Staff & Board

A. Robert Jaeger

President

Bob co-founded Partners for Sacred Places in 1989. Previously, Bob worked with the Philadelphia Historic Preservation Corporation as Senior Vice President for the Historic Religious Properties Program. He is the co-author of Sacred Places at Risk (1998) and Strategies for Stewardship and Active Use of Older and Historic Religious Properties (1996), author of Sacred Places in Transition (1994), and editor (from 1985 to 1989) of Inspired, a bi-monthly magazine with news and technical articles on religious property preservation. Bob holds a master’s degree in preservation planning from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Gianfranco Grande

Executive Vice President

Gianfranco Grande brings over twenty years of experience in management of nonprofit organizations. Since opening its doors in 2008, the Chicago Office of Partners for Sacred Places has worked with more than 1,000 community-serving congregations representing the religious, racial, ethnic, and socio-economic diversity of the City. It has built strategic relationships with local faith leaders, lay leaders, community leaders, universities, seminaries, public officials, foundations, and philanthropists. These collaborations have been instrumental in the successful local rollouts of Partners’ trainings, programs, research, and consulting services, helping to bring sacred places and art together in a way that preserves the history and enhances the beauty of the city’s architectural treasures. In 2012, he was awarded the Richard Nickel Award from the Institute of Architects (AIA) Illinois, recognizing his dedication to the principles of livable communities through grassroots initiatives.

Bridget Fidler

Senior Director of Consulting

Bridget Fidler has been an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ since 1999, serving two congregations in Connecticut during that time. A focus during her ministry was building collaborative relationships between communities, both religious and secular. She has served in many key leadership positions in the wider church, most recently as the Chair of the Connecticut Conference Board of Directors. Playing a key role in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts forming a single new conference has been a wide impact example of that collaborative effort. Committed to creating connections between people to find creative ways to work together, Bridget brings a deep understanding of church cultures; she seeks to help churches see themselves and their role in the community from a fresh perspective.

Rachel Hildebrandt

Senior Director, National Fund for Sacred Places

Rachel began her career at Partners for Sacred Places as an intern, carrying out surveys as part of the Economic Halo Effect of Sacred PlacesSM study in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Fort Worth. This work gave her a deep appreciation for what congregations do to support their communities and those most at risk within them. Rachel directs the National Fund for Sacred Places and has played a key role in Partners’ economic impact research, which focuses on congregations across the United States that are stewarding older and historic properties. She co-authored a chapter in the Routledge Handbook of Religion and Cities as well as Partners’ guide to transitioning property, Transitioning Older and Historic Sacred Places: Community-Minded Approaches for Congregations and Judicatories. Rachel holds a Master of Science in historic preservation and previously wrote on a freelance basis for Hidden City Philadelphia.

Brittany Carter

Senior Director of Finance and Operations

Brittany is a seasoned finance and business management professional. She brings over twelve years of experience in business operations and administration to Partners’ team. Brittany earned her BS in Business Administration from Rosemont College, where she concentrated on Organizational Development, laying a solid groundwork in strategic planning and organizational leadership. Throughout her career, Brittany has held positions integrating financial acumen with business management, and her expertise includes budgeting and legal business operations. Known for her proactive approach and attention to detail, Brittany aims to ensure operational efficiency, foster collaborative work environments, and support organizational growth.

Karen DiLossi

Senior Director of Programs

Karen DiLossi, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Partners for Sacred Places, works with congregations and outside organizations to find the mission and vision alignment between them that will solidify their partnership and provide a solid foundation for their future together. Karen has developed a Manual of Best Practices for Space Sharing, guided contractual agreements between entities, written Space Assessment Reports, and led community engagement activities. Karen negotiates and finds compromise for partnerships to sustain themselves and thrive from sharing space with one another. Karen has her BA in History and Drama from Washington College and an MA in Theatre from Villanova University. She has completed the classroom requirements for a Level One (ACC) coaching credential from the International Coaching Federation.

Simon Kaufman

Senior Director of Advancement

Simon brings fifteen years of experience working in the development field for a variety of Philadelphia area non-profits. Having worked in a West Philadelphia parochial school for many years, Simon has a special appreciation for the role sacred places play as community centers for people of all ages and backgrounds, and the challenges congregations face in maintaining aging infrastructure. Simon holds a BA in Economics from Swarthmore College.

Christopher Aho

Community Engagement Consultant

Chris Aho is a minister, strategic facilitator, and writer with over two decades of experience guiding congregations through seasons of renewal, community partnership, and faithful change. As Director of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Thriving Congregations Initiative, he designed and led a four-year program that engaged more than 120 congregations and 500 participants, fostering spiritual vitality, strategic clarity, and innovative collaboration across diverse denominational contexts. Chris earned both his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees at Duke University and he lives in Durham, North Carolina.

Kevin Block

Director of Special Initiatives

Trained as a cultural and architectural historian, Kevin received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley. He has taught across the humanities and design fields at Berkeley, Princeton, the University of Pittsburgh, and Thomas Jefferson University. He also has worked with commercial developers, advocacy organizations, neighborhood associations, and individual property owners as a historic preservation consultant. Kevin serves, or has served, on the boards of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians, the Center for the Preservation of Modernism (Thomas Jefferson University), the Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance (the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia), and his local historical architectural review board.

Daniel Cruz

Technical Assistance Coordinator, National Fund for Sacred Places

Daniel has a passion for urban spaces and the built environment. He studied architecture at Temple University where he worked with North Philly residents in exploring new community-focused uses for underutilized lots in the neighborhood. During his time in Boston, he worked as a bike mechanic at a worker-owned cooperative. The cooperative’s values of equity, community building, and sharing resources are values he plans to bring to Partners. Daniel understands there is an inherent relationship between places of worship and the physical space they share with the neighborhood, and he hopes that by working closely with congregations, the whole community will benefit. As the Technical Assistance Coordinator, he helps administer many of the consulting services offered by the National Fund to congregations.

Dana Dabek

Director of Community Engagement and Transition Services

Dana Dabek serves as Director of Community Engagement Services, helping congregations reimagine their spaces and places within their communities. Working from the Philadelphia office, she brings twenty years of experience in grassroots nonprofits, public history, and community organizing to this role. She also serves as an appointed member on her local historical commission. Dana holds a BA in English and Gender Studies from the College of New Jersey, a Masters’ in Liberal Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, and pursued doctoral work in Communications from Temple University. She additionally holds certificates in fundraising and nonprofit leadership from Villanova University and Bryn Mawr College, respectively. She has completed the classroom requirements for a Level One (ACC) coaching credential from the International Coaching Federation.

Katie Day

Research Coordinator

Thomas Fike

Director of Capital Campaign Services

Tom is a fundraising executive with more than 20 years of nonprofit service focused on consulting religious and educational institutions, social services, international assistance, healthcare, the arts, and community development. He has vast experience with the organizational, strategic, and funding issues that nonprofits face, and developing and implementing solutions to overcome them. Tom specializes in the planning and execution of campaigns, strategic planning, development audits and improvements, board development, and leadership coaching. Most recently, Tom served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Father Judge High School. Tom graduated from Loyola University in Chicago, received an MBA at St. John’s, and holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification.

Nancy Finegood

Development Consultant

Nancy M. Finegood is a nationally recognized leader in historic preservation, known for turning vision into action. As Executive Director of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network (2002–2019), she launched groundbreaking initiatives like Brick + Beam Detroit and the Living Trades Academy. Her earlier work in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, ignited her passion for preservation. Finegood now consults with Partners for Sacred Places, helping congregations restore historic buildings. A board member of the Jeffris Family Foundation, Preservation Action, and the Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation, she continues to inspire through advocacy, mentorship, and a lifelong commitment to hands-on preservation and community revitalization.

Kathryn Ford

Communications Coordinator

Kathryn Ford joined Partners following her graduation from Temple University where she received a BA in Public Relations and minored in Digital Media Engagement. She was drawn to Partners through her interests in historic preservation and how sacred places provide crucial support to their local communities. As Communications Coordinator, Kathryn plays a key role in aiding Partners’ communication efforts, including managing the organization’s social media. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, going on walks around her neighborhood, and reading.

Rachel Galton

Intervention Fund Director, National Fund for Sacred Places

Rachel is an urban planner, researcher, and project manager. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Rachel became enthusiastic about architecture while exploring the city through running. Prior to joining Partners, Rachel worked in public service, with a focus on embedding equity in government programs. As a transportation planner, she developed a passion for resilience work while recommending transportation solutions for individuals displaced by climate disasters. As a data analyst, she built capacity to direct local government funding equitably, supporting programs for climate resilience, emergency response, and participatory budgeting. She saw the impact faith congregations can have amidst unexpected disasters while supporting an emergency shelter project in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a strong believer that emergencies can be a powerful opportunity to imagine new possibilities, and is excited to contribute to such efforts in her role as Intervention Fund Director. Rachel enjoys riding her bike, cooking, volunteering, and exploring new places. Rachel holds a BA in Sociology and Policy Studies from Rice University.

Lily Hamilton

Associate Director, National Fund for Sacred Places

As Associate Director for the National Fund for Sacred Places, Lily helps manage grantmaking logistics while supporting congregations in the program. Previously, Lily supported the grantmaking team at Bread & Roses Community Fund as a Quaker Voluntary Service fellow, helping move critical dollars into the hands of movement organizations across the Philadelphia region. Lily is excited to be laying roots down in Philadelphia, but calls Virginia home. Outside of work, Lily can be found volunteering with local mutual aid initiatives. Lily holds a Master’s degree in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago.

Betsy Ivey

Director, Philadelphia Fund for Black Sacred Places

The Reverend Betsy Ivey brings to Partners six years’ experience of church development with the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania where she served as Canon for Growth and Support for the Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez. Betsy “has never been in a church she did not love, nor did not want to change.” In her previous work as priest-in-charge of a historical Black congregation she led the church to change its ministry to an outward focus through programs that supported the needs of the neighborhood. She broadened this scope of church development through her work with the 135 churches of the diocese. Betsy feels the redevelopment of a church through outward-focused ministry and the use of its space to address the needs of its community are necessary to improve the viability of a church in this time. Betsy holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Pennsylvania, and masters degrees of Divinity (Lancaster Theological Seminary), Sacred Theology cum laude (General Seminary), and Architecture in Historic Preservation, also, from the University of Pennsylvania. For the Diocese of Pennsylvania Betsy served on the Commission for Ministry, the Philadelphia Cathedral Chapter, and was the diocesan liaison to the Union of Black Episcopalians. Betsy also served on the Board of Trustees of the Lancaster Theological Seminary and as a member of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church Task Force for Church Planting and Church Redevelopment. A native of Harrisburg, PA, Betsy has lived most of her life in Philadelphia. Prior to becoming an Episcopal priest, she was an executive for the Commonwealth of PA in the Office of Inspector General. Betsy resides in South Philadelphia.

Caroline Lauber

Consulting Associate

Caroline Lauber is a recent graduate of Loyola University Chicago’s Public History M.A. program. While at Loyola, she contributed to a digital project titled, “Gathering Places: Religion and Community in Chicago”. Caroline worked with the United Church of Rogers Park to tell their congregation’s history within the larger religious landscape of the Rogers Park neighborhood. Most recently, Caroline worked with The History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff where she conducted research and wrote profiles for their current exhibit about the black history of Lake Forest. She is committed to education, advocacy, and social justice. She is excited to work with congregations to create meaningful partnerships within and outside their communities. Caroline graduated from Wheaton College with a B.A. in History.

Elizabeth Lott

Consulting Associate

Elizabeth Lott is a freelance writer, podcaster, consultant, and public speaker. She worked in congregational church ministry for 25 years, most recently serving as a senior pastor in New Orleans from 2013-2023. A Gulf Coast native from Mobile, AL, Elizabeth also served churches in Birmingham, AL, and Richmond, VA. She joins the consulting staff at Partners after working with the National Fund for Sacred Places and several of Partners’ departments as a client. Elizabeth has a passion for helping communities of faith live out their unique callings through transformational stewardship of their brick-and-mortar resources.

Rosie Loughran

Program Associate, National Fund for Sacred Places

Rosie’s background is anchored in community engagement and education, demonstrated by her previous work connecting residents across New Orleans to free creative writing programs, tutoring, and community care, with particular attention paid to the city’s 7th Ward. This experience, in tandem with her previous work at the public library in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia, has cemented her dedication to fostering a respectful and compassionate environment with all people to achieve a collective goal. She earned her B.A. in History from UNC Chapel Hill, with a specialization on the history of Sephardic Jewish communities in the U.S. South before 1865. She considers herself a lifelong student and often finds herself exploring various historic topics.

Emilie Haertsch

Senior Communications Manager

Emilie Haertsch grew up in a Victorian parsonage, and has been interested in the intersection of history, religion, and the arts ever since. She joined Partners with more than ten years of communications experience at cultural, historical, and interfaith organizations. Emilie has her BA in English from Temple University and her MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Goucher College, and she also completed the Ignatian spirituality-focused Contemplative Leaders in Action program at St. Joseph’s University. Outside of work, she writes creatively and watches old Cary Grant films.

Victoria Hyman

Financial Assistant

Victoria serves as the Financial Assistant in the Philadelphia office. As a QuickBooks ProAdvisor with fifteen years of accounting experience, she is a member of the financial team at Partners. She holds a BA from the University at Stony Brook in Multidisciplinary Studies.

Madi Hynson

Development Associate

Jane Nasta

Technical Assistance Associate

Originally from Long Island, Jane had a passion for historic buildings and landscapes from a young age. She pursued her master’s degree in historic preservation at the University of Pennsylvania, where she nurtured an appreciation for vernacular architecture. Upon graduating Jane worked as an architectural historian for a cultural resources consulting firm, focusing her work on historical research and writing, field photography, and evaluations of significance. Now, as a technical assistance associate with the National Fund for Sacred Places, Jane is excited to support congregations in preserving their sacred places for generations to come. In her free time, you can find Jane running, reading, or writing.

Jasmine Pressley

People Operation Manager

Jillian Riseman

Program Associate, National Fund for Sacred Places

Hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, Jillian’s draw to the National Fund for Sacred Places is personal as well as professional. She was raised in a Jewish household and grew up in a historic Jewish community that was unable to sustain itself and dissolved when she was a young adult. Her experience working in congregational grantmaking comes from her time at Combined Jewish Philanthropies, where she was involved in their annual grant process from notification through reporting and evaluation, and played a major role in the administration of emergency grants during COVID. Throughout her life, Jillian has experienced first-hand the importance that a sacred place can hold for its members and the greater community that it serves. She is grateful to join Partners and support congregations through this work.

Emily Sajdak

Director of Rural Initiatives

As Director of Rural Initiatives at Partners for Sacred Places, Emily leads programs focused on supporting congregations in rural communities across the United States. In this role, she manages sub-granting programs spanning diverse geographic regions, while developing innovative strategies for new programs and services tailored to rural congregations. Emily regularly represents Partners at external events and engages with diverse stakeholders to advance the mission of supporting sacred places as community assets in rural America. She also serves as Chair of Landmarks Illinois’ Skyline Council and as a Board Member of Glessner House. Emily holds a Master of Theological Studies and a Master of Theology from Calvin Theological Seminary, as well as an MA in Public History: Historic Preservation from Southeast Missouri State University. She has completed the classroom requirements for a Level One (ACC) coaching credential from the International Coaching Federation.

Tamara Littlejohn Small

Administrative Manager

Tamara applies her passion for business administration to drive efficiency and organizational growth at Partners. With an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from the University College of the Caribbean and a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Phoenix, she brings a solid educational foundation and practical experience to her role. Her background includes valuable expertise in the hospitality industry. Tamara is dedicated to improving processes and delivering results within her team. Her diverse background enables her to thrive in dynamic business environments, and she continuously focuses on applying her skills to create meaningful impact and achieve success.

Emilio J. Weber

Project Associate

Originally from Pittsburgh, Emilio J. Weber joined Partners for Sacred Places as a project associate after completing an M.A. from the University of Maryland at College Park. There he studied the intersection and interaction of communities, urban power structures, and physical activity in modern political-economic culture. Prior to graduate school, he worked with City Year Philadelphia for two years, teaching in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood. Emilio earned his B.A. in American Studies and Data Analysis from Wesleyan University. He enjoys creating maps with GIS software and incorporating spatial thinking into his work. Emilio often can be found biking around the city and playing ultimate frisbee or basketball.