Staff

Curious what type of preservationist you are? Take the quiz to find out!

 Kji Kelly | Executive Director       

Type of Preservationist: Accidental

Favorite Place in Seattle: Lake Union

Best Part of My Job: Working on a team of like-minded individuals, all with the common purpose of making Seattle a better place to live through preservation.

Eugenia Woo | Director of Preservation Services

Type of Preservationist: Vocal

Favorite Place in Seattle: The Space Needle

Best Part of My Job: Working with individuals and communities to help save historic places that matter!

Naomi West | Director of Philanthropy & Engagement

Type of Preservationist: Accidental

Favorite Place in Seattle: Elliott Bay Book Company

Best Part of My Job:  Getting to know the favorite places and local history of our many generous supporters!

Jane Davies | Accounting & Administration Manager

Type of Preservationist: People

Favorite Place in Seattle: Any park near the water

Best Part of My Job: Every day, I get to enjoy collaborating with my fun, smart, dedicated co-workers.

Bailey Hess | Philanthropy & Communications Manager

Type of Preservationist: Classic

Favorite Place in Seattle: The Good Shepherd Center. For me, it’s like looking at Mount Rainier. Despite seeing it a thousand times, I’m still in awe of its scale and striking beauty every time.

Best Part of My Job: Connecting with people who share a love and appreciation of historic places and discovering Seattle’s historic treasures together.

David McClain | Asset & Property Manager

Type of Preservationist: Classic

Favorite Place in Seattle: Ballard. Over the course of many years it has undergone a transformation from sleepy neighborhood to bustling commercial and artistic hub, and the revitalization of the historic district along Ballard Avenue has been a major contributing factor.

Best Part of My Job: The people, of course! Historic Seattle comprises a great team of talented individuals whose work is energized with a keen sense of purpose. 

Jeff Murdock | Advocacy & Education Manager

Type of Preservationist: Accidental

Favorite Place in Seattle: the Liberal Arts Quadrangle at UW

Best Part of My Job: Doing the work of historic preservation with other passionate colleagues while advocating for the places, humble or grand, that tell the stories of Seattle’s unique history.

Matt Murray | Good Shepherd Center Building Operations Manager

Type of Preservationist: Classic

Favorite Place in Seattle: Pike Place Market. Growing up it was always an exciting place to visit, and as an adult it was a great place to go for lunch and hang out.

Best Part of My Job: The opportunity to work with a great group of people that are truly committed to preserving the historic buildings of Seattle, and the unique character of the neighborhoods throughout the city.

Heather Wesner | Community Events Coordinator

Type of Preservationist: People/Classic

Favorite Place in Seattle: Any place with an amazing story, near the water, or with a beautiful view of Mount Rainier.

Best Part of My Job: Working with and connecting with those who find value in the historic places of Seattle and continuously discovering new hidden gems with histories of their own.

Brady Begin | Engagement & Administration Assistant

Type of Preservationist: Vocal

Favorite Place in Seattle: Husky Stadium. Go Dawgs!

Best Part of My Job: Learning more about Seattle’s history and working with an engaged citizenry to preserve it.

Lauren Gleim | Accounting Assistant

Type of Preservationist: Green

Favorite Place in Seattle: Anywhere on the water

Best Part of My Job: Knowing that the small things I contribute to Historic Seattle make a big difference in our ability to sustainably preserve buildings.

Cindy Hughes | Council Assistant & GSC Rental Coordinator

Type of Preservationist: Classic

Favorite Place in Seattle: Queen Anne Boulevard

Best Part of My Job: The opportunity to work in two very different Historic Seattle properties. My time at the more formal Dearborn House on First Hill is balanced out by my hours at the leafy and bucolic Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford.  Two treasured places – and the people that I work with at both sites are valued as well.

Tara Macdonald | Good Shepherd Center Lead Gardener

Type of Preservationist: Classic

Favorite Place in Seattle: Discovery Park

Best Parts of My Job: The constant and anticipated ongoing discovery of the plant collection and garden spaces; the history of the site; the community that chose to preserve it and enjoys it now; and my co-workers who passionately help to preserve the GSC and places like it.

Jeff Hansel | Good Shepherd Center Maintenance and Construction

Margaret Jackson | Good Shepherd Center Custodian

Zoe Jane | Morale Manager

Type of Preservationist: People

Favorite Place in Seattle: Optimism Brewing, because they let me hang out inside to get out of the Seattle rain and sometimes name beers after dogs!

Best Part of My Job: Morning playtime with my favorite coworkers – what a team!