Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear appoints new board chair
From staff reports
Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear (Preserve) welcomes the appointment of Tom Whitaker as their next Chair of the Board of Directors. Tom first became involved in Preserve as a volunteer on North Manitou Island projects in 2012, and later wrote their Historic Structures Report for the island’s Boardman Cottage. In 2023, Whitaker joined Preserve’s Board where he has been an active member of the Preservation Projects Committee.
Whitaker will be working with executive director Susan Pocklington as they lead the organization into a new phase, grounded in strategic and business planning in the coming year. “I look forward to working with Tom who brings a wealth of knowledge moving forward into the next impactful chapter of our mission in support of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore,” said Pocklington. “We are also so appreciative of the dedicated service of outgoing Chair Bill Herd for his years at the helm.”
Whitaker has degrees in construction management and historic preservation and is a member of the Association for Preservation Technology. He brings an abundance of experience as he has been on the management team of numerous preservation projects in his career including the Main Administration building at the University of Notre Dame; Hill Auditorium, Burton Tower and the Rackham Building at the University of Michigan; and Union Station in Washington, DC. Whitaker retired from the Kennedy Center in DC, where he managed both new construction and renovation projects. In partnership with the NPS, he completed an Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) documentation effort for the Kennedy Center.
“For over 25 years, Preserve staff, board members, and legions of volunteers have been stabilizing, repairing, and restoring the farmhouses, barns, outbuildings and cottages within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore,” explains Whitaker. “As one who has been visiting the Park for decades, I can personally attest to the tremendous impact the organization has had on the historic buildings and landscapes throughout Sleeping Bear. That preservation work will always be at the core of what we do, but I am especially excited to be in a position to help Preserve expand upon its mission, introducing new programs and breathing new life into the buildings it has helped maintain and restore.”
Also joining Preserve’s team is Natalie Richert as Administrative Coordinator. Originally from Metro-Detroit, she was a real estate agent, has a B.A. in English, and previously worked as a proposal writer. She has a background as a professional conference planner and enjoys organizing events and programs. “I’m thrilled to be able to offer my skills to such a purposeful organization. I’m passionate about preserving and promoting the treasures of the national lakeshore.”
This year Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear celebrated 25 years as a partner of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore preserving and interpreting the historic structures and landscapes and providing heritage experiences. For more information or to make a donation visit PHSB.org.
