The AHC Appoints Heather Flint Chatto as the New Executive Director

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

As most of you know, over the past year we have been laying the groundwork for launching a new era of programming and advocacy at the Architectural Heritage Center. After a nationwide search, we are delighted to announce that Heather Flint Chatto has been selected to serve as our new Executive Director and will take the helm of the Architectural Heritage Center on June 1st.  

Heather brings extensive expertise as a professional planner and urban designer and has made a name for herself as an innovator, advocate, and collaborator here in Portland. With more than 25 years of professional experience in architecture and urban planning, green building nonprofits, sustainability policy and education, Heather is known to many in the preservation field through her work as the co-founder and  Director of Portland Main Streets and as an advocate for building reuse as a key to sustainability and curbing carbon emissions.

In 2015, and again in 2019, the Daily Journal of Commerce honored Heather as a Woman of Vision for her passion for education, community design and planning work for main streets, policy advocacy, and community engagement. 

Heather will take the “baton” from our Interim Executive Director, Peggy Moretti, former Executive Director of Restore Oregon, who graciously agreed to come out of retirement last July to prepare our organization for this next chapter.  In the intervening months Peggy has assessed and restructured our operations and fund raising, solicited input from members and donors, hired a talented roster of staff members, relaunched our lecture series, outlined a series of new exhibits, turned up the volume on advocacy, and set a new high bar for our annual gala. She will continue with the AHC as a consultant during this transition, and later will step onto the Board of Directors.

“It is truly an honor to carry on the work of great city-making through architecture and preservation,” noted the new Executive Director, “and I step into this role with deep gratitude for the dedicated leaders and supporters who’ve advocated for the people and places we cherish.  I envision AHC as a convener of community thought leadership, fostering inclusive engagement, new partnerships, and expanded programming around diverse histories and cultural identities. A key opportunity is existing building reuse as a climate action and housing strategy. I look forward to advancing how preservation and rehabilitation of special buildings can be a catalyst for cultural placemaking, social uplift and economic vitality.” - Heather Flint Chatto

A reception for members to meet Heather in person is planned for late August. Look for that invitation in a few weeks. 

With enthusiasm for all that lies ahead,

John Liu

President, Bosco-Milligan Foundation

Peggy Moretti

Interim Executive Director