Nicholas is the President & CEO of Preservation Maryland and has led the organization since 2014. Since his arrival, he has overseen a complex merger and the subsequent creation of Smart Growth Maryland, a dynamic new program of the organization. Additionally, he has worked in partnership with the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center to establish the Campaign for Historic Trades, a new program dedicated to developing the next generation of traditional tradespeople. Outside of the organization, he serves as the chair of the National Preservation Partners Network, the national network of statewide and local preservation organizations. Previously he served as the chair of the Maryland Partners for Open Space, the statewide open space advocacy coalition, and as the vice-chair of the Frederick County Historic Preservation Commission. He is a graduate of West Virginia’s Shepherd University.