Landmarks Illinois Staff

Quinn Adamowski

Regional Advocacy Manager

Quinn joined Landmarks Illinois in 2021 as Regional Advocacy Manager, serving as the organization’s frontline preservation advocate in downstate communities. Quinn is a leader, administrator and organizer who is committed to enhancing quality of life within communities through advocacy for historic preservation, the arts and tourism. After serving as an education administrator working with at-risk youth for 15 years, Quinn chose to pursue his passion for advocacy work. He serves on numerous boards and commissions within his community, including the local Historic Preservation Commission, Museum Board and Arts Commission. He led the effort to preserve the Old Joliet Prison and co-chairs the coalition focused on transforming the iconic property into a nationally renowned historic site. Quinn received a Bachelor of Arts from Knox College with a double major in Democracy and Social Justice and History.

Contact Quinn:

(815)-603-4901
qadamowski (at) Landmarks.org

Frank Butterfield

Chief Operating Officer

Frank joined the Landmarks Illinois staff in 2013, first as Springfield Office Director before taking over as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 2021. As COO, Frank oversees Landmarks Illinois’ day-to-day operations statewide, is responsible for the organization’s sound financial management and ensures it is hitting its strategic goals. Prior to joining Landmarks Illinois, Frank worked as director/field officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the Wisconsin Field Office and held positions with the Roger Brown Study Collection and DePaul University in Chicago. Frank has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Boston College and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Contact Frank:

(217) 836-2524
fbutterfield (at) landmarks.org

Lauren Dalton

Marketing & Communications Manager

Lauren leads the development and execution of marketing strategies and supports communication that broadens awareness of Landmarks Illinois. As a creative and collaborative individual, she works closely with the Director of Communications to effectively and meaningfully utilize marketing best practices. Lauren is from Southwest Michigan, where she attended Andrews University and received a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. She thinks fondly of her Michigan communities’ historic locations like the St. Joseph Lake Bluff and Eau Claire Mammoth Fruit Farm. Proudly growing a career supporting Chicago businesses as a strong content marketer and analyst, Lauren joined the Landmarks Illinois team in 2023 and looks forward to serving Illinois communities.

Contact Lauren:

(312) 995-3181
ldalton (at) landmarks.org

Suzanne Germann

Director of Reinvestment

Suzanne joined Landmarks Illinois’ staff in 2004, first as the Director of Grants & Easements before becoming the Director of Reinvestment in 2021. She is responsible for managing Landmarks Illinois’ grant programs, preservation easement program and the reinvestment program. In addition, Suzanne supervises the Illinois Restoration Resources Directory. She was previously a preservation planner for the City of Lake Forest, Illinois, and a historian for a local architectural firm. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Photography from the State University of New York at New Paltz and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Contact Suzanne:

(312) 922-1742 Ex. 225
sgermann (at) landmarks.org

Kaitlyn McAvoy

Director of Communications

Kaitlyn develops and leads communications for the organization, promoting Landmarks Illinois’ mission-driven work and sharing stories of people preserving places in their communities. She manages public relations as well as the organization’s website, www.Landmarks.org, and its print and digital publications like the quarterly membership newsletter, The Arch, and the Preservation News Blog. Kaitlyn joined Landmarks Illinois’ staff in 2016. With a background in journalism, Kaitlyn is passionate about writing and telling stories, specifically those of extraordinary people and places having a positive impact on our communities. She previously worked as a newspaper reporter and photographer in Chicago, Western Wyoming and Southeast Alaska, before returning home to Chicago to work in content marketing. Kaitlyn has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Columbia College of Chicago.

Contact Kaitlyn:

(312) 995-9679
kmcavoy (at) landmarks.org

PLEASE DIRECT ALL PRESS INQUIRIES TO KAITLYN AT kmcavoy (at) landmarks.org

Bonnie McDonald

President & CEO

Bonnie McDonald aspires to shape preservation into a more relevant and just practice. As President and CEO of Landmarks Illinois, Bonnie advances the vision, mission and programs of Illinois’ only statewide preservation nonprofit organization. Her transformative thinking about preservation has led Landmarks Illinois to focus its work on people and their important connection to historic places. She’s currently spearheading the organization’s evolution at its 50-year anniversary to enhance its relevance and to create a national model for justice, equity, inclusion and diversity in preservation practice. Bonnie is a collaborative leader who, with the help of her board, team and volunteers, has nearly doubled Landmarks Illinois’ staff, opened its first regional office, passed vital state legislation and played a visible role as a thought leader during her nine years as president. From 2018-2021, Bonnie served as board chair of the National Preservation Partners Network, the national nonprofit representing preservation organizations, and she is proud to have been awarded the James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation Mid-Career Fellowship in 2020 for The Relevancy Project and the publication of The Relevancy Guidebook: How We Can Transform the Future of Preservation (Nov. 2023). Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed Bonnie co-chair of the Chicago Monuments Project in 2020 to help lead a truth and racial reckoning process in the city around problematic artworks. Bonnie received a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University.

Contact Bonnie:

(312) 922-1742 Ex. 224
bmcdonald (at) landmarks.org

Kendra Parzen

Advocacy Manager

Kendra joined the Landmarks Illinois staff in 2022 as Advocacy Manager, supporting and promoting preservation across Chicago and its suburbs. Kendra works with local advocates to save and reuse historic places that are significant to them and forges and strengthens strategic partnerships to advance preservation goals. Prior to joining Landmarks Illinois, Kendra worked as a field officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation based in Washington, D.C. and as a historic preservation specialist with EHT Traceries, a D.C.-based historic preservation research and consulting firm. Kendra holds a Bachelor of Arts cum laude in History from Pomona College and a Master of Fine Arts in Historic Preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Contact Kendra:

(312) 995-2347
kparzen (at) landmarks.org

Marija D. Rich

Membership Manager

Marija joined Landmarks Illinois’ staff in 1989. She is responsible for managing Landmarks Illinois’ membership program, annual appeals and Preservation Snapshots lecture series. In addition to her primary duties, she is the organization’s information technology administrator, managing office computers, network, computer consultants and donor software upgrades. Marija has a Bachelor of Art in Communication from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Contact Marija:

(312) 922-1742 Ex. 226
mrich (at) landmarks.org

Alma Rebronja

Events Manager

Alma joined Landmarks Illinois’ staff in 2021 as the Events Manager. She previously worked for J&L Catering, as the director of corporate sales and events, serving Fortune 500 company clients. Her attention to detail, knowledge of trending and international food as well as dietary needs have allowed her to execute memorable events. Alma studied Business Management at Northeastern Illinois University.

Contact Alma:

(312) 922-1742
arebronja (at) landmarks.org

Leila Wills

Programs Manager

Leila Wills has made cultural preservation her life’s work. Born in Chicago’s Altgeld Gardens to parents who were in the Black Panther Party, Leila has been a powerful advocate for Black history in Chicago and the nation. Prior to joining Landmarks Illinois in February 2023, she was the Executive Director of the Historical Preservation Society of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party. She also previously was the media director for a Chicago nonprofit for at-risk youth, has worked as a journalist focusing on Black history and is the publisher of Metropolis newspaper, based in Bronzeville, Chicago’s oldest Black neighborhood. Her grandfather, Raeburn Flerlage, was a well-known blues photographer of Chicago’s greatest blues artists. His entire collection is today housed at the Chicago History Museum. Leila is currently finishing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies at Northeastern Illinois University and is also working on a thematic nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party. Leila looks forward to bringing her leadership in advocacy, community building and cultural heritage to build upon Landmarks Illinois’ statewide partnerships and develop creative and engaging programs for its diverse audience.

Contact Leila

lwills (at) landmarks.org