Agenda in progress. Check back for updates.
Agenda | Tuesday, November 17
4-6pm | Registration and Welcome Reception
Location: The Westin Richmond, Shenandoah Junior Ballroom BC
Register and mix and mingle with fellow attendees
Dinner on Your Own
The hotel's on-site restaurant is a convenient option, or explore Richmond's dining scene. We will provide a curated list of local restaurant recommendations. Participants are welcome to carpool or grab an Uber to venture out.
Agenda | Wednesday, November 18
7-8am | Registration and Breakfast
Location: The Westin Richmond, Shenandoah Junior Ballroom
Register and join us for continental breakfast.
8-8:50am | Charting the Course
Location: The Westin Richmond, Blue Ridge Ballroom CDE
Strategic Planning: A roadmap guiding decision-making and resource allocation to ensure sustained growth and success
Presenter | Mary Manges, Executive Director, Fort Ligonier
9-9:50am | Recruiting an Active Board
Location: The Westin Richmond, Blue Ridge Ballroom CDE
A board that shows up, and steps up, does not happen by accident. This session explores how to identify, recruit, and retain board members who bring both passion and practical value to your organization.
Panelists:
Bess M. Averett, Executive Director, Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign
David Duncan, President, American Battlefield Trust
TBD
Moderated by Tom Hand, Americana Corner
10-10:50am | Building and Sustaining Your Team: Leadership and Volunteers
Location: The Westin Richmond, Blue Ridge Ballroom CDE
Explore strategies and best practices for cultivating an effective leadership team, empowering talented volunteers to become leaders, and creating a thoughtful transition process that allows your organization to build on its successes long after current leadership has moved on. This session will open with a case study on volunteer engagement at a friends organization, followed by a panel discussion.
Panelists:
Mary Manges, Executive Director, Fort Ligonier
Jennifer Martin, Executive Director, Friends of Washington Crossing Park, PA
Matthew Wedd, Executive Director, Conococheague Institute
Moderated by Tom Hand, Americana Corner
11am -1:20pm | Preservation Field Trip and Lunch
Location: TBD
1:30-2:20pm | Fundraising: From Small Donors to Capital Campaigns
Location: The Westin Richmond, Blue Ridge Ballroom CDE
Fundraising is not one-size-fits-all, but certain principles hold true whether you're asking for $25 or $250,000. This session will open with a case study on fundraising strategies at a small friends organization, followed by a panel discussion covering first-time donor cultivation, building a recurring giving base, making the case for major gifts, and planning and executing a capital campaign.
Presenter | Bess M. Averett, Executive Director, Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign
Panelists:
Bess M. Averett, Executive Director, Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign
David Duncan, President, American Battlefield Trust
Jim Lighthizer, President Emeritus, American Battlefield Trust
Moderated by Tom Hand, Americana Corner
2:30-3:20pm | Diversifying Revenue: Grants, Sponsorships, Events, and Beyond
Location: The Westin Richmond, Blue Ridge Ballroom CDE
Relying on a single revenue stream is a risk no historic site can afford. This panel explores how to build diversified funding portfolios, from foundation grants to corporate sponsorships, membership programs to earned income, and event-based revenue. Panelists discuss what it takes to pursue each source effectively and how to balance the time investment against the return.
Panelists:
TBD
Jennifer Martin, Executive Director, Friends of Washington Crossing Park, PA
Matthew Wedd, Executive Director, Conococheague Institute
Moderated by Tom Hand, Americana Corner
3:30-5pm | Breakout Groups
Location: The Westin Richmond, Blue Ridge Ballroom CDE, Shenandoah Junior Ballroom
Recap the day’s discussion with your peers and get assistance from group leaders to develop your plan of action
6-8:30pm | Reception, Dinner and Keynote
Location: The Westin Richmond, Shenandoah Junior Ballroom
Join us for a cocktail reception from 6-7pm followed by dinner and an opportunity to connect with peers, presenters, and Conference staff. The evening will conclude with a keynote presentation.
Agenda | Thursday, November 19
7-8am | Breakfast
Location: The Westin Richmond, Shenandoah Junior Ballroom
Join us for continental breakfast.
8-8:50am | Relationship Building: Local Businesses, Civic Groups, and Government
Location: The Westin Richmond, Blue Ridge Ballroom CDE
Historic sites do not exist in a vacuum — they thrive when they are woven into the fabric of their communities. This session focuses on building authentic, mutually beneficial relationships with local businesses, chambers of commerce, tourism boards, elected officials, and civic organizations.
Panelists:
TBD
Jennifer Martin, Executive Director, Friends of Washington Crossing Park, PA
TBD
Moderated by Tom Hand, Americana Corner
9-9:50am | Coalition Building with Regional Historic Sites
Location: The Westin Richmond, Blue Ridge Ballroom CDE
Some of the most powerful advocacy and marketing happens when historic sites work together. This session explores the practical mechanics of coalition building: how to identify natural partners, structure collaborative relationships, share resources without losing identity, and amplify each other's visibility with visitors, media, and funders.
Panelists:
Bess M. Averett, Executive Director, Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign
TBD
Matthew Wedd, Executive Director, Conococheague Institute
Moderated by Tom Hand, Americana Corner
10-10:50am | Advocacy Strategies for Local and Federal Government
Location: The Westin Richmond, Shenandoah Junior Ballroom
Strategies and best practices for advocating effectively with local and federal governments, cultivating relationships with elected officials and relevant government agencies, and influencing policy and funding decisions that support preservation efforts. Following a case study presentation, panelists will share how to build a compelling case for public investment, navigate the legislative and appropriations process, and sustain long-term engagement with government stakeholders at every level.
Presenter | Mary Manges, Executive Director, Fort Ligonier
Panelists:
Jim Campi, Chief Policy and Communications Officer, American Battlefield Trust
Jim Lighthizer, President Emeritus, American Battlefield Trust
Jennifer Martin, Executive Director, Friends of Washington Crossing Park, PA
Moderated by Tom Hand, Americana Corner
11am-12pm | Breakout Groups
Location: The Westin Richmond, Blue Ridge Ballroom CDE, Shenandoah Junior Ballroom
Pursuing excellence in fundraising; recap the day’s discussion with your peers and get assistance from group leaders to develop your plan of action
12-12:50pm | Lunch and Breakout Group Presentations
Location: The Westin Richmond, Blue Ridge Ballroom CDE, Shenandoah Junior Ballroom
Pursuing excellence in fundraising; recap the day’s discussion with your peers and get assistance from group leaders to develop your plan of action
1-1:50pm | Marketing Historic Sites in a Digital Age
Location: The Westin Richmond, Blue Ridge Ballroom CDE
Your site has a story worth telling; the question is whether the right people are hearing it. Larry Swiader walks through the digital marketing fundamentals that drive both visitation and donor engagement, including website strategy, social media, email, and content development. Panelists discuss what smaller organizations can adapt for their own use.
Presenter | Lawrence Swiader, Chief Digital Officer, American Battlefield Trust
Panelists:
TBD
TBD
Larry Swiader, Chief Digital Officer, American Battlefield Trust
Moderated by Tom Hand, Americana Corner
2-2:50pm | From Story to Experience: Programming That Builds Audiences and Donors
Location: The Westin Richmond, Blue Ridge Ballroom CDE
The most powerful content a historic site can offer is a program, tour, or event that leaves visitors wanting more. This session explores how thoughtfully designed educational programming, living history experiences, and community events can deepen visitor connection, drive repeat visitation, and cultivate the kind of engagement that turns first-time guests into long-term donors and advocates.
Panelists:
Mary Manges, Executive Director, Fort Ligonier
Matthew Wedd, Executive Director, Conococheague Institute
TBD
Moderated by Tom Hand, Americana Corner
3-3:50pm | Preserving America Grant and Awardee Spotlight
Location: The Westin Richmond, Blue Ridge Ballroom CDE
An overview of the Preserving America Grant Program — its mission, eligibility requirements, application process, and the types of projects it supports. This session features organizations that have received Preserving America grants — what they applied for, how they put the funding to work, and what they learned along the way. It offers both inspiration and practical guidance for prospective applicants, with time for questions.
Presenter | Tom Hand, Creator and Publisher, Americana Corner
Presenter | TBD
3:45-4pm | Closing Remarks
Location: The Westin Richmond, Blue Ridge Ballroom CDE
Presenter | Tom Hand, Creator and Publisher, Americana Corner
4-5pm | Social Hour
Location: The Westin Richmond, Shenandoah Junior Ballroom or Courtyard (weather permitting)
Connect with peers, presenters, and Conference staff.
