Preservation Fund Board
Louis DiMola – Chair
Louis was a founding board member and past president of Indian Hill Music. He served on the board of Loaves and Fishes for 8 years. He, also, served as president and co-chaired the capital campaign for their new building in Devens, MA. Most recently, Louis was a founding board member and treasurer of Groton Neighbors. Louis and his wife, Ginny Koslow, have lived in Groton for almost 40 years. They have two children, Meredith and Andrew. Louis is president and owner of A.M Transportation Services, Inc., Ayer, MA, a logistics company.
Hon. Robert S. Hargraves – Emeritus
Massachusetts House of Representatives – 16 years. Labor Relations Specialist – 3 years. High School / Middle School Principal – 25 years. High School Mathematics Teacher – 8 years.
C.A.G.S. Boston University; M. Ed. University of Fitchburg; B.S. University of Maine.
Married 55 years to Ellen; 2 daughters, 1 son, 9 grandchildren.
Allen King – Treasurer
Allen started the Old Groton Meeting House Advisory Committee 6 years ago. We had a conditions assessment completed by Spencer & Vogt Group. Based on the study, funds were raised with donations and a grant from the CPA for Phase I, the restoration of the clock and steeple. (In 2014, Steve Lieman took over the committee chair as I moved to Venice, Fl for the winters) He is also on the First Parish Church Building and Grounds Committee. Additionally, he serves on the Groton Historic Commission. He is retired from Mortgage Guarantee Insurance Company.
Michelle Collette – Board Member
Michelle and her husband Stephen moved to Groton in 1971 and raised their family here. For 35 years, Michelle served as Town Planner and Land Use Director for the Town of Groton. She served on numerous Boards and Committees over the years with a focus on environmental and housing issues. Now retired, she continues to serve as the Town’s Stormwater Inspector and ADA Coordinator. Most recently, Michelle was appointed to the Groton Historical Society Board of Directors.
Dr. Michael Danti – Board Member
Near Eastern archaeologist and cultural heritage expert with over 30 years of experience directing archaeological programs and preservation initiatives in Syria, Iraq, Iran, and the United States. Since 2018, he has served as the Program Manager of the Iraq Heritage Stabilization Program (IHSP) at the University of Pennsylvania. In the past, Danti has directed US DOS programs in the MENA region focused on higher education and cultural heritage protection and preservation. As a field archaeologist, Danti directs the Rowanduz Archaeological Program in Iraqi Kurdistan, which includes archaeological excavations, surveys, and cultural heritage management projects, as well as the Hasanlu (Iran) Publication Project. He has written numerous official reports and scholarly articles on the cultural heritage crises in the Middle East and has been a regular public speaker and presenter on television and radio to raise awareness of the plight of our global cultural patrimony. He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2011 and serves as a Consulting Scholar at the Penn Museum.
Steve Lieman – Board Member
Steve played a key funding and grant writing role raising $341,000 for the just completed Meeting House Phase 1 Rehabilitation and Preservation Project. This included vital and urgent work on the bell tower and steeple and the successful restoration and re-installation of Buddy, the Meetinghouse’s weathervane. Steve is Chair of First Parish’s Old Groton Meeting House Advisory Committee and Project Leader for First Parish’s Phase 2 preservation efforts planned for 2018.
Keith Dawson – Board Member
Keith has a long history of working with Groton non-profits, supporting their electronic communications infrastructure. He was a co-founder of the Groton Film Society. He has designed, developed, and hosts websites for Groton’s Senior Center, Woman’s Club, Garden Club, and First Parish Church, as well as several Groton-based businesses. In 2015 Keith moved with his wife to St. Paul, MN but continues his involvement with town organizations. He remains an active member of First Parish.