Engaging Local Decision-Makers to Support Historic Preservation

Chris Cody is Associate General Counsel for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, working in the area of legal advocacy. Prior to joining the National Trust, Chris worked as Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer for the State of Arizona and as Manager of Advocacy and Staff Attorney for Historic Charleston Foundation in Charleston, SC.

Lisa Craig is Principal for The Craig Group, LLC, where she leads a team supporting the growth of economic value and protecting the architectural and cultural integrity of historic communities. Previously Ms. Craig served as Chief of Historic Preservation for the City of Annapolis, State Historic Preservation Officer for the District of Columbia and worked for the National Trust for Historic Preservation as the head of the Southern Field Office and Director of Preservation Partnerships. Ms. Craig graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Historic Preservation from the Savannah College of Art & Design. Locally, Ms. Craig is a past president and current treasurer of the local Rotary club. In 2022 she was elected to the Lodi City Council and in December 2023 she was sworn in as Mayor of Lodi, California. Her experience in historic preservation, community engagement and resiliency planning has made her a popular speaker and trainer.

Briana Paxton is a historic preservation professional, housing advocate, and small-scale developer based in Savannah, GA. For her day job, she works remotely as a policy analyst for Preservation Maryland where she actively researches, develops, and advocates for policy innovations and regulatory systems that promote equitable and sustainable development. She previously worked in the private sector as a consultant with Ethos Preservation and PlaceEconomics. Briana serves as Chairwoman of Preservation Action, leading national efforts to secure sound federal preservation policy and is a former board member for the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions. She holds a Master’s in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor’s from the College of William and Mary.