Cincinnati Preservation Association is pleased to announce Beth Johnson will be CPA’s new executive director. Johnson will replace Paul Muller who is stepping down in May after 12 years to return to his architectural practice.
Johnson comes to CPA from her position as the urban conservator for the City of Cincinnati, a position she held for more than six years. She has also worked in preservation and planning for the City of Covington, KY as well the cities of San Antonio and Austin, TX.
For Johnson historic preservation is not just a career, but her passion in and out of the office. Having rehabbed her own houses, Johnson is a hands-on preservationist who has experience in municipal preservation and planning, preservation education, and even some executive producer video experience with Nick Clooney as the talent.
“With a passion to shine the light on the history and stories of everyone that makes up the beautiful quilt that is Cincinnati, I am excited to join Cincinnati Preservation Association to ensure that our historic buildings are part of the fabric of that quilt,” says Johnson. “I am excited, honored, and energized to continue the amazing work CPA has done in advocacy and education for the historic resources and fabric
of the Cincinnati region.”
The transition in leadership occurs at a time when CPA is expanding its work in a number of ways. New initiatives include the creation of an Endangered Building Revolving Fund and the launch of a project to preserve sites of Black history in Cincinnati.
“It was great to hear that Beth Johnson will be the Executive Director of CPA,” notes Muller. “Her skill in the professional aspects of preservation is matched by her passion and by her delight in working with communities. I am looking forward to seeing the great things CPA will accomplish through her leadership.”
“We are delighted to have selected Beth Johnson to lead CPA into the future from a slate of outstanding applicants, each of whom would have served CPA well,” says CPA Board Member and Search Committee Chair Arthur Sturbaum. “We look forward to Beth’s leadership to expand the reach of CPA to new heights.”
Johnson is a graduate of Ball State University where she received a degree in urban planning and history with a minor in historic preservation. She received her master’s degree in historic preservation planning from Cornell.
When Johnson isn’t working on a preservation project, you can find her hiking with her dog, raising monarch butterflies, drinking lots of coffee from Cincinnati roasters, or traveling near and far to spend time with her friends and family.