Faculty and Collaborators
Faculty & Staff
Adrián Márquez
Administrative Assistant II
Clarissa Carr, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Erica Mollon
Doctoral Research Assistant
Richard Forbes, AIA
Appearance Review Official, City of Orlando
Baldwin Park Town Planner
Orlando, FL
Richard Forbes, AIA is an architect and has worked for the City of Orlando, Florida since 2005 serving as the Historic Preservation Officer until 2019 and is currently the Appearance Review Official as well as the Baldwin Park Town Planner. Richard continues to be active with historic preservation as the Executive Secretary for Orlando’s Historic Preservation Board. Richard has been a Board Trustee of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation from 2011 to 2017 and chair of the Easements Committee. Richard was has served as a Director of the Orlando Chapter of the American Institute of Architects from 2017 to 2019. Richard was founder and president of Richard Forbes Design from 1990 to 2005. Richard has a Bachelor of Design degree in Architecture from the University of Florida and a Masters of Architecture from California Polytechnic State University. Richard also attended the Architecture Program, Fontainebleau Schools, Fontainebleau, France.
Rick Gonzalez, AIA
REG Architects, Inc.
West Palm Beach, FL
Rick Gonzalez, AIA has over 34 years of experience in historic preservation and architectural profession. Rick received two architectural degrees from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. with additional studies in Miami, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. Mr. Gonzalez is a past Board Member and past President of the FTHP from 2008 to 2020 and was appointed to the Florida Historical Commission (FHC) by Governor Charlie Crist in 2008 and to Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design (BOAID) by Governor Bush for two terms 2000-2007 (Chairman 2005 & 2006). Mr. Gonzalez was awarded the PB AIA Gold Medal in November 2020.
In March 2020, Rick was appointed by President Trump to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, (ACHP) where he also temporarily served as the Vice Chairman/Interim Chair. Mr. Gonzalez lectures on historic preservation and urbanism and is also an expert witness on these matters.
Roy Hunt
Board co-Chair
Distinguished Service Professor of Law Emeritus, University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
A native of Humboldt, Tennessee, Roy graduated from Columbia Military Academy. Upon earning his B.A. from Vanderbilt University on a Navy scholarship, he was assigned to active duty in the USS Wisconsin. Upon completion of his military commitment, he enrolled in law school at the University of Mississippi, where he graduated in 1960 and was admitted to The Mississippi Bar. After completing a program in international legal studies at BoaIt Hall, the University of California at Berkeley, he entered Yale University Law School and received a Master of Laws degree in 1962. He immediately began teaching at the University of Florida’s College of Law, his academic home for almost fifty years.
Beginning in 1976 Roy developed a specialty in Historic Preservation Law. This led to his being appointed to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Board of Advisors and to service as President of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. He was appointed by Governors Graham and Chiles to the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board and later served as Chair of the legislatively created Historic Preservation Advisory Council. Upon retirement from active teaching in 1998, he served the Florida Secretary of State for four years as Special Advisor for International Affairs, Historic Preservation, and Cultural Resources, a period during which he also served on the Florida Arts Council and chaired The Grove Advisory Council, the Great Floridians Committee, and the Mission San Luis Board. Among numerous publications, he edited and coauthored Historic Preservation in Florida (1988). His many articles include “Saving St. Augustine’s Soul,” Historic Preservation Forum (1997).
Professional awards include a Resolution of Gratitude for Significant Contributions to Education and Historic Preservation from Florida’s Governor and Cabinet and the Senator Bob Williams Award from the State of Florida.
More recently, Roy served on the National Historic Landmarks Committee in Washington from 2002- 2008. He presently serves as Vice Chair of UF Historic St. Augustine, Inc. a University of Florida Direct Support Organization.
Arthur I. “Buddy” Jacobs
Founder & Managing Member, Jacobs, Scholz & Wyler, LLC
Fernandina Beach, FL
Arthur I. “Buddy” Jacobs’ family moved to Fernandina Beach in 1943 where he has remained a resident. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and was President of the Student Body. Upon graduation, he became Dean of University Relations and Development, at the age of 26. He served as an Organized Crime Strike Force Prosecutor in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. While serving as Nassau County Attorney for 13 years, he wrote the first zoning code for the County. He has been General Counsel for the State Attorneys of Florida for 50 years, representing them in the US and State Supreme Court, District Courts of Appeal and the Florida Legislature. He was Counsel to the Trial Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar, for 32 years representing 7,000 civil Trial Lawyers in Florida. He represented them in the State Supreme Court and the Legislature. He has served as Chairman of the State Arts Council of Florida and was a member of the National Council of the Arts under Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton. He has been Chairman of the Advocacy Committee of the American Arts Alliance in Washington. He has served since 1977 as a member of the Board of Advisors of the Preservation Institute of Nantucket and served as Chairman of the Board for over a decade. He has lectured throughout the country on Historic Preservation on how to restore towns and cities and uses his work in the restoration of the historic city of Fernandina as an example. He served for six years as a Regent on the Board of the American Architecture Foundation in Washington, DC. The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers named Jacobs the top advocate in Florida among trial lawyers for justice for the citizens of Florida for 2005.
Mr. Jacobs has successfully represented counties, municipalities, cities and community associations seeking federal and state funding for beach renourishment projects critical to local economies, as well as appropriations for transportation projects, environmental enhancement projects, and preservation of historic landmarks. He was also the 2010 recipient of the Beinecke-Reeves Distinguished Achievement Award in Historic Preservation from the University of Florida. He has also been a recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association. He served as the First Chairman of the Board of Advocates for the Historic Preservation Program, UF from 2005 to 2008. On May 18, 2012, he received the prestigious Carl Weinhardt Award from The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation recognizing his many years of service to Historic Preservation. He has been Head Usher of his church, Amelia Island Plantation Chapel, for 27 years. He was a Founder of Hope House, Fernandina Beach, Florida in 1993. In May, 2019 he was presented with the “Excellence in Historic Preservation Award” as “Preservation Champion” from the City of Fernandina Beach for his commitment in keeping the Downtown Historic District a vibrant destination to live, work and play. He is also an Ex Officio Director of the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce.
Kathleen Slesnick Kauffman
City of Gainesville’s Historic Preservation Officer
Gainesville, FL
Kathleen Slesnick Kauffman has 24 years of experience in the field of historic preservation.
After receiving a degree in historic preservation from Mary Washington College, and a master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Florida, she started her career at the State of Florida’s Division of Historical Resources administering the Historic Marker program, the Great Floridians program, and served as assistant to the Florida Main Street Director.
She has been the Historic Preservation Officer for several municipalities around the state, including the Town of Lake Park (Palm Beach County), the City of Fort Pierce (where she also served as Chair of the St. Lucie County Historical Commission), and the City of Miami. She spent three years as the Executive Director for the statewide non-profit, The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation and for nine years, served as the Historic Preservation Chief for Miami-Dade County. She left the county position in 2017 to start her own historic preservation consulting firm, KSK Preservation, LLC.
She is now the City of Gainesville’s Historic Preservation Officer. In September of 2021, she was appointed by Governor DeSantis to serve on the Florida Historical Commission and was elected as a Board Member to the national organization C.A.M.P. (Council on America’s Military Past).
Libby McKee
Beinecke Family Representative
Director, Stewardship at Babson College
Wellesley, MA
Eugene Pandula, AIA
The Pandula Architects, Inc.
Palm Beach, FL
Eugene Pandula is President of the Pandula Architects, Inc. Palm Beach, Florida. The firm is engaged primarily in historic preservation projects and has enjoyed recognition for numerous and varied efforts. Mr. Pandula speaks widely on historic preservation topics both locally and nationally, was appointed to the Florida Historic Resources Committee and contributed to the publication of Florida Historic Properties and Structures. He is a past President of the Palm Beach Chapter, A.I.A., Chairman of the Town of Palm Beach Landmarks Preservation commission, Trustee of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, and Member of the Palm Beach County Historic Resources Review Board. Mr. Pandula graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s in Architecture specializing in historic preservation and has been recognized as a distinguished alumnus for his research and work to advance Historic Preservation throughout the State of Florida.
Andy Reed
Relationship Manager, PBS Contractors
Naples, FL
Andy Reed joined PBS Contractors as Relationship Manager in February 2020. Andy is responsible for driving new business opportunities and expanding the presence of PBS Contractors in the Southwest Florida luxury construction market. Prior to PBS Contractors, Andy served as the Director of Development for NCEF/Naples Winter Wine Festival and a Senior Consultant at Riley Philanthropy specializing in Capital Campaigns, Major Gifts, and Board Development. From 2005-2014, Andy served as Director of Development for The Humane Society Naples. Andy moved to Naples after a five-year term at Emory University, where he served as Director of Development for the School of Medicine, Department of Neurology (2003-2005), and Goizueta Business School (2001-2003). He also coordinated the University’s regional campaign efforts from 2000-2001. Andy received his B.S.B.A. in Finance from The University of Southern Mississippi and his master’s degree from the University of Florida. He is a graduate of Leadership Collier (2007), serves as the Collier County At-Large Representative for the Naples Airport Noise Compatibility Committee, and is a Board Member of the Collier County Medical Society Foundation. He lives in Naples with his wife Shannon and their English Bulldog “Boudreaux.”
John Regan
City Manager
St. Augustine, FL
John Regan graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and a minor in Environmental Sciences in 1985. John began his career with Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) where he worked in engineering, management, and administration over a ten year period and has extensive expertise in hydrogeology, water resource planning, water and wastewater treatment, utilities and construction; in addition he is a professional engineer licensed with the State of Florida. John joined the City of St. Augustine in May 1998 as the Utilities Director and was promoted to the position of Chief Operations Officer. Subsequently in April, 2010, John was elected to the position of City Manager where he is well regarded for his innovations and creativity in reducing the costs of government operations and public consensus building. Through his work in the City of St. Augustine John has received several awards for his efforts in the field of historic preservation and actively lectures on the importance of historic preservation in its relationship to other municipal issues such as taxation and fighting crime. In 2016 John was awarded the medal of the Order of Isabella the Catholica by King Felipe VI, Spain. This recognition was for his continuous work on the cultural relationship between the United States and Spain culminating in the 450th anniversary of the founding of the City of St. Augustine.
Nancy Sikes-Kline
Mayor
St. Augustine, FL
Nancy Sikes-Kline is a native Floridian and has lived in St. Augustine since receiving her B.A. from the University of Florida. She is a historic preservationist and land planner and is serving her second term on the St. Augustine City Commission. Nancy represents the City on the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization, Florida League of Cities, and the St. Johns County Cultural Resource Review Board. Nancy’s past community involvement includes; the Junior Service League; the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum and Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program; Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board, Save Our Bridge, Inc., the City of St. Augustine Historic Preservation Advisory Committee, Parking and Traffic Committee and the Historic Architectural Review Board.
Amanda Skier
President & CEO, Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, FL
Amanda Skier is President & CEO of the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach and began work with the organization as Director of Education in 2012. During her tenure, she has led two capital campaigns to revitalize historic parks in Palm Beach and championed local educational initiatives focusing on resiliency and landscape stewardship. A resident of West Palm Beach, Ms. Skier has served as Chair of the West Palm Beach Historic Preservation Board since 2016. She holds an undergraduate degree in American Studies from the George Washington University and a graduate degree in Historic Preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She is also a graduate of the University of Florida’s Preservation Institute: Nantucket.
Ric Viera
Director, Field Services, Building Conservation Associates, Inc.
New York, NY
Ricardo Viera has performed and overseen conservation and historic preservation consulting projects since joining Building Conservation Associates in 1990. Mr. Viera’s prime focus is field investigation, preparation of construction documents and specifications, and monitoring during construction. He specializes in the restoration of building materials, with expertise in terra cotta and masonry restoration.
Mr. Viera was the Project Manager in charge of the exterior restoration of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and has been overseeing the material’s maintenance of the Cathedral since the completion of its restoration in 2015. Currently, Mr. Viera is Project Manager of the exterior of the Connecticut State Capital Building, Federal Hall in New York City, and several buildings at West Point Military Academy.
He has directed many exemplary terra cotta restorations including the award winning restoration of the Brooklyn Academy of Music; the conservation and installation of a 16th century terra cotta mosaic at the Jewish Museum in New York, the Prospect Park Audubon Center, Brooklyn; and theJohn and Mable Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida.
Prior to joining BCA, Mr. Viera served as preservation intern for the Historic Charleston Foundation in 1988 and was a Preservation Consultant to the Foundation as part of the Hurricane Hugo Disaster Relief Team. Mr. Viera participated in Architecture, Planning, and Conservation studies in Havana, where he was born, and other cities in Cuba; and participated in preservation projects in several Caribbean islands including the Topographical and site documentation of the Galways Sugar Plantation, Montserrat, West Indies (1989); and the Documentation of St. John’s Cathedral, St. John’s, Antigua, West Indies (1988).
He participated in the Preservation Institute Nantucket (1987) sponsored by the University of Florida; and the Preservation Institute Caribbean (1985) Summer programs, sponsored by University of Florida and by Plan CARIMOS for Monuments and Sites. He was designated a Wentworth Scholar in Architectural Preservation in March 1988. Mr. Viera holds a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Historic Preservation and a Master of Architecture from the University of Florida.
