Meet Our Team

Preserve Phoenix is comprised of passionate and talented volunteer preservationists. Get to know our board members below!

  • President

    Erin Lindsey is an Arizona native who has a deep passion for her hometown. She is dedicated to preserving the city's culture and history through advocacy and community engagement.

    Lindsey is the founder of the Phoenix Art Deco Society, which is dedicated to cultivating a community and appreciation for Phoenix’s historical gems of the 1920s and 1930s which ignited her passion for preservation on a larger scale.

    As a new leader of Preserve Phoenix, Lindsey is working to integrate strategic plans for continued advocacy, outreach, and education with the organization to elevate the work of all preservationists in Phoenix.

  • Vice President

    Jim McPherson is a respected advocate for historic preservation, with a long-standing commitment to protecting and promoting Arizona’s rich cultural heritage. He serves as Board President of the Arizona Preservation Foundation, Vice President of Preserve Phoenix, and Vice Chair of the Phoenix Trolley Museum. His leadership extends nationally through his roles with the National Preservation Partners Network, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Preservation Action.

     

    Jim has helped preserve historic buildings, elevate public awareness, and advance preservation policy. Earlier in his career, he managed marketing and preservation efforts for historic landmarks in Utah and has continued to champion heritage-based revitalization throughout the Southwest.

     

    As an author, Jim wrote A History of Hartville, Ohio and co-authored Downtown Phoenix, which chronicles the city’s historic core through photographs and narrative. He holds degrees in Public Administration from The Ohio State University and Miami University.

  • Secretary

    Rachel Ewell currently serves as the Secretary of Preserve Phoenix, where she helps lead efforts to protect and promote the city’s historic and cultural landmarks. In this role, she supports board operations through clear communication, detailed record-keeping, and strategic coordination, all while advocating for increased community awareness and participation in preservation efforts.

    Professionally, Rachel is a Director of Managed Care, with a strong background in project management and workflow optimization. She has previously worked with major healthcare organizations, including CVS, bringing deep experience in strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, and systems efficiency. Her ability to streamline complex processes and align teams toward common goals translates directly into her board work, where thoughtful structure and long-term vision are essential.

    Blending a passion for Phoenix’s architectural heritage with a results-driven mindset, Rachel is committed to ensuring that preservation efforts are inclusive, well-organized, and forward-thinking.

  • Shawn King was born in Phoenix’s St. Joseph’s Hospital on New Year’s Day, 1978 to parents who worked at St. Joe’s and Phoenix College. He spent the first 18 years of his life growing up in Ahwatukee, a new neighborhood at the time in the southernmost part of Phoenix. Shawn became a commuter at a young age, traveling to St. Francis Xavier Elementary and later Brophy College Prep in Midtown Phoenix for school. He recalls traveling via surface streets from the I-17 to Central & Camelback in the time before I-10 passed through Downtown and then carpooling on the new Route 51.

    Shawn attended the University of Arizona and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Production with a focus in Design & Technology. He began his career at the Herberger Theatre Center in Phoenix as an Electrician/Light Board Programmer before moving to New York City in 2001 to pursue other opportunities. Shawn was immediately drawn to the city’s rich history and enjoyed identifying buildings and traces of rail lines from different periods throughout the outer boroughs.      

    After 20 years of residing in NYC, Shawn and his family returned to Ahwatukee. The development and progress of the neighborhood in the time since he had left amazed him. Ahwatukee was no longer a distant suburb and Metro Phoenix had grown exponentially.

    Shawn was hired as the Phoenix Symphony’s Director of Production upon his return to Phoenix, a full-circle moment as he remembers attending the Phoenix Symphony’s Holiday Pops concert at Symphony Hall when he was growing up. This position has also allowed him to access several historic Phoenix venues including Symphony Hall and the Orpheum Theatre. Shawn is an active member of Phoenix Community Alliance, representing The Phoenix Symphony as a stakeholder.

    Although some think of Phoenix as having very little history, Shawn’s is passionate about bringing attention to the history and modern mid-century building gems that Phoenix has to offer.

    When not working at the Symphony, Shawn can be found attending his daughter’s dance studio recitals, where his wife also happens to be a teacher and choreographer. Their daughter just started high school, so watching her perform in the Color Guard will be a new activity this fall and beyond. During the summer, one might find Shawn on Saguaro or Canyon Lake, keeping cool on a paddleboard. Shawn can also be found at MINI meetups or working on his MINI, but he still believes in affordable, frequent mass transit options. He enjoys taking photographs with a dSLR when he finds the time. 

  • Mike Hardesty is a Phoenix-based preservation advocate, Realtor, and community storyteller who documents and shares the city’s architectural history and neighborhoods through his platform @Discover_Phoenix. His work reflects a deep commitment to thoughtful stewardship, design, and the character of Phoenix’s historic places.

    Mike’s professional path began with entrepreneurship, including the ownership of a beloved vintage shop, Zinnias at Melrose, that shaped his appreciation for craftsmanship, history, and the stories embedded in everyday spaces. That perspective continues to guide his work today, where he approaches real estate as an opportunity to connect people not just with homes, but with places that carry meaning and legacy.

    A Phoenix resident for over 19 years, Mike has developed a nuanced understanding of the city’s evolving landscape and the importance of preserving what makes each neighborhood distinct. He is especially drawn to midcentury design, local landmarks, and the overlooked buildings that contribute to Phoenix’s cultural identity. Through his writing and advocacy, he works to elevate awareness around preservation and encourage growth that respects the past.

    Mike lives in Phoenix with his wife, Becky, and their two children, Cameron and Margo. He is also an avid bowler and former First Team All-American at West Texas A&M.


  • Donna Reiner grew up in a family that loved history, genealogy, telling stories, and discussing her father’s latest exploits in the operating room. But she developed a passion for the arts and received a BA in music history. A few more letters added after her name in eclectic subjects including an MA in Historic Preservation and she’s again focusing on history. 

    Today she spends most of her time researching various aspects of history, contributes to the compilation of National Register nominations, gives talks on Phoenix and Arizona history, and volunteers for numerous arts and culture organizations. 

  • Interim Treasurer

    Roger is an architectural historian and prominent advocate for historic preservation in Arizona. With over 30 years of real estate experience, he specializes in historic homes with a focus on mid-century modern properties. He holds an M.S. in Historic Preservation from the University of Vermont. He is also a consultant in the process of enabling neighborhoods to achieve designation on the National Register of Historic Places.