Board Members

Ellen Briggs

Founder & President

Ellen founded Protect Our Past to turn lifelong preservation experience into practical advocacy for Cape Cod’s historic homes and streetscapes. Born and raised in a pre-Revolutionary home along the Hudson River, Ellen has lived with history her entire life. Her family’s deep Chatham roots, including a historic windmill built by her great-uncle Herbert Briggs, shaped her commitment to preservation. After returning permanently to Chatham, she and her husband restored that windmill and expanded their efforts to protect historic properties across Cape Cod through the nonprofit Protect Our Past.

Her professional background includes leadership roles at Ackerley Communications, Group W Satellite Communications, The Washington Post, and Pier 1 in Istanbul. She also co-authored books and led family-focused media and radio programming, bringing communications and public-engagement experience to POP’s mission.

Frederick H. Ecker II

Vice President

Fred brings more than 35 years of restoration and conservation experience across hundreds of historic properties. Frederick H. Ecker has worked with federal, state, and local agencies, museums, nonprofit organizations, foundations, and private owners on over 300 historic properties. He is known for careful, conservative preservation and restoration that respects original building character while helping communities sustain their architectural heritage.

His goal is to educate public and private stakeholders on long-term stewardship and the value of preserving historic structures for future generations.

Shaun K. Allen

Treasurer

Shaun brings deep nonprofit financial oversight and helps POP build sustainable systems that support long-term preservation impact. Shaun has more than 25 years of experience in hospitality plus over a decade in finance and accounting. He currently oversees accounting and financial operations for a consulting firm serving credit unions and has supported several nonprofit organizations with formation, bylaws, compliance, banking, and budgeting.

At Protect Our Past, he manages fiscal governance and planning so program growth remains aligned with mission and accountability.

Stuart Green

Secretary

Stuart contributes seasoned board governance and operational leadership to strengthen POP’s long-range preservation work. Stuart is a retired vice president with leadership experience across sales, marketing, finance, and administration. He has served on multiple nonprofit boards and supports heritage-focused initiatives in Massachusetts.

His background in governance and organizational management helps POP execute programs with clarity, discipline, and community impact.

Thomas H. Dougherty

Director

Tom brings decades of executive leadership and strategic planning experience to POP’s preservation mission. Tom has over 30 years of leadership across organizations tied to the commercial and residential building sectors, including international operations. A former U.S. Army infantry officer with an MBA from the University of Chicago, he contributes disciplined governance and long-range planning to Protect Our Past.

W. Douglas Gilpin, Jr., FAIA

Director

Doug provides nationally recognized architectural preservation expertise to POP’s advocacy and restoration priorities. Doug is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects with work spanning the Mid-Atlantic, West Virginia, and Rhode Island. His projects and leadership in historically sensitive design support Protect Our Past’s mission to preserve Cape Cod’s built heritage with integrity and long-term vision.

David Allen

Director

David strengthens POP’s film and storytelling work with decades of feature-production experience. With nearly 40 years in feature-film production, David brings practical media expertise to POP’s documentaries and outreach. His long-term stewardship of a historic Cape property also reflects his direct commitment to preservation in practice.

Bebe Kemper

Director

Bebe brings cultural leadership and public-engagement experience that supports preservation awareness across communities. An artist, arts patron, and civic leader, Bebe has served in major governance roles across cultural institutions. Her stewardship perspective supports Protect Our Past’s mission to connect preservation with public value and civic identity.

Matthew Holden

Director

Matt contributes communications, operations, and local preservation commitment as a lifelong Cape resident. A third-generation Cape Codder with roots in Chatham, Matt has a background in architectural history and software sales leadership. He has supported POP through media initiatives, outreach, and systems that improve day-to-day execution.

Cesar Rodriguez

Director

Cesar adds legal and real estate development perspective aligned with preservation-focused planning. A former attorney and experienced developer, Cesar has decades of leadership in property investment and community organizations. He supports Protect Our Past with practical governance and preservation-minded development insight.

Robert “Bob” Wilkins

Director

Robert “Bob” Wilkins grew up in an eighteenth-century, hip-roof Georgian house on High Street in Newburyport. His paternal grandfather purchased the house as a wedding present for Bob’s parents in the early 1940s. His parents were collectors of antiques—a passion they acquired from his maternal grandfather—and furnished the home entirely with period American antiques.

In the 1960s, Bob’s father championed the restoration and preservation of downtown Newburyport. He led the first effort in American history to use urban-renewal funds for restoration rather than demolition.

A graduate of Williams College, Bob lived in New York City with his wife, Suzanne, and worked for American Youth Hostels. The couple purchased an eighteenth-century Dutch farmhouse and began restoring it before becoming antique dealers. Because their home was near a Shaker community, Shaker antiques became their specialty, and they went on to become internationally recognized dealers in Shaker material culture. Bob has also published numerous magazine articles on Shaker design.

In 1986, Bob and Suzanne purchased a second home: a circa-1820 sea captain’s Cape house in Yarmouth Port. They spent the next quarter century lovingly restoring it. In 2004, Bob joined the Board of Directors of the Yarmouth New Church Preservation Foundation, where he has been actively involved in restoring this local landmark. He collaborated with John Canning & Co., one of the nation’s leading historic restoration, conservation, and preservation firms, to restore the magnificent paint-decorated interior of what is now Thacher Hall.

In 2016, Bob filled Suzanne’s vacant seat on Yarmouth’s Old King’s Highway Historic District Committee, where he currently serves as chairman.

J. Duncan Berry

Honorary Member

Duncan offers a strong blend of architectural history scholarship and strategic communications leadership. Duncan is an art and architectural historian, former Fulbright Scholar, and strategic advisor with international academic and business experience. He supports Cape preservation through research, advocacy, and public education.

Eric Dray

Honorary Member

Eric contributes deep preservation law and planning expertise to support effective policy and district protection work. Eric has over 25 years of preservation planning experience with specialization in historic district policy and preservation law. He supports Protect Our Past with legal and regulatory insight relevant to local preservation action.