SALEM, MA — Essex National Heritage Commission, known as Essex Heritage, welcomed business and community leaders from across Essex County to its Fall Annual Meeting on at the Historic New England Center in Haverhill.
Essex Heritage announced five new commissioners elected to serve from 2026 to 2029: Carissa Demore, vice president and chief policy director at Historic New England; Dan Marshall, executive director of Marblehead Museum; Emily Pearce, executive director of The Gloucester Adventure, Inc.; Anna Richards, director of Buttonwoods Museum; and Valerie Rosenberg, program director at Cider Hill Farm.
"Our local commissioners serve as valuable ambassadors across the Heritage Area and advocates for this region," Essex Heritage Executive Director Annie Harris said. "Essex Heritage relies on the support of our partners and we are grateful to have these new commissioners helping us promote the unique assets of Essex County."
The annual meeting also recognized several preservation and history efforts around the county.
Lauren McCormack, now executive director at Freedom's Way National Heritage Area, received a special recognition award for her work during a 10-year tenure at Marblehead Museum.
Essex Heritage said that work included spearheading the acquisition and renovation of the Jeremiah Lee Brick Kitchen and Slave Quarters, which opened in July 2026.
Pioneer in Partnership Awards went to the Museum of Old Newbury and the Custom House Maritime Museum for collaboration on Newburyport's "Road to Revolution" initiative.
Essex Heritage said the effort began with a 2025 lecture series and expanded into a parade, ceremony, exhibitions and programming tied to the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
Save the Glover! Inc. and its 16-member board received a Pioneer in Preservation Award. The award comes as Glover LLC seeks approval from the Marblehead and Swampscott planning boards for a 140-unit residential complex.
The proposed plans show the developer intends to preserve the farmhouse on its original site after years of preservation work. Jack Morris also provided an update on plans for the Searles Estate in Methuen, and Nancy Schultz updated attendees on Save the Glover Farmhouse efforts.
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