic approaches for organizations to reach their missions and improve communities. She is a lifetime member of the Nu Lambda Mu International Honor Society for Nonprofit Management & Social Entrepreneurship. In Nashville she was recognized as a Female Entrepreneur to Watch and named to the 2016 40 Under 40 by the Nashville Business Journal. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from the University of Alabama and a Master of Nonprofit Management degree from the University of Central Florida.

ABOUT PAST AS PROLOGUE

Historic Preservation is not about freezing historic sites and our built heritage in time, but working with residents and stakeholders to sensitively manage the change necessary to ensure our communities flourish. This year, Architecture Sarasota is celebrating National Historic Preservation Month by offering a range of activities under the theme of "Past is Prologue," emphasizing the role of preservation in safeguarding historic places while addressing current and future needs. Throughout May 2025, the organization is hosting lectures, open studios of local firms, excursions, and a Historic Preservation 101 course led by President Marty Hylton. The month concludes with an on-line auction, celebration, and an update on the organization's various initiatives including the Restoring a Sense of Place Disaster Recovery and Preserving the Manufactured Housing Communities of Sarasota County, among others.

IMAGE CREDITS

Feature Image: Courtesy of Florida Triust

Image #2: Courtesey of Florida Trust

Image #3: Courtesy of Florida Trust

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