KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Scott Hanson

Scott T. Hanson is author of the award-winning and bestselling Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners and owner of Hanson Historic Consulting, LLC. He began his preservation career as an 11-year-old volunteer, helping to restore the railroad station in his hometown. He discovered architectural history while studying art and design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. Over the past four decades, he has been a designer, carpenter, painter, paperhanger, municipal preservation planner, preservation consultant, historic house owner, and vice-chair of a historic district commission. These roles have provided him a broad range of experience in the field of historic preservation.

Scott has worked on nearly 100 historic tax credit rehabilitation projects, working with the Secretary of the Interiors Standards, and has written or co-written 30+ National Register nominations. He has also researched and written numerous historic documentation reports as well as condition assessments and preservation recommendations for museums and homeowners. He is the co-author of two books with Maine State Historian Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr.

Since the release of Restoring Your Historic House, Scott has developed a social media following of more than 115k fans and presents regularly on the topic via Zoom and in-person. He lives with his husband Andrew and four Maine Coon cats in a 19th century house in mid-coast Maine.

WORKSHOPS

* Why Sashes Fail & How to Prevent It

AIA Continuing Education Credit: 1.00 LU

This workshop is centered around the physics involved with wood window sashes. It will include a discussion of some of the reasons that wood sash components fail due to the structural forces within a sash frame, expansion and contraction due to temperature, and the effects of condensation coupled with freeze/thaw cycles. Additional discussion will also cover the implications of installing storm panels on the exterior vs. the interior of wood sashes, and how atmospheric conditions between storms and sashes are very different within the space created by the two types of installations. Recommendations will also be provided for improving the lifespan of wood sashes to better address the physical forces and conditions for which they are subject to so that one can plan better long-lasting repairs and restorations.

Presenter:

David Peckar from CrateCrafts Fine Woodworking

About David Peckar

David Peckar received his professional degree in architecture from Cornell University in 1983 and holds architectural licenses in the State of Connecticut and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For over 30 years, David had a successful career as an architect with several top echelon architectural firms in the Boston area. During this time, he specialized in the more technical aspects of building systems, materials, exterior enclosures, as well as the preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse of historic buildings. In 2008, he made the decision to turn his “basement hobby” of fine woodworking, historic wood repairs, and restorations into a full-time occupation. Since founding his business, CrateCrafts Fine Woodworking, he has had the opportunity to bring his diverse skills to the restorations, repairs, and preservation of some very complex, challenging, and detailed historic architectural projects.

David brings together a professional technical background centered in architectural and engineering experience, a mastery of fine woodworking skills, and an extensive knowledge of architectural history to his work of restorations, repairs, and replacements of historic wooden architectural elements. His shop resides in an historic mill building built in 1890 located in Waterbury, Connecticut overlooking the Naugatuck River.

* Storm Windows: What to Do About Condensation & Other Burning Questions

AIA Continuing Education Credit: 1.00 LU

This panel discussion will discuss exactly how storm windows are a great addition to any original wood window. Often, after adding storm windows there are condensation issues. How do you talk to your clients about this issue? Learn the critical paths to follow to manage condensation and prevent moisture damage, while still taking advantage of the considerable energy efficiency that storms offer.

Panel Discussion:

(Moderator) Steve Jordan- Author of The Window Sash Bible

John Rodgers from Phoenix Preservation

Laryn Karsnitz from Lex Windows

About the Moderator, Steve Jordan

Steve Jordan has been in the old-house repair and restoration business for 40 years and has repaired and restored thousands of windows over the past twenty. He is a graduate of Cornell University’s Historic Preservation Program and was a contributing editor for Old-House Journal from 1998 through 2014. He was formerly rehab advisor for The Landmark Society of Western New York and an architectural conservator for Bero Architecture. Steve is the author of the award-winning Rehab Rochester: A Sensible Guide for Old-House Maintenance, Repair, and Rehabilitation; The Window Sash Bible; Storm Windows, A Comprehensive Guide to Wood, Wood Combination, Aluminum, and Interior Storm Windows; and co-author of Painting Kitchen Walls, Ceilings, Floors, Cabinets, Countertops, and Appliances. Steve lives and works in Rochester, New York. He offers window repair workshops whenever possible and hopes to entice younger people into the preservation trade.

* Preservation Standards: Understanding Them & How They Help Your Business

AIA Continuing Education Credit: 1.00 LU

This panel discussion will cover how the different standards for window restoration impact your business. Window Standards Group, National Parks Service Standards, your own standards – how do you work with them all and reconcile varying expectations? These standards can help not hinder your business. This session will discuss how to share all this info, interpret different standards, and work together with our shared missions to achieve a common goal.

Presenter:

Rob Cagnetta

About Rob Cagnetta

Rob graduated Roger Williams University’s Historic Preservation program in 1991 and founded Heritage Restoration, Inc. (HRI) in 2001 to maintain, restore, and enhance historic buildings. HRI’s versatile workshop fabricates and restores the unique and challenging, and our state-of-the-art finishing shop restores windows and doors in a production line style system. The HRI crew has manipulated, lifted, reconstructed and restored buildings from the 17th to the 20th century, always with a high regard to preservation, function and longevity.

In January of 2022, Rob purchased Sutherland Welles, LTD with his wife Mara Cagnetta (President) and moved the production from Vermont to Rhode Island. Sutherland Welles was founded in 1967 to formulate 100% pure polymerized tung oil into a family of finishes that nourish, renew, and protect wood and other surfaces.

Rob remains committed to train and educate students of all ages seeking skills in restoration techniques; from homeowners to high school to graduate students. Rob taught at Roger Williams University’s Historic Preservation program, introducing students to how buildings are analyzed, maintained, and manipulated.

HRI has been the recipient of three RI State Historic Preservation Awards, two Doris Duke Preservation Awards, and a Providence Preservation Society award. Rob has a blog, including his years with the South County Independent and Providence Journal Bulletin, and serves on various local boards and committees, including as a Director of the Window Preservation Collaborative.

* Talking the Talk of Preservation: Using the Correct Terms & Language

AIA Continuing Education Credit: 1.00 LU

Preservation, Restoration, Conservation – the language of historic preservation is imprecise, and the use of different terminology can be confusing. This session will cover how to use the proper language when talking to our project managers, our clients, and our preservation partners.

Presenter:

Melanie Jo Weston from Heritage Restoration

About Melanie Jo Weston

Melanie Weston is the Operations Manager and former window and paint shop manager at Heritage Restoration, Inc. in Providence, RI. She has also worked as an adjunct professor in the School of Art, Architecture, and Historic Preservation at Roger Williams University. Melanie received a Bachelor’s in American History from Mills College in Oakland, CA. After pursuing interests in archaeology and archival science, she decided to go into historic preservation. She obtained a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Clemson University / The College of Charleston. Prior to working for Heritage Restoration, Melanie worked in gravestone restoration, object conservation, historic house maintenance, and construction project management for preservation non-profits. In her spare time, Melanie is an avid antique collector, writer, gardener, and dog mom.

Weatherstripping: Making Old Windows Energy Efficient - Part 1 & Part 2

Proper weatherstripping is a critical component to improving the energy efficiency of wood windows and saving them from the landfill.

Part 1 (1-hour)

The first part of our Weatherstripping journey will begin with a Show & Tell Shop Tour of Accurate Machine Made (workshop location). We will tell the story of our path from installers of Accurate metal interlocking weatherstrip, to owners/stewards of 5 Accurate 100-year-old machines that manufacture this superior weatherstripping. Purchasing these machines was the beginning of the Accurate Machine Made business, and we’ll show you how it’s actually made on these antique machines that are still going strong today.

Part 2 (1-hour)

This workshop will discuss the how, what, when, where, and why of weatherstripping, and its use to seal air leaks from windows and doors. The various types of weatherstrip available on the market today, and their application will be covered. We’ll cover what to use where, and how to mix and match products when necessary.

Presenters:

Marc & Carl Bagala

About Carl Bagala

Carl has worked with his brother, Marc, for over the past 25 years in Marc’s businesses, Bagala Window Works and Accurate Machine Made. He also runs his own business manufacturing lead bullets. In 2016, he joined the Bagala businesses full-time as a Project Supervisor, and he also runs the weatherstrip shop at Accurate Machine Made. As Accurate has grown in sales, Carl spends most of his days running the original 100+ year old weatherstrip machines in the shop. He loves machinery, and how it works and can be “finagled” to work even better. He enjoys sharing his knowledge of window restoration and weatherstrip installation with customers while helping them with their weatherstripping orders.

In his free time, Carl enjoys golfing, all New England sport teams, and spending time with his wife and two daughters in Gorham.

About Marc Bagala

Marc started his preservation journey 35 years ago, learning to make windows and doors energy efficient with Accurate Metal Interlocking Weatherstrip. Expanding on this nearly-lost trade, he picked the brains of every preservationist he could find, to learn everything he could about architectural preservation and historic windows and doors. Now, Marc likes to say, “I’ve never met a window I couldn’t restore”, and he feels very fortunate that so many people over the years have allowed him to restore their original windows. Marc realizes he cannot save all the windows in the world that need saving, so now he teaches others what he knows, vicariously preserving windows through them.

When not working in the shop, he loves fishing, and learning about and trying to understand the physical world around us. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Ann, and their two grown sons.

Leaded Glass: Diagnosing & Planning Appropriate Repairs

This session will focus on diagnosing issues with leaded glass. As a window restorer, you need to figure out if you should leave it alone, help it a little yourself, or if it’s time to call in a professional.

Presenter:

Tom Driscoll from Sash & Solder

About Tom Driscoll

Tom has been restoring stained glass for over 25 years. He first took a stained glass course in Seattle in the mid-nineties and got hooked. After completing a five-year apprenticeship at a major Boston area studio, he opened his own studio in Somerville, Massachusetts. In 2015, he moved his business to Portsmouth, New Hampshire under the name, Sash and Solder. His projects range from large-scale, multi-phased restorations to smaller-scale, more specialized repairs.

Tom loves the unique challenges that each project brings and being able to do creative problem-solving and truly artistic work on beautiful stained glass windows every day. He describes himself as very lucky to do such special work. He upholds high preservation standards, informed by the International CVMA guidelines, and does everything he can to retain the original integrity of the windows he works on. He is a member of the Stained Glass Association of America and The American Glass Guild.

Lead It Be: Strategies for Dealing with Lead Paint

Dealing with lead paint is a significant part of window restoration, and not something to be ignored or taken lightly. Come learn what strategies you need to employ in the field and in your shop to properly protect yourself, your employees, and your clients.

Presenter:

Larry Stewart from Kronenberger & Sons

About Larry Stewart

Lawrence Stewart has over 25 years of experience in woodworking and boat building, specifically as an accomplished craftsman of custom cabinetry. He is currently with Kronenberger & Sons Restoration, Inc. (KSR) as Project Manager of the Window and Door Division. Larry attended Johnson and Wales University before running his own company, Lawrence P Stewart Custom Cabinets & Interiors, for over 18 years. Upon joining KSR, Larry facilitated a monumental makeover of several of their restoration processes and a staff restructuring. His changes have resulted in an increase of shop revenue to over $2 million dollars.

When Larry is not at work, you can catch him sailing all over the East Coast. He is a US Coast Guard Licensed Captain with his 100 Ton Master License with commercial towing and sailing endorsements. Larry loves good wine, good Bourbon and good coffee, and enjoys the music of the Eagles, Tower of Power, Brand New Heavies, and St. Paul and the Broken Bones.

Get Paid What You’re Worth – Part 1 & Part 2

Restoring windows is a highly lucrative profession – right? It should be! Skilled window restorers are in short supply and provide very important services! This 2-Part workshop will go through how to get paid what you and your work is worth. 

Part 1 (1-hour)

Financial projection is not typically on the top of a small business owner’s to-do list. Many entrepreneurs shrug it off without a second thought. However, understanding your future budget is key to running a profitable and sustainable business. A sound projection allows you to plan for possible growth strategies or prepare for tight financial situations well ahead of time. Without looking into the future, you won’t be able to prepare for the worst – or be ready for the best.

In this workshop, we will discuss:

• What makes a profitable business
• The elements of a cash flow projection
• How to analyze your financial statements
• How to determine the right price

The objective of this workshop is to give business owners an overview of financial projection and, from the data, identify ways to manage their profit & loss (P&L).

Part 2 (1-hour)

Most entrepreneurs started their business out of passion. However, managing a business is more than doing what you’re passionate about. This workshop is a “sanity check” to help you look at your business as a business. We will cover a few key topics including:

• Why choosing an entity structure matters
• What’s the difference between an employee and an independent contractor
• How to go about getting business financing
• Government contracting opportunities—how to bid for these jobs (if time permits)

Presenter:

Grace Mo-Phillips, Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI)

About Grace Mo-Phillips

As Program Director at the CEI Women’s Business Center in Southern Maine, Grace helps entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs start and grow their business, with a special mission to support the ethnically and socially underserved groups. Grace previously worked in the consumer goods industry, where she was a product developer and marketer of trend-right products that were sold in major national retail stores, such as Walmart, Macy’s, and Pottery Barn. She has worked in a variety of business settings, from small companies to large public corporations. With a strong background in international trade, Grace started her exporting company in 2014 – Belle Cove, LLC, which focuses on selling frozen seafood from the Americas to Asia and Europe. Grace holds an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and International Business from Minnesota State University. Grace has earned the Certified Global Business Professional designation in Maine from North American Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE).

Marketing in Today’s Digital World

Come learn what’s important to be doing for your business online for effective marketing. Your website and online presence are really your business card these days! Potential clients, preservation organizations, and project managers expect qualified businesses to have a website and/or some sort of online presence. Your digital footprint gives a very strong impression of your business and your professionalism. This session will cover what a website does for your business and the critical components a good website should have. Social media, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and other digital marketing tactics will also be covered.

Presenters:

Noelle Castle, Castle Media Co.

Milly Welsh, Zebralove Web Solutions

About Noelle Castle

Noelle Castle has been a marketing professional, and a published author and copywriter for over 25 years, and owns Castle Media Co. The former owner of one of New England’s notable restoration companies for nearly 20 years, she has worked on all aspects of historic preservation and restoration. A Contributing Editor at Old House Journal for more than a decade, Noelle brings her ability to explain technical subjects in a very readable manner to her preservation and historic restoration writing projects. Her work has been featured in both print publications and online media, where she has written on a broad range of topics including small business management, marketing, human resources, real estate, construction-architecture, and has published several books on historic plaster preservation. Noelle has been living and working in old houses most of her life and is passionate about their care.

About Milly Welsh

Milly Welsh has over 15 years' experience in designing and developing websites, developing apps, and doing online marketing initiatives for clients in her business, Zebralove Web Solutions. She is an expert at driving traffic to websites utilizing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies and customized digital marketing efforts. She offers full service digital marketing and website development, comprehensive SEO services, and secure web hosting services. Milly first became interested in computer programming while a student at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago while she completed her degree in animation. In 2006 she started her own business because she saw a great need for an approachable website company, with strong programming knowledge, a graphics background, and an understanding of business marketing. Today, she works with small to mid-sized businesses developing websites, platforms and apps, as well as SEO marketing efforts, digital advertising, and website hosting services.

Training & Development Workshop with Campaign for Historic Trades

Natalie Henshaw, Director of Historic Trades with The Campaign for Historic Trades, will lead this collaborative discussion for window professionals to share their experiences and needs, and help find ways The Campaign can support the industry. She will share how this dynamic program of Preservation Maryland in partnership with the Historic Preservation Training Center seeks to expand and strengthen careers in the historic trades. The CHT’s primary goals are to develop pipelines into the historic trades, publish open educational training resources, register apprenticeships in the historic trades, and help preservation businesses identify and resolve barriers they face in the industry.

Presenter:

Natalie Henshaw from The Campaign for Historic Trades

About Natalie Henshaw

Natalie joined Preservation Maryland in 2021 and directs The Campaign for Historic Trades, overseeing apprenticeship registration, curriculum development, and partner relationships. Natalie earned her AAS from Savannah Technical College’s Historic Preservation and Restoration Program in 2013. During and after this program, she’s worked in hands-on preservation with various non-profits, construction companies, and federal agencies. From 2014 through 2019, Natalie worked on seasonal, cross-country projects with HistoriCorps. In 2016, she founded a preservation company in Savannah, Georgia, specializing in window restoration and historic masonry.

Natalie has also worked extensively in educational fields. She has taught after-school art classes, English in China, TEFL as an online tutor, United States and world history with Savannah Technical College (STC), and historic preservation with STC and Lamar Community College (LCC). She managed LCC’s Historic Building Trades Program. Natalie enjoys traveling and hiking, and typically follows lawful good alignment.

Discussion: Collaborative Efforts

The Campaign for Historic Trades, the WPA members, and the PTN group have a lot in common and we could all benefit from a thoughtful introduction and conversation about our similarities and desires to accomplish a common goal.

Join this open discussion lead by WPA Board President, Alison Hardy, with Natalie Henshaw, and other Board members regarding how we can work together more collaboratively. How does the WPA work with other aligned groups like the Window Preservation Standards Collaborative, PTN, APT, and other groups? How can we continue to expand our opportunities for collaboration

Presenters:

Alison Hardy of Window Woman of New England

Natalie Henshaw from The Campaign for Historic Trades/PTN

SHOP TALK 

 

Sash Repairs

Time to up your game on dutchmen repairs, learn more about epoxy, and the best way to approach rail repairs. The skilled crew at Bagala Window Works will be in the shop and ready to answer all your questions about sash repair.

Window Glazing

Pick up some tips and techniques to make glazing a breeze. From glass cutting to final cleaning, you can learn more about best practices for joining glass to sash.

Painting & Staining

Putting the final finish on restored sash is so satisfying, but also frustrating. Come talk about your issues and challenges and pick up some tips to get the best finish.

Stripping Sash

If only there were a magic way to get paint off windows, we’d all be rich! This step of the process is the most time consuming and dangerous. Learn how to assess the issues and choose the best path to get the paint off.

*WPA will provide AIA Certificates of Attendance upon request