Heritage foundation appoints a director

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Feb 4, 2008

The Utah Heritage Foundation has appointed Kirk Huffaker executive director of the statewide organization that preserves, protects and promotes Utah's historic buildings.

Huffaker joined the Utah Heritage Foundation in 1998 as director of community services and became assistant director in 2001. He has been a strong voice for preservation and coordinated advocacy efforts to further preservation activities throughout the state. He has developed presentations for communitywide public awareness on various preservation issues and represented UHF at state and local levels, advocating for preservation policies and incentives.

Huffaker has provided leadership for the preservation of important historic structures such as Maeser School in Provo, the Cache County Courthouse in Logan and the Deseret National Bank Building in Salt Lake City.

Pete Ashdown, chairman of the board of trustees, said, "We are extremely fortunate that Kirk has moved into the top position of the organization because he has an educational background, long history with UHF, and expertise as a vocal advocate for historic preservation in our state."

Huffaker has a bachelor's degree in geography and English and a master's in historic preservation.

The foundation, established in 1966, was the first statewide historic preservation organization in the western United States.