EMILY HOPKINS NAMED NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Historic Macon has a new leader.
Emily Hopkins began her new role as the nonprofit’s executive director on Feb. 2.
At NewTown Macon, she was vice president of external affairs, where she directed strategic programming, partnerships and engagement efforts that attracted more than 1 million visitors to downtown Macon annually.
She serves on the boards of the Georgia Downtown Association and Visit Macon and lives in Macon’s historic North Highlands neighborhood.
“Emily is a dedicated community leader,” said Pat Muse, chairman of Historic Macon’s board. “With more than a decade of experience advancing historic preservation, downtown revitalization and place-based economic development in Macon-Bibb County, Emily is well-positioned to fulfill our mission and grow our reputation as a local and national leader in community revitalization.”
Hopkins, 36, previously worked at Historic Macon before being appointed Macon’s Main Street manager, where she has led the city’s nationally accredited Main Street program since 2017. She managed the program’s successful transition to NewTown in 2018.
Under her leadership, downtown Macon earned statewide and national recognition, including designation as a Georgia Exceptional Main Street in 2023 and winning the Great American Main Street Award in 2024, the highest recognition within the national Main Street network.
“I began my career at Historic Macon Foundation, and it was there that I learned what effective, community-centered preservation can accomplish,” Hopkins said. “I am honored to return in this role and work alongside the board, staff, members and partners to build on Historic Macon’s legacy while continuing to push forward innovative strategies that preserve our historic places and strengthen our neighborhoods.”
HMF LOOKING FOR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
We’re hiring!
Historic Macon is looking for a director of finance and operations.
This person will oversee all financial management of Historic Macon, including accounts receivable and payable, proper bookkeeping, account reconciliations and reporting for Historic Macon Foundation, among other duties.
In addition, the new director will support the executive director in the areas of human resources, insurance, risk management, budget tracking and fundraising. The position reports to the executive director and works closely with other staff members, board members, auditors and vendors.
The ideal employee will also be able to understand and advise on construction pro formas and grant requests.
For a full job description, as well as the benefits offered, look HERE.
next Sidney's Salon is FEB. 19
“Radioactive Dixie,” by Caroline Rose Peyton
5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, 950 Third St.
Free
Join us later this month for a presentation from Dr. Caroline Rose Peyton, author of "Radioactive Dixie: A Nuclear History of the American South." We will begin with a reception and light refreshments at 5:30 p.m., and the program will begin at 6.
The South contains more nuclear reactors than any other region in the United States — and much of the nation’s radioactive waste. This book shows how the South’s atomic footprint resulted from a decades-long effort by Southern politicians, industry figures, universities and government officials to transform the South into a nuclear-oriented region.
To reserve a free ticket for the salon, look HERE. All that we ask is that if you reserve a spot, please attend! Our planning includes buying hors d'oeuvres and drinks for the session, and we often have a waiting list for our salons.
We appreciate funding from the Linda Harriet Lane Fund at the Community Foundation of Central Georgia. And our programming wouldn't be possible with the support of our members. Thank you!
PATRONS PARTY SET FOR NEEL’S LOFTS MARCH 5
We're holding our 2026 Patrons Party at the brand-new Neel's Lofts, at 462 Cherry St., on Thursday, March 5. So save the date and make plans to attend. We’re so excited!
Our members at the Patron or Young Patron level (or above) will be among the first people to see Macon's newest loft development, with 95 apartments, a co-working space, two retail stores and a restaurant space, among other features. It is coming together beautifully.
If you know you’ll be attending, RSVP HERE by Feb. 26 to help us plan properly.
It's the best winter party in Macon! Just make sure you're a Patron or Young Patron-level member (or above) in order to attend.
You can join or renew a membership HERE. Preservation Partners are also invited, so come aboard or renew that partnership HERE.
SAVE THE DATE: SPRING FLEA MARKET IS MARCH 27-29
It may only be January, but our volunteers are already hard at work getting ready for our spring Flea Market, scheduled for March 27-29.
They’re unpacking donations from our kind contributors, dusting them off or shining them up, then finding the proper home for them in our big warehouse, located at 357 Oglethorpe St. in downtown Macon.
We’ll have everything you could think of, from beautiful furniture to artwork, electronics, kitchen appliances, lamps, albums, antiques, linens of all kinds, sporting goods, rugs, home and garden items, and plenty more.
Ask anyone who’s ever been to the sale. It’s fun, you’ll find unbeatable bargains and you’ll be helping Historic Macon’s preservation mission.
See you in March. Please help us spread the word!
Our mission is to revitalize communities by preserving architecture and sharing history.
One of the benefits of your property residing in a National Register Historic District is preservation incentives. Historic tax credits allow citizens to undertake rehabilitation projects at a reasonable cost and Historic Macon is here to walk you through that process.
A key part of Historic Macon's mission is education. We tell the stories of people who make a difference in our preservation community, as well as those pioneering visionaries whose shoulders we stand on today. Read more about them HERE.