Speakers: March 24-25, 2026 in Salem, MA

Carl Elefante, FAIA, FAPT
Principal Emeritus, Quinn Evans

Known worldwide for coining the phrase: “the greenest building is…one that is already built,” Carl Elefante is Principal Emeritus with Quinn Evans, recipient of the 2024 AIA National Firm Award. In 2018, Carl served as President of AIA, the culmination of leadership positions in architecture, historic preservation, and sustainable design organizations. In 2023, Carl was the inaugural visiting scholar at the University of Notre Dame Duda Center for Preservation, Resilience, and Sustainability. Carl is a Senior Fellow with Architecture 2030, a charter member of the Climate Heritage Network, and a Fellow of AIA and Association for Preservation Technology International (APT).

Patrick Ahearn, FAIA
Founder, Patrick Ahearn Architect

Celebrated AIA Fellow Patrick Ahearn has focused on historically-motivated site-sensitive private residences in some of America’s most desirable and storied destinations for nearly 50 years. Whether restoring century-old structures or creating new homes that reimagine local vernacular, he demonstrates an unparalleled ability to combine the romance of traditional architecture with the ideals of modernism.   

Based in Boston and Edgartown, today Ahearn oversees a team of architects at the firm that bears his name while deftly drafting firsthand. His degrees in architecture and urban design were earned at Syracuse University where he currently serves as Trustee. In addition, he has won countless awards including nine prestigious Bulfinch Awards from the ICAA and his work has been featured in Architectural Digest, The Wall Street Journal, and The Robb Report, among many other publications and broadcast outlets. His first book, Timeless, was published in 2018; his second volume, History Reinterpreted, was printed in 2023; and his third, Driven: The Road to Iconic Design is due this fall. 

Michael Tartamella, AIA, Managing Principal, Patrick Ahearn Architect

For the past 20 years Michael Tartamella has been an integral part of the Patrick Ahearn Architect team. In 2018 he was elevated to the role of Managing Principal, and since then has played a pivotal role in guiding some of the firm’s most significant and award-winning projects. He continues to demonstrate a deep commitment to the firm’s distinctive approach to timeless architecture, and Patrick himself often says, “Mike sees with my eyes,” a testament to their alignment in design vision and philosophy. 

While managing the firm’s day-to-day operations, Mike also spearheads projects all over the country. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Roger Williams University, is a registered architect, and is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Boston Society of Architects, and the ICAA where he serves as Vice President of the New England Chapter. 

Russ Oliveri, President
Oliveri Windows and Doors
W Palm Beach, FL

Rosario 'Russ' Oliveri is President of Oliveri Millworks, a leader in the South Florida market for architectural hurricane impact fenestration. A former general contractor armed with credible impact testing data, Russ advises general contractors and architects about specifying and installing historically accurate, custom windows and doors which meet stringent coastal area building codes.

Richard W. Off, AIA, Senior Architect, Supervisor/Team Leader,
Hoffmann Architects and Engineers, New York, NY

Richard Off is a Partner, Senior Project Manager, and Architect at Hoffmann. With expertise in preservation, and enclosure systems, he oversees architectural and engineering teams complete numerous multi-million-dollar rehabilitation projects, several having received recognition, including multiple Lucy Moses awards from the NY Landmarks Conservancy. Prior to completing fellowships in Asia and South America, Mr. Off graduated with a master’s from Columbia University and a bachelor’s from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has lectured at APTi conferences, the APT DC Symposium, Traditional Building, and his alma maters, and he has published articles with Construction Specifier, BD+C, Traditional Building, Papyrus, and Hoffmann Journal.

Peter H. Miller, Hon. AIA is the publisher of TRADITIONAL BUILDING, PERIOD HOMES and NEW OLD HOUSE, producer of The Traditional Building Conference Series, author of a monthly column “For Pete’s Sake,” and host of the “Building Tradition” podcast This business-to-business media platform is part of Active Interest Media (AIM). AIM is a publisher and producer of special interest magazines, conferences, web seminars, podcasts, a TV show, e newsletters, books and websites with publications which include OLD HOUSE JOURNAL, ARTS AND CRAFTS HOMES, FINE HOMEBUILDING, ANTIQUE TRADER, LOG & TIMBER HOME LIVING, FINE GARDENING, GARDEN GATE, HORTICULTURE, POPULAR WOODWORKING, FINE WOODWORKING AND WOODSMITH.

The Home Group meets the information needs of 55 million old house owners, home buyers, architects, contractors, building owners, developers and facilities managers who do residential and non-residential historic preservation, restoration/renovation and traditional building.

Pete is also the President of The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA), Washington, DC, Mid-Atlantic Chapter. ICAA WMA’s members are dedicated to the practice and appreciation of classical and traditional design principals through education and special events. While not covering his beat for TRADITIONAL BUILDING Pete coaches Peewee ice hockey.

Frank Shirley, FAIA
Frank Shirley Architects
Cambridge, MA

Frank Shirley earned his architecture degree from the University of Cincinnati. He began his career as a designer at Moshe Safdie & Associates, working on large-scale civic and institutional projects. From there Frank became a project manager at Design Associates, Inc., where he led the restoration of the Corbin-Norton residence on Martha’s Vineyard, which received the Boston Society of Architects’ award for “Excellence in Architecture.” He was the project architect for homes featured on the PBS television series, This Old House. In 2000, he launched Frank Shirley Architects in Cambridge, MA. In 2007, Frank won the Traditional Building Challenge–a competition among architects nationwide to design a home in the spirit of its Cape Cod setting. Frank Shirley Architects received the prestigious Bulfinch Award in 2012, 2014, and 2017 from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, New England Chapter. He won a Dream Home Award in 2010 and was named Best of Boston® Home in 2008 and 2011, respectfully, for ‘Restoration Architect and Historic Renovation Architect,’ respectfully. Frank is also a serious architectural photographer. Fifteen of his photographs have been chosen for the American Institute of Architects annual calendar, one winning first place. In 2023, Frank was inducted into the New England Design Hall of Fame for his notable work as an architect in the region. In 2025, Frank was honored with a prestigious elevation to the College of Fellows at the American Institute of Architects.

In 2007, Frank Shirley’s book, New Rooms for Old Houses: Beautiful Additions for the Traditional Home, was published under the imprimatur of the National Trust for Historic Preservation by Taunton Press and distributed by Random House. This beautiful volume systematically presents Frank’s approach to the issues owners encounter when adding on to their historic homes.

Ethan Anthony, AIA, ICTP
President and Principal Architect, Cram & Ferguson Architects LLC

A graduate of the School of Art and Architecture at the University of Oregon, Ethan Anthony AIA served as a Project Architect under John L. Wilson at Payette Associates before founding his Boston practice in 1983. He then merged his firm with Cram and Ferguson in 1990.

Since 1998, Anthony has led the practice as President and Principal of Cram & Ferguson Architects, LLC. Under his leadership the firm has continued its 125-year focus on planning and design of new traditionally inspired religious and academic buildings and campus planning, in addition to the preservation of significant historic buildings.

Mr. Anthony is the Past President of the American Institute of Architects Massachusetts and Central Massachusetts Chapters and a member of the INTBAU College of Traditional Practitioners based in London. He has won several awards for design excellence, authored articles in TRADITIONAL BUILDING and FAITH & FORM and published The Architecture of Ralph Adams Cram and his Firm (WW Norton, New York, 2007).

Mr. Anthony has designed new traditional churches, additions and interiors and has gained a national reputation for his work in liturgical architecture. The firm’s work can be found in 45 states.

Recent awards include: AIACM Awards for Design Excellence for projects in 2019, 2017, and 2015 for the Casady School Chapel, 2007 Macael Architect of the Year Award, the 2004 Golden Trowel Award for Our Lady of Walsingham and the 1993 IFRAA Honor Award for St Elizabeth’s Cathedral in the Woods, Memorial Garden.

Kristen Caulk, AIA, Associate/BIM Manager
Goody Clancy

Kristen's passion for architecture is deeply rooted in her love of historic buildings. Through the restoration and adaptive reuse of existing buildings, Kristen firmly believes that we can not only preserve our history, heritage, and craftsmanship but also make a more sustainable choice for the future.

Kristen's expertise lies in analyzing and documenting existing buildings, as well as translating drawings into 3D models that provide an accurate representation of the building's current conditions. Her precision and meticulousness help our design teams make informed decisions during the design and construction phases by identifying any possible issues early in the process. Moreover, her efforts contribute to creating designs that are respectful of the original design and structure, ensuring additions or modifications are sympathetic to the building's historic character.

Bob Mohr, AIA, LEED AP, Principal
Shepley Bulfinch

Bob Mohr, principal at Shepley Bulfinch, is driven by a belief that all people deserve great architecture, and that architects should always act as responsible members of society and stewards of our planet. Based in the northeast US, Bob’s design practice over the past 25 years has spanned the United States as well as abroad, including Europe, North Africa, and Asia. While focused on the higher education sector, Bob has broad experience working on a wide variety of project types and sizes ranging from the tiny to the territorial, where he treats every project as a unique opportunity to create something meaningful and beautiful.

Jason Donahue, Senior Architect, Associate
Shepley Bulfinch

Jason is an experienced architect with project work spanning education, recreation, cultural, historic, residential and government projects. He has used his experience to develop his leadership role by working directly with clients and consultants resulting in projects that are intelligent, resolved, and engaging. Jason is skilled at managing complex projects while highlighting the voices of the communities his projects serve.

John B. Tittmann, Architect
Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects, Boston

John is an architect and founding partner of Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects, Inc. of Boston. ART Architects is known for innovative and artful New England houses. John and the firm have a broad design palette that draws from the varied languages of architecture. For ART, architecture communicates aspirations and culture. Their buildings have a strong sense of space, enriched by the specific history of the place.

John’s projects have been published in magazines, books and articles, including the Boston Globe, Design New England, Trends Home and Living, Period Homes, Custom Home, Builder’s Choice, Architectural Digest, and more.

John is a painter who works in oil and in watercolor. He paints landscapes, still lives, and portraits and the figure.

He was a founding member of the New England Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, serving on the board up until 2013. He is a founding member of the New England Chapter of the Congress for New Urbanism. He is also past president and past member of the board of the Family-to-Family Project, a non-profit dedicated to providing housing for homeless families.

In 1996 John merged his firm Tittmann Associates with Jim Righter and Jacob Albert’s firm, James Volney Righter Architect, to create Albert, Righter and Tittmann Architects, Inc, known now as ART Architects, Inc. John’s professional career prior to that included working for Allan Greenberg in New Haven, Hardy Holzman & Pfeiffer in New York; I.M. Pei’s office in Paris, Skidmore Owings & Merrill and Booth/Hansen in Chicago. He also travelled extensively in western Turkey and in Greece researching classical Roman and Greek temples and structures.

John studied at Yale where he received both a B.A. in Architecture and a Master of Architecture. While in graduate school at Yale, he was a teaching assistant to Vincent Scully. He continued teaching in the Architecture School of the University of Illinois at Chicago after graduating. He has been a guest juror at the University of Notre Dame and at the Massachusetts College of Art. He continues to lecture and write on architectural topics.

J.B. Clancy, AIA;  Managing Partner,  ART Architects; Boston, MA

J.B. Clancy is a partner at ART Architects, where he practices the art and science of architecture throughout the Northeast, with a focus on place and sustainability rooted in the New England tradition. He designed Vermont’s first certified Passive House and remains actively engaged in net-zero building initiatives. He is currently pursuing certification for another Passive House project in Dedham, Massachusetts.

J.B. joined ART Architects in 2002. His work has been widely recognized for excellence in both traditional design and sustainable building. He was recently named one of Traditional Building magazine’s 25 Leaders in Traditional Design, recognizing his contributions to classical architecture and service to the industry. In 2023, he was named Architect of the Year by the New England Chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Association. His project “Porch + Meadow House” received Vermont’s Greenest Building Award from the Vermont Green Building Network.

His work has been featured in New England Home, including the sustainable project “Side Court,” and he has appeared on the Building Tradition podcast to discuss net-zero building strategies and environmentally responsible design.

In addition to his professional practice, J.B. teaches drawing at Boston University and Adirondack Architectural Heritage. He holds a BA in Architectural History from Brown University and a Master of Architecture from the Yale School of Architecture. He serves on the boards of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art New England and Adirondack Architectural Heritage, supporting the preservation and advancement of architectural excellence across the region.

Victoria Tsai, Architectural Designer,
ART Architects, Boston, MA

Victoria Tsai joined ART with a B.Arch degree from the University of Notre Dame, where she also pursued an anthropology minor and business concentration. Her studies meshed classical architecture with her interest in global cultures and urban development. She discovered her love of plein air watercolor painting and sculpture while living in Rome, and worked in New York City before graduating and moving to Boston.

Victoria continues to explore her interests through a New England lens, admiring local building vernacular, food culture and museums. She can be found in Beacon Hill photographing charming townhouses, strolling along the esplanade and baking sourdough bread.

Paul Wright, Director of Preservation and Maintenance, The House of the Seven Gables

Paul Wright joined the House of the Seven Gables as Director of Preservation and Maintenance in 2022, and since then has been a leader of the organization in studying and planning for the effects of climate change on the historic site. Prior to joining the House of the Seven Gables, Paul completed his graduate degree at the Boston Architectural College focusing on the intersection of historic preservation and sustainable design. Prior to joining The Gables, his professional experience includes working as an architectural historian, and as a building envelope and energy code consultant. He has worked and volunteered at numerous historic sites in Salem and served as the Bowditch House Building Committee Chair for Historic Salem, Inc since 2019.

David Moffat
dmoffat@7gables.org

David Moffat has managed research and interpretation at The House of the Seven Gables since 2012. He co-founded The Salem Historical Society in 2015 and writes and lectures frequently on history and vernacular New England architecture. He has also consulted for Essex National Heritage, Museumtastic, Historic Salem, Inc. and the City of Salem.

Kara Babcock, AIA, Associate Principal
UNION STUDIO ARCHITECTURE & COMMUNITY DESIGN, Providence, Rhode Island 

With nearly 19 years at Union Studio, Associate Kara Babcock has garnered experience on many of the firm’s most challenging architectural and urban design projects, most recently as project manager for the new and award-winning Hammett’s Wharf Hotel in Newport, RI. Her project background spans a variety of project types and sizes from workforce housing to public libraries, adaptive reuse, and award-winning research on sea level rise in historic communities. With her background in both architecture and fine arts, Kara takes great pride in the design aesthetics of a building. She delights in working closely with large, comprehensive project teams to shepherd a concept through to completion; and has found the mission-based work at Union Studio to be personally rewarding.

We are accepting proposals for future Traditional Building Conferences. We invite you to submit your ideas for AIA CEU HSW seminars and/or suggestions for architectural tours.

We are particularly keen to present collaborations between architects, contractors, and craftspeople that are rich with practical how-to information. To submit a proposal for a presentation, fill out this online form.

Speakers receive free tuition for themselves and a guest at the nation’s premier business to business event for traditional building and historic preservation. Submit a proposal today to be part of this growing event for preservation and traditional building pros.

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