Ellen Turco and Pat Schell being presented with the Robert E Stipe Professional Award.
RGA is excited to announce that Ellen Turco, Branch Manager for RGA’s Wake Forest, North Carolina office, and her husband, Pat Schell, recently received the coveted Robert E. Stipe Professional Award at Preservation North Carolina’s annual conference in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
The Robert E. Stipe Professional Award is the highest honor presented to working professionals who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to preservation as part of their job responsibilities. Established in 1983, the award memorializes the contributions of Robert E. Stipe of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, an educator in the field of historic preservation at North Carolina State University and a mentor to a generation of preservation professionals, including Ellen. This award recognizes career men and women who show exceptional leadership and dedication to the cause of preservation. Ellen and Pat were nominated by Michelle Michael, Wake Forest’s Senior Planner for Historic Preservation, who received the Robert E. Stipe Award in 2023.
Ellen and Pat have been quietly furthering historic preservation for more than three decades. They have successfully completed dozens of historic preservation projects — Ellen as an architectural historian and Pat as a restoration carpenter. Throughout their careers, they have served as advocates, practitioners, and volunteers for historic preservation, leaving a lasting impact on their community.
The Town of Wake Forest has greatly benefited from their expertise as volunteer preservationists. Ellen served on the Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission for six years, including five years as Chair. She was also a member of the Design Standards Committee (2019-2021) and the Historic Home Tour Committee (2014-2020). Pat served on the Ailey Young House Rehabilitation Steering Committee (2015-2021) and as volunteer consultant for the recently completed Ailey Young House Rehabilitation. Both Ellen and Pat are frequently called upon by private citizens and organizations to offer their expertise and time.
RGA is proud to have such a distinguished member of North Carolina’s historic preservation community as a leader in our firm. Congratulations, Ellen, on receiving Preservation North Carolina’s most prestigious professional award!