About CPG

Commonwealth Preservation Group (CPG) is a small, woman, and minority-owned business established in 2004.

CPG provides preservation planning and design, historic rehabilitation tax credit, and historic resource and National Register nomination consulting services. CPG has worked with homeowners, architects, historical societies, developers, religious institutions, and federal, state and local government to guide proper rehabilitation of historic buildings, identify and survey historic resources, ensure compliance with appropriate state and Federal regulations, and to promote sound preservation planning. Paige and Marcus Pollard are the company owners, and are personally involved in each project that the firm undertakes.

 

Paige Pollard

Principal-In-Charge, Senior Architectural Historian

Paige Pollard received her undergraduate degree in City Planning with a minor in Architecture from the University of Virginia, and a graduate degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Georgia.

Prior to establishing CPG, she managed the Virginia Department of Historic Resources Local Government Assistance Programs as well as the department’s Tidewater Region Preservation Program, working with property owners and local governments from over 30 cities and counties. In addition, Paige has experience at the municipal level having worked for the City of Norfolk as a historic preservation planner. In that role, she revised the local historic district design guidelines, expanded the Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register-listed Downtown Norfolk Historic District, and reported to the Norfolk Design Review Committee, City Planning Commission and City Council on issues related to historic resources.

Marcus Pollard

Principal, Senior Historian

Marcus Pollard received his undergraduate degree in History and Art History from the University of Virginia.

Prior to working for CPG, Marcus worked at Norfolk Collegiate School where he taught AP European History, AP Government, AP Art History, and U.S. History. Marcus’ responsibilities at CPG include serving as manager of the company along with the development of Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register Nomination nominations.

Katie Paulson

Director of Historic Resource Treatment

Katie Paulson received her undergraduate degree in Media Arts and Design with a minor in Art History from James Madison University and her graduate degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Texas at Austin.

Katie leads the Historic Resource Treatment department, bringing her historic resource treatment expertise to projects involving tax credits, local historic district design guidelines, treatment plans, easement review, and Section 106 compliance.

Kayla Halberg

Director of Survey and Research

Kayla Halberg received her undergraduate degree in History from the College of William and Mary and her masters degree in Public History with a concentration in Historic Preservation from the University of South Carolina.

Kayla leads the Survey and Research department, focusing on the firm’s Special Projects including, historic preservation plans, public engagement, oral histories, and complex National Register nomination projects.

Lena McDonald

Preservation Project Manager

Lena McDonald received her undergraduate degree in History; Government (Political Science) from Western Kentucky University, and her masters degree in Public History with emphasis in Historic Preservation, from Middle Tennessee State University.

Lena specializes in historic and architectural research and survey for the development of National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmark Nominations, survey reports, historic context documents, tax credit projects, Section 106 review and compliance documents. Prior to joining CPG, Lena worked for 12 years as the National/State Register Historian at the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

Ashlen Stump

Preservation Project Manager

Ashlen Stump received her undergraduate degree in History with a concentration in Public History from James Madison University and her masters degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Georgia.

At CPG, Ashlen serves as a Preservation Project Manager, specializing in managing the successful execution of survey tasks for all projects. Additionally, Ashlen assists with the development of National Register Nominations and historic tax credit applications, conducts data analysis on public engagement projects, and supports data collection and flood retrofit designs for CPG and our joint venture, Building Resilient Solutions (BRS).

Victoria Leonard

Preservation Associate

Victoria Leonard received her undergraduate degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Mary Washington and her graduate degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Georgia.

At CPG, Victoria plays a pivotal role in ensuring the timely and successful completion of Traditional Survey and Register projects within the larger Survey and Research Department portfolio. As part of this work, Victoria helps with survey tasks as well as the completion of National Register nominations.

Katrina Smith

Preservation Associate

Katrina Smith received an undergraduate degree in Historic Preservation and History from the University of Mary Washington where she was very involved in the Historic Preservation Club and the History and American Studies Club.

Katrina is a Preservation Associate within the Historic Resource Treatment department. Her responsibilities include property research, documentation of existing conditions, historic rehabilitation tax credit application preparation, plan review, and evaluation of proposed work.

Sami Moore

Preservation Associate

Sami Moore holds a BA in Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University and has experience as an Exhibitions Director.

Sami initially joined CPG as an Operations Associate, supporting the firm’s day-to-day operations, but has moved into the Historic Resource Treatment department as Preservation Associate. In this role, she will assist the HRT team’s work on all projects while learning more about historic architecture and treatment plans.

Celina Adams

Preservation Associate

Celina Adams received her Bachelors of Science in Education, American Studies; Youth and Social Innovations from the University of Virginia.

Celina initially joined the CPG has the Special Projects intern as she considered a career change to historic preservation. More recently, Celina has accepted a Preservation Associate role in the Survey and Research Department focusing on special projects, public engagement, oral histories, research and writing.

Ashley King

Director of Operations

Ashley King received her BA in English from Washington and Lee University and her MA in English and American Literature from the University of Virginia.

Ashley supports day-to-day and long term office operations for CPG and its staff. Her responsibilities include proposal and grant development, project and schedule management, general office management and bookkeeping, and community and client engagement.

Leon Guanzon

Graphics Associate

Leon Guanzon holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Radford University and has completed grad-level coursework at Old Dominion University in photography/printmaking and art history.

Leon provides in-house creative services for the Historic Resource Treatment and Survey and Research Departments through graphic design and layout for project proposals, community engagement, reports, presentation materials. Leon also develops and manages content for CPG’s general marketing and outreach materials.