Kathy Kottaridis

What have you been doing since you graduated from BU? Details about your current and past employment? Accomplishments you’re proud of? Challenges you’ve encountered?

Kathy Kottaridis joined Historic Boston Incorporated (HBI) as Executive Director in June of 2007. Prior to service at HBI, she was Associate Director of Public Affairs at Northeastern University, responsible for shaping and implementing the university’s strategic effort to support neighborhood revitalization. Kathy has also served as director of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Director of Economic Development at the Boston Redevelopment Authority, Director of the City of Boston’s Office of Business Development, and founding director of Boston Main Streets. A native of Dover, New Hampshire, she received her BA in History from the University of New Hampshire, an MA in Historic Preservation from Boston University, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Kathy is a resident of Jamaica Plain.

How has your time in the Preservation Studies Program shaped your professional and personal lives?

Preservation sythesizes so many skills that are part of other disciplines – -urban planning, real estate development, museums, merchandizing. I found that learning about history, materials and the evolution of places was a terrific way to understand how a place got to where it is and what it might become. Preservationists have learned to have perspective on matters that traditional designers and planners may not have completely developed.

What advice would you give to students in the program looking for careers in preservation? What do you wish you had known when you were first entering the field?

Network, network and keep networking. It’s the only way to meet people, learn and be referred within other people’s connections. And keep networking even after you’ve landed a job.

In the same vein, ask for informational interviews so that you build your network and learn what folks are looking for, and never leave an informational interview without at least two referrals or introductions from the person you’ve just met with. In networking, it’s not usually the person you meet with that has the job, but often someone in their network, so grow the net.

Take a job in the field, even if it isn’t the perfect job. It’s not permanent and you will learn what you like and don’t like in the role you play or the organization you join. All experience is beneficial. You’ll also meet more people in the field by being employed, build a track record, and have a reference for future jobs.

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