Historic places not only connect us to the past and teach us its lessons, they can help us build better, healthier, more sustainable futures.
My Story
I am a daughter of Buffalo, NY.
It is a city rich in architecture and diverse heritage. Here I learned that what we choose to save and steward, what we allow to molder and disappear, says much about who we are, what we value, and who gets to decide.
I am passionate about historic places and about helping organizations and communities to save and steward the places they care about. I assist organizations to think more expansively about their work and relevance, and to advance a more equitable preservation agenda.
What are you trying to save or steward?
Consulting Services
Strategic Planning and Equity Assessments
Adept at conducting organizational assessments and aiding organizations to develop blueprints for success. Deeply committed to acknowledging and addressing organizational biases and exclusionary and inequitable practices through a customizable audit methodology.
Meeting Facilitation
Talented facilitator who moderates complex conversations around project and/or organizational initiatives to develop mission statements, goals, roles and responsibilities, and workplans.
Public Advocacy
Deep understanding of local, state, and federal legislative processes and experience in developing and managing advocacy campaigns of all kinds. Subject matter expertise in federal, state and local preservation legislation, land use, and zoning laws. Ability to develop effective messaging and testimony.
Fundraising and Partnerships
Enthusiastic prospect researcher who looks beyond traditional funding sources to find untapped partnerships. Able to source and report on government, corporate, and foundation prospects. Effective and persuasive grant writer with track record of securing and stewarding major funding awards.
Training and Workshops
Experienced trainer who develops and delivers engaging, skill-building experiences and workshops on a range of topics including advocacy, fundraising, and board and organizational capacity building. Particular expertise on topics related to historic preservation practices and procedures.
Research, Writing, Project Management
Broad experience in online, archival, and data base research as well as conducting information-gathering surveys and interviews. Skilled communicator with ability to synthesize findings and present information in compelling and straightforward ways.
Current and Recent Projects
ReflectDSM, Des Moines City Wide Historic Preservation Plan (2023)
Strategic Plan, Rhode Island Land Trust Council ((2023)
Strategic Planning, Preservation Buffalo Niagara, Buffalo New York (2022)
Program Assessment, Statewide Preservation Conference, Rhode Island Historic for the Preservation and Heritage Commission, Providence, Rhode Island (2022)
Democratize Preservation, Providence Preservation Society, Providence Rhode Island (2021)
Finding New Sources of Funding in Challenging Times, National Preservation Institute, Alexandria, Virginia (2020)
Preserving Intangible Heritage, Preservation Profiles Podcast, National Preservation Institute, Alexandria Virginia (2020)
-
-Beginning With Us Learning Series: Student Conservation Association, Arlington, Virginia (2021)
-Facilitation: Strategic Implementation of Vision 2030, College Park City – University Partnership, College Park, Maryland (2020)
-Program Assessment: Touching History Preservation in Practice, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Foundation, Washington, DC (2019)
Let’s work together
Email: Susan West Montgomery
(pronouns: she/her)
Located in Takoma Park, Maryland
I live and work on the traditional homeland of the Nacotchtank and Piscataway peoples and their descendants.
-
I do not disclose or share any of your information to outside parties without your specific consent. I only collect the information you provide to me directly through registration forms, including your name and email address. The information you provide is only used to contact you based on your inquiry to susanwestmontgomery.com or to subscribe to Nature Balm. Unsubscribing from this communication is always your right.