A preservationist from New Orleans will become the new leader of the Historic Macon Foundation.

The nonprofit’s board of trustees voted unanimously Tuesday night to offer the executive director’s job to Nathan Lott. He will succeed Ethiel Garlington, who is leaving that post at the end of August.

Lott is scheduled to start his new job at Historic Macon on Aug. 21. He is now the policy research director and advocate for the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans. In that role, he works with community partners to find solutions that protect New Orleans’ historic architecture, neighborhoods and cultural identity. 

“We are excited that Nathan is taking over the reins at HMF,” said Andy Moore, the board chairman. “His background in preservation and experience in leading public policy and research at PRC will be instrumental as Historic Macon continues to be a national leader in historic preservation and neighborhood revitalization.”

Lott will take over for Garlington, who is leaving to become executive director of The 1772 Foundation, a leading national preservation philanthropy.

The search committee led by Mary Ruffin Hanbury, of Hanbury Preservation Consulting, fielded nearly 50 applications for the job from across the country. 

“Historic Macon Foundation has earned national recognition for its stellar track record of neighborhood revitalization through historic preservation,” Lott said. “I am honored to join the team and excited to continue that legacy.

“Macon-Bibb County is rich with history and culture, but the ‘secret sauce’ is collaboration. In Macon, the public, private and philanthropic sectors are working together to create transformative, positive change. Historic Macon Foundation has played a central role and will continue to do so for years to come.

Lott, 46, is a graduate of Samford University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication. He has a master’s degree in preservation studies from Tulane University, where his thesis examined climate risk and resilience at historic sites

Among his recent achievements are championing the reauthorization of a state historic tax credit this year; advocating for changes to state law (and local ordinance) in 2022 that increased penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings; and securing the listing of Pontchartrain Park, a historically African-American neighborhood, on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021

Lott and his wife, Elizabeth, have two children, Turner and Jay. Lott is scheduled to attend a farewell party for Garlington at the HMF office, 950 Third St., set for Aug. 31.