Staff | Opportunities

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Executive Staff

Heidi Swank | Executive Director

Contact Heidi at Heidi.Swank@NevadaPreservation.org.

Dr. Swank received her doctorate in anthropology with an emphasis on history and language from Northwestern University in 2006. She has published and presented widely on the ties between history, placemaking, and every day lives. Heidi has almost twenty years of successful grant writing experience, implementing field research and overseeing student research across the globe. As a resident of our older downtown Las Vegas neighborhoods, Dr. Swank has gained significant knowledge of mid-century resources and styles. She has spent almost 10 years researching this and other eras of 20th century architecture.

Suzey Sligh Van Ness | Deputy Director | Director, Heritage Programs

Contact Suzey at Suzey@NevadaPreservation.org.

Suzey’s background includes 20 plus years of award-winning marketing, events, and development programs with expertise in the fields of entertainment, hospitality, non-profit, museums, education, and cultural institutions. A native Californian, Suzey and her family moved to Las Vegas in 2005 when she joined a select team tasked with developing the Las Vegas Springs Preserve and Nevada State Museum Complex. Following the completion of this 5-year project, Suzey accepted a position as Director of Development for The Shade Tree, a non-profit serving homeless women and children. She is excited to be joining NPF to help support the foundation’s development efforts along with NPF’s signature annual event Home + History Las Vegas.

Professional Staff

Rosie Lidard | Manager, Heritage Programs

Contact Rosie at Rosie@NevadaPreservation.org.

Growing up near Gettysburg, Rosie’s appreciation for local history began early. From tour guide to event planning and group sales, Rosie’s career in heritage tourism took off in Philadelphia, where she worked at two of the city’s top attractions: Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site and The Walnut Street Theatre until her move to Las Vegas in 2015.

Rosie enjoys “everyday history” and creating community through tours. Since moving to Vegas Rosie became certified with the Las Vegas Tour Guide Guild. She has worked with Wayne Newton’s Casa de Shenandoah, Circus Circus, and as volunteer guide with The Neon Museum and NPF. Rosie is excited to aid NPF in growing heritage tourism programs throughout “undiscovered” Las Vegas and the state!

Mariana Ruiz | Historic Preservation Specialist

Contact Mariana at Mariana@NevadaPreservation.org.

Mariana is an experienced art and architectural conservator with a demonstrated history of working in fine art conservation, historic preservation, and collections management. With 8 years of experience in the conservation field, she has worked on a range of projects, including fine art, archeological, and ethnographic object conservation, historic and cultural architectural preservation sites, and public art conservation for museums and local government. Well-versed in historic preservation practices with a background in studio art and architectural design, she understands the historic significance of the built environment. With the Nevada Preservation Foundation, Mariana assists with compiling national, state, and local historic register nominations for properties throughout Nevada.

Michelle Larime | Threatened Properties Program Specialist

Contact Michelle at Michelle@NevadaPreservation.org.

Michelle has a background in architecture, special events, and various design industries. With a love for old buildings, Michelle bought a 1954 ranch house in the Beverly Green neighborhood, where she quickly became involved in NPF’s historic designation campaign. Her passion for preservation ultimately led to her work with NPF. Michelle provides assistance predominately with the Threatened Properties Program but also with neighborhood historic designation campaigns and historic resource surveys.

Andy Foremaster | Historic Preservation Specialist

Contact Andy at Andy@NevadaPreservation.org.

Andy was born and raised in Southern Nevada. He received his bachelor’s degree in history with an emphasis in American history from Southern Utah University. He later traveled to England where he studied historic preservation. In 2014 he graduated with his master’s degree in the conservation of historic buildings from the University of Bath. His studies have focused on traditional building methods and materials as well as the economic benefits of historic preservation.

Employment Opportunities

There are no current openings with Nevada Preservation. Please do check back.