About Us

YPA is a regional provider of value-added preservation services that encourage the participation of young people in historic preservation. YPA provides events, tours, research, training, technical assistance, and special projects that encourage the next generation to take a leadership role in preserving their communities. Incorporated in 2002 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, YPA is the only organization of its kind in the United States.

YPA’s events and publications resonate with young people. More than 1,200 people have participated in our education programs, events, tours, research, and partnerships. YPA is more than 350 members strong from 19 states, working to engage the next generation in historic preservation. YPA operates in the nine-county southwestern Pennsylvania region that includes the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland.

YPA is guided by a 15-member voting Board of Directors and a 28-member non-voting Advisory Committee. The organization’s founder, Dan Holland, is the organization’s CEO. YPA was incorporated with the PA Bureau of Charities in 2002 and received its permanent 501(c)(3) nonprofit status from the IRS in May 2007.

Our Mission

The mission of Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh is the participation of young people in the preservation of historic resources. Everyone who supports the next generation is a Young Preservationist. YPA insists that historic preservation is an effective tool for economic development and regional revitalization. More about YPA: YPA Promotional Document

Our Vision

Our vision is for YPA to be the premiere organization for young people in preservation.

Our Slogan

YPA’s slogan, Give life to history®, is rooted in the belief that historic preservation is more than creating museums. It involves bringing back to life old structures through restoration, adaptive reuse, and creative renovation. It also means injecting new life into an older neighborhood by constructing new structures that complement the existing community fabric and allows for pedestrian interaction.

We encourage people to become involved in a civic dialogue about how to create a better human experience in the Pittsburgh area.

Our Values

YPA’s organizational values emphasize three important concepts that are central to our work: Innovation, quality, and diversity. YPA’s events and culture supports inclusion (by embracing geographic and demographic diversity), responsiveness, and an emphasis on the economics of preservation.

YPA’s Objectives

The YPA will accomplish its mission by pursuing the following objectives:

  1. Educate young people about the value of historic preservation as a key component of economic and community renewal in their community.
  2. Train young people to use strategies and tools to preserve their history.
  3. Provide opportunities for youth participation in preservation activities.

Watch YPA’s new YouTube video!
Produced by John Yehambaram

2010 Board Members

Charles Alcorn, Planner, Riverlife Task Force

Regina Anderson, Internship Director, Coro Center for Civic Leadership

Anthony Catania, Architecture Student, Carnegie Mellon University

Jeremiah David Brooks, Architect, Burt, Hill

Todd Demangone, Architect, Eckles Architecture & Engineering

Justin Gunther, Curator of Buildings and Collections, Fallingwater, and YPA Chair

Linda Gwinn,  Blairsville Improvement Group and YPA Secretary

James Hill, Vice President/Senior Investment Manager, Oakmont Capital Management, LLC

Eric Jester, Project Manager, East Liberty Development, Inc.

Mara Peluso, Program Development Coordinator, Town Center Associates

Sarah Rossbach, Consultant and YPA Treasurer

Chris Sandvig, Consultant & Executive Committee, Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix

Jeff Woodard, Executive Director, Pennsylvania College Access Program and YPA Vice Chair

YPA Staff

Dan Holland, CEO

Dan Holland Preservation Bio

YPA Advisory Committee

Christopher Drew Armstrong, Professor, History of Art & Architecture, University of Pittsburgh

Terri Blanchette, Director of Community Programs, Heinz History Center

Susan Brandt, Principal, Susan Brandt Urban Development

Eliza Smith Brown, Historic Preservation Consultant

Scott Brown, Vice President and Community Investment Manager, Citizens Bank

Walter Burlack, Regional Director, Student Conservation Association

Lu Donnelly, Architectural Historian

Kim Falk, Evaluation Specialist, Great Lakes Behavioral Research Institute

John Fetterman, Mayor, Borough of Braddock

Joe Flynn, Vice President, Community Development, Wesbanco

Larry Glasco, Professor of History, University of Pittsburgh

Tim Hadfield, Robert Morris University

Randy Harris, Historian

Alex Hershey, Esq. Attorney, Thorp Reed & Armstrong

David Hopkins, Western Territory Manager, Community Development, PNC Bank

David Kahley, President and CEO, The Progress Fund

Carl Knoblock, Pittsburgh District Director, Small Business Administration

David Lewis, Founder, Urban Design Associates, Architects and Professor Emeritus, Carnegie Mellon University

Stanley Lowe, Vice President, National Trust for Historic Preservation

Devon McSorley, Professional Event Planning

Tracy Montarti, Owner, Villa Montarti Photography

Jerry Morosco, AIA, Gerald Lee Morosco Architects, PC

Rob Ruck, Professor of History, University of Pittsburgh

Norma Ryan, Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation

Doug Skowron, Real Estate Developer, Pittsburgh Gateways

John Stephen, Executive Director, Allegheny River Towns Enterprise Zone

Bill Strickland, CEO, Manchester Bidwell Corporation

Debbie Tawney, Vice President, Community Development, Huntington Bank

Franklin Toker, Professor of History of Art & Architecture, University of Pittsburgh

Shelly Todd, Esq., Mooncrest Neighborhood Association

Althea Worthy, Historic Preservationist