Historic Savannah Foundation recently unveiled its annual report, provided updates on pressing issues, and announced four new members of its Board of Trustees at the organization’s 63^rd annual meeting at The DeSoto. During this event, HSF welcomed Justin Gunther, Director of Fallingwater and Vice President of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, as keynote speaker for the Louise Lauretti Lecture.

Andy Dyer was born and raised in Gainesville, GA and attended Gainesville High School. He graduated from the College of Charleston in 2001 with a degree in International Business. He relocated to Savannah in 2002. He married Meredith Macmillan Dyer in 2003; she is originally from Savannah and attended Savannah Country Day School. Andy is the President of K Machine Industrial Services, LLC. K Machine is an industrial service company that performs repair work on heavy rotating equipment for industrial clients. Dyer is also a Member of St. Andrew Society (Scottish Heritage Society) and The Savannah Golf Club. Dyer is on the Executive Committee of the Leukemia Cup Regatta in Savannah, and supports numerous organizations through K Machine Industrial Services, LLC.

Paul Hamilton is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering. For the past 25 years, Paul has worked for PepsiCo in the beverages division. He retired 3 years ago as a Senior Vice President for PepsiCo’s beverage supply chain and had the privilege of leading their North American operations. In his role, he was responsible for all strategy, planning and logistics activities. His scope included over 100 manufacturing facilities, 550 distribution centers, a team of 2,000 with an annual budget of $2.5 billion dollars. In addition, he had strategic responsibility for the development of all supply chain initiatives and supporting technologies. Prior to joining PepsiCo, Paul held a number of roles in operations, quality & engineering for the Monsanto Chemical Company. Paul has extensive board experience. He is currently serving as an independent director for a privately held company owned by Greenbriar private equity group. Additionally, he served as Chairman for Ability Beyond Disability. Ability is a non-profit organization with $75 million in revenues, operating in New York & Connecticut, responsible for helping individuals discover, build and celebrate their abilities. In addition to these responsibilities, Paul also served as chairman for the Finance and Mission Validation committees; and served 3 years as President of the Board of Trustees for Jesse Lee United Memorial Methodist Church helping to set direction, working to build the congregation and aiding the church in achieving its mission.

Cody Tharpe holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and has over thirteen years of experience in structural engineering design, structural condition assessment, on-site construction observation, and construction project engineering and management. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in nine states. Tharpe’s expertise includes structural analysis and design of steel, concrete, masonry and timber structures located in high seismic and wind velocity regions and assessment, analysis, and design of modifications and repairs of historic buildings for adaptive reuse projects. His firm, Tharpe Engineering Group, is a preservation-minded structural engineering consulting firm with a particular focus on rehabilitation and retrofit strengthening of historic buildings. Mr. Tharpe remains active in the community through his involvement with the Metro Savannah Rotary Club and volunteering with various organizations, such as The Emmaus House Soup Kitchen and the United Way of the Coastal Empire. A graduate of Leadership Savannah and a 2014 Generation Next recipient, he currently serves on the City of Savannah Code Enforcement Board of Appeals and the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce Owner’s Council.

Brad Whitfield is a partner at a local consulting firm, Coastal Consulting Management Group (CCMG). Whitfield has experience in taxation, business valuation, mergers & acquisitions, finance, consulting and accounting. He currently serves as contract Chief Financial Officer for several companies in Savannah and works with a family office analyzing investment and real estate opportunities. Whitfield is credentialed in business valuation and specializes in business valuation for litigation, tax, mergers, due diligence and consulting engagements. He has served as an Expert Witness in litigation engagements. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Finance and holds a Master’s in Accounting from Georgia Southern University. He is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Valuation Analyst, and a Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor. Whitfield’s prior background as a small business entrepreneur allows him to understand and communicate the value of a business. Brad and his wife, Dana, have two children, William (12) and Catherine Anne (9). He enjoys coaching sports with his kids and playing golf. Whitfield is a Deacon at Compassion Christian Church, he is on the Board of Trustees at Hancock Day School, the Treasurer at Emmaus House, and a board member at Xcel Ministries.

“HSF is delighted to welcome these talented, knowledgeable individuals to our exceptional Board of Trustees,” said HSF President and CEO Daniel Carey. “These new members will become a vital part of our organization’s continued growth.”

HSF saves buildings, places and stories that define Savannah’s past, present, and future. Following its formation in 1955, HSF started a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties. To date, HSF has saved and protected 406 buildings throughout Savannah’s historic districts. HSF demonstrates the cultural, social and economic benefits of preservation as good public policy by proving that preservation and progress go hand-in-hand.