New director named for Historic Preservation Agency
Trustees pick DCEO chief of staff Heidi Brown-McCreery to lead history agency
 

[March 03, 2016]  SPRINGFIELD – Heidi Brown-McCreery was named director of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency by the agency’s trustees Monday. Brown-McCreery comes to Historic Preservation from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, where she was chief of staff.

Brown-McCreery brings more than 15 years of executive, sales and innovation experience to her new position. As DCEO chief of staff for the past year, she monitored and evaluated programs and oversaw outreach to groups on economic development, technology and more. Before that, she worked for State Farm Corporate Headquarters, most recently as Ideation Manager for the company’s Innovation Team.

“Being chosen to lead the Illinois Historic Preservation is a tremendous honor,” said Brown-McCreery. “This state has an incredible legacy that contributes to education, culture and the economy. I look forward to helping preserve that legacy for the benefit of all Illinoisans.”

Brown-McCreery grew up in Knox County. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Illinois State University. She lives in Springfield.

“The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency will benefit tremendously from Heidi Brown-McCreery’s years in the private sector, particularly her experience encouraging and developing new ideas. Combine that with her detail-oriented leadership at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and you have someone who can guide this agency into the future,” said James Bruner, chairman of the IHPA Board of Trustees.

The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency oversees 56 historic sites that tell the story of Illinois from Native American cities to European settlement to modern architecture. The agency also reviews thousands of construction projects that might harm historic resources and assists private developers seeking federal tax credits for rehabilitation projects.

[Chris Wills, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]