Historic Savannah Foundation, Savannah’s leading preservation organization, is thrilled to announce that preservationist Collier Neeley recently joined HSF as the nonprofit’s new President and CEO. Passionate about historic preservation, Neeley has a strong legacy of advocacy and building community partnerships in Georgia and Alabama. 

In his new position at Historic Savannah Foundation, Neeley manages strategy, advocacy, fundraising, community outreach, membership and budgets. He also leads a team of nine professionals and oversees operations at HSF sites on Columbia Square in Savannah’s National Historic Landmark District, including the Davenport House Museum, the Historic Kennedy Pharmacy, the Sheftall Building and the Murray C. Perlman & Wayne C. Spear Preservation Center.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Collier Neeley to Historic Savannah Foundation as we celebrate our 70^th anniversary,” said Historic Savannah Foundation Board Chair Austin Hill. “We are confident that his action-oriented approach to preservation will help HSF deepen its mission to preserve and protect Savannah's heritage through advocacy, education and community engagement. He understands the power of preservation and has the skills, experience and passion to take HSF to even higher levels of success in the future.” 

Before joining HSF, Neeley served as the Executive Director of Landmarks Foundation of Montgomery, a successful nonprofit historic preservation organization in Montgomery, Ala., where he managed a staff of 10, executed fundraising campaigns and served as an advocate for local and statewide historic preservation initiatives. He is also a longtime Executive Committee Member for the Your Town Alabama Board of Directors, where he planned annual workshops, facilitated groups and led the board’s Membership Committee. 

Earlier in his career, Neeley served as the National Register and Easements Coordinator for the Alabama Historical Commission in Montgomery, Ala. and as a Preservation Specialist at Historic Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta. 

Originally from Montgomery, Ala., Neeley earned an M.A. in Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University and a B.A. in History from The University of Mississippi - Oxford. He recently relocated to Savannah, Ga. from Montgomery, Ala.