Historic Beaufort Foundation has named Heather Seifert of Williamsburg, Virginia, as the seventh executive director in the organization’s 54-year history. Seifert will step into the position vacated by Maxine Lutz, who is retiring after 20 years with the organization, six in the leadership role.
Seifert has nearly 20 years experience working with historic preservation non-profit organizations, including as executive director at the statewide organization Preservation Oklahoma Incorporated, and at Preservation Greensboro (N.C.) Incorporated and the Moultrie-Colquitt (Ga.) Main Street Program.
A native of Wisconsin, Seifert received her master’s degree in public administration from Valdosta State University and her undergraduate degree in applied arts from the University of Wisconsin at Stout. She also studied at the American College for the Applied Arts in Atlanta and London. Her interest in historic gardens led her to an associate’s degree in horticulture technology and a position as assistant horticulturist at the historic Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham, North Carolina. She most recently conducted her own business, Estate Gardener, in Virginia.
Seifert joins HBF staff Jacque Wedler, who is office administrator and Verdier House director, and Isabella Reeves, special events coordinator. Historic Beaufort Foundation is a membership organization whose mission is to support the preservation, protection and presentation of sites and artifacts of historic, architectural and cultural interest in Beaufort. For membership information, call 843-379-3331.
