Preservation League adds board members

The Sonoma League for Historic Preservation has added 12 new board members.

The new members bring a variety of professional and business experience, and will increase the effectiveness of the all-volunteer organization, said Robert Demler, the newly installed board president.

“Recruited from various segments of the community, they bring, collectively and individually, a wide range of professional backgrounds and talents,” Demler said.  “They have diverse skills and professional qualifications that will contribute to a revitalized League.”

Amy A. Alper, a licensed architect whose experience includes renovating historic homes;

Janet Bennett, who has a background in sales, marketing, customer service, and purchasing, and also volunteered for 20 years at the Filoli Center, a National Trust for Historic Preservation property in Woodside;

Tada Darsie, a landscape and garden designer with a long history of community volunteering;

Sheana Davis, a chef, cheese maker, culinary educator who owns Epicurean Connection;

Alice Duffee, a professional preservationist with over 20 years experience qualified under the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications in Historic Preservation and Architectural History;

Suzy Hart, General Manager of the Renaissance Lodge in Sonoma;

Bonnie Lee, E.A., owner of Taxpertise who is also a professional writer and presenter on the subject of taxation;

Kelsey Maddox, a residential and landscape designer with a long history of historic preservation participation in Denver and Hawaii;

George McKale, serving his fourth term as the City of Sonoma’s official historian he has more than 20 years experience conducting and directing prehistoric and historical cultural resources studies throughout California;

Sheila O’Neil, a mortgage broker with Wells Fargo who is deeply involved with the real estate community;

Brittainy Welt, an 11th generation Californian who is the Business Development Manager for Repris Wines and Pangloss Cellers;

Michael Woods, a real estate and land use attorney with experience owning and restoring historic properties.

They join continuing board members Robert Demler, an international banking expert and a vice president of the California Heritage Council; Chuck Bingaman, a management consultant and retired lawyer; Gina Cuclis, a Sonoma County Board of Education Trustee with a background in public relations; Prema Behan, chief operating officer of Three Sticks Wines; and Dr. Peter Meyerhof, a dentist and historian.

The League also has new officers for 2015: President Robert Demler, Vice President Prema Behan, Secretary Chuck Bingaman and Treasurer Bonnie Lee.

The new board members were introduced to the League’s members at its annual meeting hosted January 21 by Three Sticks Wine at the historic Vallejo-Castenada Adobe on West Spain Street.

The Sonoma League for Historic Preservation’s mission is to educate, promote interest in, and advocate for the preservation of historic buildings, neighborhoods, and landscapes in the City of Sonoma and Sonoma Valley. The League maintains two historic houses in Sonoma: the Henri Maysonnave House at 291 First St. and the General Joseph Hooker House in the El Paseo at 414 First St. East. For more information or to join the League, visit sonomaleague.org