President
Paul Muir grew up in Mountainside and Harding Township, graduating from Delbarton School. Inspired by his parents’ community involvement, he earned a BSBA from Bucknell University and led his fraternity, Theta Chi. Paul and his wife Dawn have lived in Bethlehem Township since 2000 and have two children. He has served nine years as Mayor and thirteen years on the Township Committee. Paul is active on land use boards, the Route 78/22 Economic Development Coalition, and Hunterdon County Solid Waste Advisory Committee. He is President of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors and chairs the Intra-Municipal Affairs Committee of the League of Municipalities. Paul also serves on the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce board and has a strong entrepreneurial background in metal recycling and automotive restoration.
Vice President
Mark Nonestied is the Middlesex County Historian and a Division Head with the Middlesex County Division of History and Historic Preservation. He oversees an array of history and historic preservation endeavors in Middlesex County including the operation of East Jersey Old Town, The Cornelius Low House/Middlesex County Museum, public archaeology programs, historic preservation grants and collections management operations. Nonestied has lectured and written on a number of topics related to New Jersey and Middlesex County history. He is the co-author of New Jersey Cemeteries and Tombstones: History in the Landscape, published by Rutgers University Press and the recipient of the 2010 New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance Award and has received an Award of Recognition by the New Jersey Historical Commission for outstanding service to public knowledge and preservation of the history of New Jersey. He lives in a historic house in East Brunswick.
Secretary
Melissa Ziobro is Specialist Professor of Public History in the Monmouth University Department of History and Anthropology and the primary point of contact for the University’s public history program. Her regularly taught classes include Intro to Public History, Oral History, Museums and Archives Management Basics, and Exploring History and Heritage Sites: Preservation, Interpretation, and Management. Melissa has served for many years as the editor of New Jersey Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, a joint venture of the NJ Historical Commission, Rutgers University Libraries, and Monmouth University. She was the last Command Historian at Fort Monmouth prior to the base’s closure, and would love to connect via LinkedIn!
Treasurer
David Reading joined the board in 2018 and serves as Treasurer. He founded and leads the Mount Amwell Project, a nonprofit focused on preserving Hunterdon County’s historic sites, including eight abandoned cemeteries. The project earned Readington Township’s 2022 Preservation of the Year award for restoring Haypress Cemetery. A Hunterdon County native, David attended Fairleigh-Dickinson University and served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1968. He graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Computer Science from the University of Maryland University College. After working in aerospace software, he founded his own consulting firm, retiring in 2013. David is active in historical groups, including the Sons of the Revolution (Hunterdon Chapter) and the Council of West New Jersey Proprietors. He has published articles and two books on New Jersey history.
Board Member
Andrew Thompson, AIA is the County Architect for Passaic County, New Jersey, leading projects such as restorations of Dey Mansion, Lambert Castle, and the Courthouse Annex, as well as new construction like the County Public Works facility in Wayne. He collaborates with the Department of Cultural and Historic Affairs on historic renovations. Previously, he was Director of Campus Operations at Guttman Community College (CUNY), managing the fit-out of its Midtown Manhattan building. He also served 12 years as Chief Architect at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, overseeing design teams and developing construction guidelines. Mr. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute, a Master’s in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University, and an Associate Degree from NYC College of Technology.
Board Member
James Giresi, AIA is a licensed architect and Associate at Clarke Caton Hintz in Trenton, NJ. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Infrastructure Planning from NJIT. Driven by a deep curiosity about design and construction, James has focused much of his career on preserving historic landmarks. He is dedicated to maintaining the original character of buildings while adapting them to meet modern needs, believing that historic structures should evolve to serve present and future generations. One of his standout projects is the restoration of Belle Vista (Lambert Castle) in Paterson, a Gilded Age mansion that had fallen into disrepair. Through detailed research and careful craftsmanship, James and his team revived the mansion’s ornate moldings, stained glass, and plasterwork, earning recognition for their work. James is also an advocate for preservation, supporting local and national organizations and assisting clients in securing grants to protect endangered historic sites.
Board Member
Maria Boyes serves on PNJ Marketing and Communications Committee, helping revive the Preservation Bites news. She holds a degree from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications and has experience in journalism and public relations. As former chair of Westfield’s Historic Preservation Commission, Maria led updates to Design Guidelines, organized resident workshops, and revised the town’s ordinance to comply with MLUL. Her work contributed to more local historic designations and earned the commission PNJ’s Historic Preservation Commission Award. Maria is a real estate professional with Coldwell Banker, combining her love for traditional architecture with helping homeowners, especially seniors. She and her husband raised three children in a renovated Victorian home in Westfield and own a historic cottage in Ocean Grove, New Jersey.
Board Member
Richard Veit, Ph.D., is a Professor of Anthropology and Associate Dean at Monmouth University. He holds a B.A. from Drew University, an M.A. in Historical Archaeology from the College of William and Mary, and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He received Monmouth’s Distinguished Teacher Award in 2007 and the Donald Warnecke Award in 2012. Veit teaches archaeology, New Jersey history, and historic preservation. He has authored five books, including Digging New Jersey’s Past and New Jersey: A History of the Garden State, both recognized on the New Jersey State Library’s 101 Great New Jersey Books list. His first book won multiple preservation awards. He serves on the New Jersey Historical Commission and several boards, and is President of the Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference. His work has appeared on NPR, in Archaeology Magazine, and at TEDx Navesink.
Board Member
Gordon Bond is an independent historian, author, and lecturer specializing in New Jersey history. He founded and publishes GardenStateLegacy.com, a website dedicated to New Jersey’s rich heritage. Gordon has authored six books and numerous articles exploring topics such as James Parker, New Jersey’s first printer and Benjamin Franklin’s partner; the 1951 Woodbridge train wreck; Thomas Mundy Peterson, the first African American voter under the Fifteenth Amendment; Rev. Hannibal Goodwin, inventor of roll photographic film; the 1926 Carteret race riot; and New Jersey’s folk grave marker tradition. In addition to his historical work, Gordon runs Gordon Bond Designs, a freelance graphic design business. He has created exhibits for the Middlesex County Office of Arts and History, the Abraham Staats House, and the Historical Association of Woodbridge Township. A lifelong New Jersey native, Gordon lives in Newark’s historic Forest Hill neighborhood with his wife and cats.
Board Member
Robert Wendel has a deep commitment to historic preservation, beginning in college where he lived and worked as caretaker and guide at the Pabst Mansion. He has actively contributed to saving the Reeve House at the Westfield Historical Society through volunteering, fundraising, and board service. Robert currently serves as house manager on the Miller Cory House Committee, supporting fundraising and restoration of the 1740s historic plantation in Westfield, NJ. He has also served as Westfield’s Town Historian and was a member of the Historic Preservation Commission, playing a key role in securing local historic designations for several structures. Robert frequently gives presentations on Westfield’s history for both the Historic Preservation Commission and the Historical Society. He holds a double major in Political Science and French from Marquette University.
Board Member
William Michelson, Esq. is a longtime member of Preservation New Jersey and formerly served on the Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission. He holds degrees from Rutgers University and the University of Iowa, where he studied law and urban planning. Primarily practicing law, he maintained an office in Fanwood for 25 years. Michelson’s interests focus on land use planning and historic preservation at the neighborhood and community levels, beyond just individual historic sites. Additionally, Michelson is active in politics, running for the New Jersey State Senate in both 2021 and 2023.
Board Member
Frank Banisch is serving his third term on the Preservation New Jersey Board of Trustees. Introduced to the board by a former member, his passion for historic preservation grew through work with historic villages, hamlets, and towns across New Jersey. Frank is President of Banisch Associates, Inc., a community planning and design consulting firm established in 1976. He holds a BA in Architecture and Urban Planning from Princeton University.
Board Member
James Pittman has dedicated over twenty years to the John O’Hara Company, a respected construction management firm known for its expertise in delivering complex building projects. Throughout his tenure, James has played a key role in overseeing various construction initiatives, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. James’s experience spans a wide range of sectors, including historic preservation, commercial developments, and residential projects, reflecting his versatile skill set. His long-standing service at John O’Hara Company highlights his dedication to the field and his ability to manage challenging construction projects effectively.
Board Member
Sue Shutte has served as Historian for Ringwood State Park since 2005, focusing on the preservation and interpretation of Ringwood Manor, the 51-room estate of the Cooper & Hewitt families. She oversees strategic planning, audience engagement, programming, and the restoration of the site’s structures, collections, and gardens. Notable projects under her leadership include the interior conservation of Ringwood Manor (2012-2014), carriage barn restoration (2017), roof restoration (2020-2022), and stabilization of the colonial red building (2022). She also supports preservation efforts at Long Pond Ironworks and Skylands Manor. Sue holds a bachelor’s degree in architectural history from Rutgers and a master’s in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell, where her thesis explored 19th-century environmental determinism in mental hospital design. Before Ringwood, she worked at the Von Steuben House Historic Site. Her interests include 19th- and early 20th-century American social history and advocating for adaptive reuse of historic New Jersey structures.
Board Member
Steven Smolyn, AIA, is a licensed architect and 2016 graduate of Cornell University. He serves on the City of Hoboken Historic Preservation Commission, where he helps guide the city’s efforts to preserve its historic architecture and character. Steven has authored historic design guidelines for both the City of Hoboken and the Borough of Glen Ridge, offering clear, practical tools for maintaining the integrity of historic districts. With a strong foundation in architectural history and preservation, Steven is committed to balancing thoughtful development with the protection of New Jersey’s historic places. His work focuses on ensuring that preservation and progress can coexist through informed design and planning. Passionate about urban policy and the built environment, Steven continues to be an advocate for responsible preservation at the municipal level.
Board Member
Josephine Taranto is a preservation planner for Somerset County, where she manages grant programs, monitors project funding, and ensures compliance with government processes and documentation. With a background in art history and a passion for architecture, she found a natural fit in the field of historic preservation. Her early experience as a field technician with R. Grubb & Associates introduced her to mapping and ground-penetrating radar work, broadening her technical understanding of preservation practices. In her current role, Josephine also engages with land use planning and handles Section 106 review responses. She is actively working toward becoming a licensed planner. Committed to both the professional and advocacy sides of preservation, she is eager to contribute to Preservation New Jersey and expand her experience in protecting and promoting the state’s historic resources.
Board Member
Robert A. Shinn holds a master’s degree in political science (1972) and a bachelor’s degree in American civilization (1970), both from Brown University. He currently serves as Treasurer of the Camden County Historical Society and conducts historical research and guided tours of Petty’s Island for the New Jersey State Natural Lands Trust. An avid historian, Robert co-authored Along the Cooper River: Camden to Haddonfield (Arcadia Publishing, 2014) with Kevin Cook, highlighting the rich history of the region. His work reflects a deep commitment to preserving and sharing New Jersey’s cultural heritage.
Business Manager
Dale K. Perry has been the Office Manager at PNJ since 2015, providing essential administrative and operational support to the organization. She manages the membership database, donation records, and general mailing list, and ensures that all donor contributions are properly acknowledged. In addition to handling daily financial and office functions, Dale supports the Executive Director, Officers, Board of Trustees, board committees, and PNJ programs, playing a vital role in the organization’s overall coordination and effectiveness. Her work helps maintain smooth internal operations while reinforcing PNJ’s external outreach and engagement efforts. Dale holds an Associate of Arts in Business Management and a Bachelor of Arts in History, along with additional coursework in Non-Profit Management. Her educational background and nearly a decade of experience with PNJ make her a reliable and valued member of the team, dedicated to advancing the organization’s mission of preserving New Jersey’s historic and cultural resources.
Executive Director
Kelly C. Ruffel is the Director of the Department of Cultural & Historic Affairs for Passaic County. She manages the county’s historic assets, overseeing preservation grants, capital projects, cultural programming, and marketing for the See Passaic brand. Ruffel is dedicated to preserving and promoting Passaic County’s cultural heritage through these efforts. Previously, she was the Principal Historic Preservation Specialist for the City of Paterson, where she helped develop design guidelines, landmark designations, and regulatory reviews for historic districts. Ruffel remains actively engaged in the preservation community, serving on numerous boards connected to historical societies, museum organizations, and preservation commissions. She also serves as the contracted Executive Director of Preservation New Jersey. A New Jersey native, she holds dual BAs in History and Anthropology and an MA in History from William Paterson University, with additional training in cemetery preservation.
