Annual Meeting 2025
of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy
(Photo by Paul W. Meyer)
Wishing you and your family a joyful holiday season and a blooming 2025!
Join us for the 2025 hybrid Annual Meeting at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy’s Wissahickon Inn Chapel.
Thursday, January 9 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM
Introducing new Executive Director, David Gest!
Recapping 2024 and a membership vote to elect new and re-standing Conservancy Directors:
Will Bishop, Ashley Douglas*, Tim Greenwood, Jean McCoubrey, James McNabb*, Daniel Preston*, James Rice*, and Larry Salva.
(*new candidates)
And a membership vote to elect the 2025 Historic District Advisory Committee:
Patricia Cove, Richard Bartholomew, Shirley Hanson, Matt Millan, Miles Orvell, William O’Keefe, Deborah Popky, James Rice*, and Randy Williams.
(*new candidate)
The new Executive Director, David Gest, will give a presentation that highlights our plans for 2025.
Click HERE to review last year’s annual meeting minutes.
Registration is required for this hybrid meeting, which is free and open to the public. Those attending in person can enjoy a wine and cheese reception.
Please note that only current members (as of Wednesday, January 8) can vote. If you have any specific questions about your current membership status, please get in touch with Development Manager Ashley Maass at Ashley@CHConservancy.Org, or for general inquiries, email Membership@CHConservancy.Org.
Free and open to all Conservancy Members and the public.
Date: Thursday, January 9, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM
Location: Springside Chestnut Hill Academy’s Wissahickon Inn Chapel
Parking is available at the Inn Lot (main entrance): 501 West Springfield Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118. Overflow parking can be in the Stadium Lot: 500 West Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118
Registration: Click HERE to register to attend in person or click HERE to register to attend virtually via Zoom.
SCH’s Wissahickon Inn’s Chapel is #7 on the campus map above.
Meet The New Board Nominees
Ashley Douglas
Ashley Douglas has a professional background in graphic and interactive design, graduating in 2002 with a master’s degree from New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), a division of the Tisch School of the Arts. Douglas worked in the field for many years, creating brand identities, websites, illustrations, and more for a variety of clients across a broad spectrum of disciplines, both as an in-house designer and a freelancer. Douglas also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Duke University.
Douglas is passionate about art, literature, architecture, and preservation. This passion extends to engaging with and supporting institutions that sustain Chestnut Hill’s irreplaceable character and community, including the Friends of the Wissahickon and the Woodmere Art Museum. The gardens and preserved open spaces throughout Chestnut Hill are a particular inspiration to Douglas, who is an avid gardener and an enthusiastic member of the Wissahickon Garden Club. Both the formal gardens, such as those at the Morris Arboretum and the contrasting wild beauty of the Wissahickon Park inspire her painting practice. Douglas can often be found exploring new routes through Chestnut Hill to discover unique examples of the area’s architecture and botanical life or in her studio translating those discoveries onto paper or canvas.
James McNabb
James McNabb is an accomplished artist and woodworker with a Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Woodworking and Furniture Design from Rochester Institute of Technology. Known for his intricate, cityscape-inspired wood sculptures, McNabb combines traditional woodworking techniques with experimental mark-making to explore urban landscapes and human connections to them. His work has been showcased in major contemporary art exhibitions in cities such as Miami, Paris, and New York and is part of private collections worldwide.
In addition to his artistic pursuits, McNabb is deeply involved in community initiatives. As Vice President of Friends of Pastorius Park, he played a key role in achieving ArbNet Level 1 Arboretum Accreditation for the park in 2024 by mapping and tagging over 200 trees and shrubs. McNabb recently began serving as Co-Chair of the Chestnut Hill Tree Tenders, reflecting a continued dedication to fostering a greener community. He also contributes to the Chestnut Hill Conservancy as a Program Committee Member. His dedication to art and community stewardship exemplifies a commitment to preserving and enriching the natural and cultural heritage of Chestnut Hill.
Dan Preston
Dan Preston, a graduate of Cornell University with a Bachelor of Architecture and a concentration in architectural history, is a seasoned creative professional specializing in visual communication and strategic content development. As the Assistant Director of Creative Communications for the University of Pennsylvania’s School and Center Annual Giving team, Preston leads multi-channel fundraising campaigns, analyzes performance metrics, and develops branding strategies to enhance the donor experience. Collaborating closely with graduate and professional annual fund programs, his team plays a pivotal role in a larger effort that raises $103 million annually.
Previously, Preston served as the Visual Communications Manager at KieranTimberlake, where he led the architecture firm’s branding and graphic identity. During his tenure, he managed a team of designers, curated visual assets, and produced high-impact publications and promotional materials. As a freelance designer and strategist, he has provided tailored branding solutions, helping clients communicate effectively and achieve their marketing goals.
Preston’s expertise spans graphic design, video production, digital storytelling, and content curation. With a focus on crafting compelling narratives and visuals, he creates meaningful connections between organizations and their audiences.
James Rice
James Rice, AIA, LEED AP, is a distinguished architect with over 40 years of experience in design, preservation, and community-focused projects. He holds both a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Architecture from Cornell University and is a registered architect in multiple states, including Pennsylvania and New York. Rice has dedicated his career to projects prioritizing sustainability, accessibility, and historic preservation, reflecting his commitment to thoughtful design and community enhancement.
As a Senior Architect at TranSystems, Rice has led transformative projects such as the restoration of the Collegiate Gothic Elizabethtown Train Station, the modernization of the SEPTA Frankford Transportation Center, and the redevelopment of the Richard H. Poff Federal Building to meet LEED standards. His expertise extends to urban planning, intermodal transportation, and adaptive reuse, demonstrated through projects like the Philadelphia International Airport Terminal B/C Improvements and the Inn at the Union League.
Rice’s contributions to community planning include serving on the Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee of the Chestnut Hill Community Association and chairing the Construction and Planning Committee for The Asheville School Board of Trustees. His extensive career combines technical proficiency with a deep appreciation for the built environment, making him an invaluable asset to the architectural and preservation communities.