Michael J. Matts (M.S. University of Michigan), Director of Historic Preservation & Planning, brings over 30 years experience in both the public and private sectors. Mr. Matts has developed extensive academic and professional experience and skills in historic preservation planning, community development, cultural resources management, heritage tourism, Section 106 compliance, program and project development, project management, strategic planning, situational analysis and problem solving, and coalition building. Throughout his 15-year career at the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP), Matts worked directly with large and small-scale Section 106 projects, often serving as senior spokesperson for the National Trust's Midwest Office and working directly with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, federal and state agencies, and local units of government. He served as senior spokesperson for the National Trust on the Lower St. Croix River Crossing, Stillwater, Minnesota - a project that involved state agencies in Minnesota and Wisconsin, the Federal Highway Administration, a U.S. Congressman, the National Park Service, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, local units of government, and numerous other stakeholders. Matts has been credited by the Michigan Department of Transportation as playing a key role in identifying resources, resolving conflicts, and developing successful methods and strategies surrounding the US Hwy 31 By-Pass in Petoskey, Michigan. Matts served as Native American Liaison for the National Trust from 1990-2000 and he was appointed to a national task force on cultural diversity and a national task force on archaeology and historic preservation.

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