ROBERT CAGNETTA-Owner

In 1987, Rob began attending Roger Williams University with the idea of using his art, math and science skills in the architecture program. Yet the fit was not quite right. It became obvious that designing a future with ideas from the past was not part of their curriculum. Yet there was a part of the Architecture Program that did fit called Historic Preservation(HP). HP was a whole new world, the built environment suddenly became alive. American history was everywhere. Buildings contain technology, stylistics, craft, culture, economics; all the things that make what is built, seen and experienced. RWU's HP program did teach about the ideological and philosophical approaches to historic preservation, although Rob still needed more.

In 1990 he obtained an internship with the Preservation Cooperative, refining various preservation craft skills. After graduation in 1991, Rob spent five weeks in England, studying the architecture, restoration techniques, and professional organizations of Great Britain. Upon his return he was employed full time by the Preservation Cooperative, enabling him to learn various preservation skills and techniques through New England historic structures. In 1994 Rob began his own practice, providing services for such National Register buildings as the Newport Tennis Hall of Fame and the Newport Art Museum. In 1995, Rob partnered with John Canham to create the Institute for Preservation Training. Under their parent organization, Vocational Resources, Inc. (later becoming Goodwill Industries of RI), their mission was to provide a fee for service historic preservation program, using the field for training and education. IPT began the first Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training certified Carpenter (Preservation) apprenticeship program. In 1997, Rob became the lead project manager of IPT, completing the financial tracking, project coordination, personnel and setting up the training projects. With this new program, IPT was able to complete projects for the National Parks Service, The Massachusetts's State Historical Commission, The Bristol Historical Society (Bristol, RI), as well as dozens of private homes and businesses (see PROJECTS page).

In January of 2001 Rob began Heritage Restoration, Inc (HRI) with previous IPT employees, including business partners Aaron Crocker and Temple Peterson. Today, while Temple and Aaron have moved on, HRI continues to complete historic structure preservation, renovation and retrofitting for projects big and small. Rob also continues to teach and lecture throughout New England, using historic preservation as the means to help people understand about their built environment and responsible stewardship. Rob has taught at Rhode Island School of Design, guest lectured at Roger Williams University, demonstrated at The Preservation Trades Network's (PTN) International Preservation Trades Workshop, and provided a myriad of lectures about everything from the healthy home, to finding the right contractor to restoring historic windows. Rob is on the Board of Directors and the Treasurer of PTN, an advisor for Preserve Rhode Island's building's committee, a member of RI Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission's State Preservation Grant selection committee, a member of National Trust for Historic Preservation, a member of the Association for Preservation Technology and the Timber Framer Guild.

MARC D'AMORE- Project Manager/Field Technician

Marc is a 2002 graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design's BFA in Industrial Design. During his time at RISD, Marc sought to refine his craft skills through restoring several significant Providence historic homes. This exposure, coupled with his degree, enables Marc to bring a unique perspective of design and fabrication in several kinds of medium, including woodworking and metal fabrication. Marc began his work with Heritage in March of 2004, where he now is a field manager, small project aficionado, and can run circles around anyone trying to refit or tune-up a window, fix a gutter or just plain get it done.

COLIN MILLAR- Field Technician

For 13 years, Colin was a film editor and cameraman for the BBC and did some freelance work around the UK. During his life, he was also a carpenter, furniture maker, sculptor's assistant, gardener and in landscape design. His work ranged from rough to finish carpentry, furniture restoration and finishing, and building and designing furniture from scratch. After seeing the work of some so called "Master Carpenter's", Colin is now designated as the Imperial Wizard of Wood, using his skills diversity to assist buildings and homeowners alike. Always with a smile, Colin is an asset to morale and field production. Colin is originally from Scotland and now resides in Rehoboth, MA.

LINDSAY HART- Office Manager

After receiving a historic preservation degree from Roger Williams University in 1998, Lindsay began working as the administrative assistant to the Bristol Historic District Commission. In 1999, Lindsay leapt from behind the desk into the field. In a short few years, Lindsay showed remarkable field skills. Yet an evolving baby made putting on a tool belt quite difficult. Lindsay took a sabbatical for a few years raising a child and assisting an interior designer. Somehow after a three years Lindsay decided to come back and have Rob become her assistant. Today, Lindsay is a critical part of the Heritage management team, promulgating bids, job tracking, staff scheduling, finding the impossible part, and has just an all around jocular office presence.

DAVE the painter- Painter/Field Technician

We discovered that "Dave the Painter" is actually much more than that. Dave has been in the trades most of his life, specializing in expert finishing. Yet as we all have experienced, a single skill is never enough. Dave skills include some modern stuff like steel studs and drywall, but the more important stuff like plaster repair and actually putting on a tool belt has really shown his value to the team. Dave is active in the window shop, although he is becoming a more familiar face in the wood shop and field to help the projects along, completing everything from thieving shingles, to timber framing, to dressing, and finishing shop related work. Right on Dave!

SUBCONTRACTORS

HRI respects an individual's desire to be free. That's why HRI regularly employs independent craftspeople to work along side our employees. Our projects frequently require an expanded crew or a specific skill where subcontractors can play an vital role. HRI only employs registered RI contractors with liability insurance, as well as being sure they adhere to the RI workers compensation insurance regulations.