Donna Ann Harris is the principal of Heritage Consulting Inc., a Philadelphia-based certified WBE consulting firm that works nationwide in three practice areas: downtown and commercial district revitalization, historic preservation and nonprofit organizational development. Prior to starting her firm eight years ago, Ms. Harris was state coordinator for the Illinois Main Street program for two years and the manager of the Illinois suburban Main Street program for four years. During her tenure, Ms. Harris served 56 Illinois Main Street communities, led a staff of 12 and managed a budget of over a million dollars. Prior to her Main Street career, Ms. Harris spent 15 years as an executive director of three start-up and two mature preservation organizations, each with its own organizational and fundraising challenges.

Since 2004, Ms. Harris has worked with state, countywide and local Main Street programs in 21 states. She has spoken for the last seven years at the National Trust Main Street Center annual conference, and at the International Downtown Association annual meeting in 2008 and 2009. Ms. Harris has published five feature articles in the National Trust Main Street Center’s monthly journal Main Street News: “Illinois Main Street Back on Track Case Studies” (July/August 2012); “Make Your Case: Triple Your Membership” (September/October 2010); "Make More Money from Members," (August, 2008); “Is a BID Feasible for Your Town? Ten Questions to Ponder,” (April 2007) and “A Valiant Effort” and “What You Can Do, Lessons From Illinois Main Street,” (January 2005).

AltaMira Press published her book New Solutions for House Museums: Ensuring the Long-Term Preservation of America’s Historic Houses in 2007. In 2011 Heritage Consulting Inc. won the prestigious Grand Jury Award from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia for its yearlong project Delaware County (PA) Public History Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan. Ms. Harris earned a Master of Science degree in Historic Preservation from Columbia University in New York City, and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Ms. Harris is a Certified Main Street Manager.