Knowledge

Rebecca Lawin McCarley of SPARK Consulting is available to speak on a variety of topics related to historic preservation and architectural history in several formats including organizational meetings, training sessions, seminars, public informational meetings, or lectures on specific topies.  She has expertise in presenting to a variety of types of audiences, and she has presented several times at the Preserve Iowa Summit and other conferences. Speaking engagements may be specific to a topic or closely related to a broader public education program or heritage tourism goals.  

Historic preservation topics might be related to the organization of a historic preservation commission, a basic orientation to historic preservation, the benefits and methods for conducting architectural surveys, information on the National Register of Historic Places and the benefits/impact of listing a property or historic district, economic incentives for historic preservation including historic tax credits and grants, or another preservation topic of particular interest or relevance to a community. A broader public education program may also be developed related to ongoing efforts by a preservation commission or other organization.  

Lectures or seminars on architectural history topics may focus on general American architectural history, vernacular architecture, or architectural styles common to a particular area.  A series of seminars may be prepared on related topics in architectural history or in combination with historic preservation topics. These "lectures" can be designed for a variety of audiences from children to adults. 

Rebecca Lawin McCarley also specializes in research on octagon houses and has spoken on this topic at conferences as well as guest lecturing in architectural history courses. She always welcomes an opportunity to share information on these unique houses popular in the middle of the 19th century. 

While speaking engagements are typically held as a seminar or public meeting within a community, these sessions are available to be hosted through an online platform as well. For additional information on any of these opportunities, please contact SPARK Consulting.