CIRCA .::. About Us

April Montgomery, AICP, Principal & Preservation Planner
April has worked in the field of historic preservation in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. She brings her considerable experience in preservation planning and Section 106 compliance to Circa. Prior to forming Circa, April was an Environmental Review Specialist with the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. In that position, she reviewed telecommunications and transportation projects for their compliance with state and federal historic preservation regulations. Prior to her work at the SHPO, April was employed as a Planner for the Metropolitan Planning Commission of Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a BA in History from Florida State University and an MA in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Florida, and meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards in Architectural History.

Ellen Turco, Principal & Architectural Historian
Ellen has worked in the field of historic preservation for both state and local governments, for private consulting firms, and as an independent contractor. Prior to forming Circa, Ellen served as the Historic Preservation Planner for Wake County, North Carolina, population 600,000. She has worked as an Environmental Review and Historic Preservation Specialist with the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. She has authored numerous National Register nominations for both individual properties and districts, and conducted historic resource surveys in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. She holds a BA in Philosophy from Eckerd College and an MA in Public History from North Carolina State University, and meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards in Architectural History.

Debbie Bevin, Architectural Historian
Debbie brings a wide range of experience and expertise to Circa. During her career, she has worked for the National Register of Historic Places, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, and a county-owned historic site. While at the SHPO, she was an Environmental Review Specialist responsible for transportation projects. She holds a BA in Architectural History from the University of Virginia and an MA in Historic Preservation from Georgia State University, and meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards in Architectural History.

Patrick Schell
Patrick is a carpenter and restoration specialist with twenty years of experience restoring and rehabilitating historic buildings. He has completed over fifty restoration projects in North Carolina, ranging from log farm outbuildings to high-style nineteenth-century residences, and is considered one of the state's leading restoration experts. Many of his projects have qualified for state and federal historic preservation tax credits. In addition to his restoration work, Patrick served as Assistant to the Director of Preservation North Carolina from 1993 to 1996.