New Hampshire's Alice DeSouza Honored for Leadership by National Preservation Organization

CONCORD, N.H. - Alice DeSouza, a long-time activist in New Hampshire historic preservation, arts and other civic endeavors, has been honored by The National Trust for Historic Preservation for her service at the national level. In October, she completed a two-year term as chair of the Trust's Board of Advisors. Her colleagues honored her with a financial gift to seed a fund supporting community preservation services in New Hampshire in partnership with the NH Preservation Alliance.

"Alice DeSouza has not only provided great expertise and leadership to the National Trust Board of Advisors during her term as board chair, she has continued to represent New Hampshire with a tireless dedication to preserving its historic treasures," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "In addition to the considerable task of serving as board chair, Alice also serves as an ex-officio member of the National Trust's Board of Trustees and was a valued colleague for her outstanding advice and ever-present enthusiasm. I know Alice will continue to be actively involved in preservation and all of us at the National Trust look forward to working with her."

DeSouza is a past chair of the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, New Hampshire's statewide preservation organization, where she expanded constituent services and secured legislative successes. DeSouza has won several leadership awards, including Leadership New Hampshire's 1999 Cotton Mather Cleveland Award for Outstanding Leadership, Business New Hampshire Magazine's Volunteer Leader for the 21st Century and the Most Powerful Business Women List.

A member of the Board of Advisors since 1996, DeSouza was elected chairman in 2001. She will continue to serve on the board through 2005 and as a member of the Trust's Strategic Planning Committee. As chairman, she has worked to strengthen the National Trust's efforts to preserve our country's more recent history. She has advocated for increased focus on heritage education and has worked to involve more diverse populations in preservation issues. Her colleagues also admire the communications and strategic planning skills that she shared with the national organization.

The Board of Advisors was established in 1966 to increase the National Trust's direct contact and communication with state and local constituents by creating a nationwide network of volunteer preservation leaders.

While serving as chairman of the Trust's Board of Advisors, DeSouza also served on several National Trust Board of Trustee committees, including Development and Membership; Public Advocacy; the Business Development Subcommittee; the Capital Campaign; and the Public Service Announcement Campaign Task Force.

As principal of Business Management Services, she consults with businesses and non-profit organizations on strategic, organizational and marketing planning.