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Maryland Historical Trust

Maryland Heritage Areas Authority

About the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority 

The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) is an independent unit of government that operates in the Maryland Department of Planning. MHAA oversees the Maryland Heritage Areas Program and is chaired by Rebecca L. Flora, AICP, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning.  

Meetings 

MHAA meets four times a year. These meetings are open to the public.  

[calendar of annual meetings] 

Members 

MHAA’s interagency structure encourages state agencies to work together to pool resources and share expertise for the benefit of Maryland’s heritage areas and local partner organizations. It includes 19 members.

State officials

The MHAA includes nine state officials or a designated representative from the: 

  • Maryland Department of Planning
    • Secretary Rebecca Flora
  • Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
    • Melissa Archer, representing Secretary Jake Day
  • Maryland Department of Transportation
    • Julie Schablitsky, representing Secretary Paul Wiedefeld
  • Maryland Department of Commerce
    • Luis Cardona, representing Secretary Harry Coker, Jr.
  • Maryland Department of Natural Resources
    • Hilary Bell, representing Secretary Josh Kurtz
  • Maryland Higher Education Commission
    • Geoffrey Newman, representing Secretary Dr. Sanjay Rai
  • State Historic Preservation Officer
    • Elizabeth Hughes, Maryland Historical Trust
  • Maryland Department of Agriculture (nonvoting)
    • Audrey Broomfield, representing Secretary Kevin Atticks
  • Maryland State Department of Education (nonvoting)
    • Peter Ramsey, representing State Superintendent of Schools Carey M. Wright, Ed.D. 

Additional appointees

Ten members are appointed by the governor:  

  • Maryland Association of Counties
    • Peter Lesher, Chief Curator, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
  • Maryland Municipal League
    • Nathan Brown, Mayor, City of Brunswick
  • Maryland Tourism Development Board
    • Sandy Turner, Cecil County Tourism  
  • Two public members (with historic preservation and heritage tourism expertise)
    • Lawana Holland-Moore, Historic Preservation & Research, National Trust for Historic Preservation
    • Dennis Doster, Black History Program Manager, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
  • Two representatives each designated by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Delegates
    • Nicholas Redding, President and CEO, Preservation Maryland
    • Chief Donna Abbott, Nause-Waiwash Band of Indians
    • Tara Balfe Clifford, Cliftara CD Consultant and Community Volunteer
    • Jonathan Hughes, Principal, Deer Park Middle School, Baltimore County Public Schools 

Annual report 

Policies & regulations 

  • MHAA Statute
  • MHAA Regulations
  • MHAA Bylaws