Though Ennis Willis has been acting as director since the fall of 2019, following Jonathan Poston’s departure, Trust President Mark McDonald made it official March 31, 2020. We congratulate Willis on this accomplishment and hope the best for Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation!
Press Release:
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Announces New Hay House Director
Macon, Ga., April 2, 2020—The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation announced today that Ennis Willis has been named Director of Hay House, effective immediately. Willis has been acting director since Jonathan Poston stepped down last fall.
Georgia Trust President and CEO Mark C. McDonald and Hay House Search Committee members Bonnie Dowling, Aubrey Newby and Tom Wight began a national search for a new director in October of 2019 after Poston’s departure. On March 31, 2020, the Hay House Search Committee unanimously determined, after interviewing three applicants, that Willis should be appointed as the new director of Hay House.
“We are pleased to announce that Ennis has accepted the terms of the offer and will continue his fine work at Hay House. The Georgia Trust is very pleased to have him on our staff and we look forward to working with him,” said Mark C. McDonald, president and CEO of The Georgia Trust.
Willis is a graduate of Emory University and the University of Georgia School of Law. He is well acquainted with the Hay House after serving as a patron and member of the Hay House Board.
As director of Hay House, Willis will manage all aspects of the National Historic Landmark house museum. His duties will include supervising development, educational and marketing efforts for the house museum, managing staff and coordinating ongoing preservation efforts. Willis also will work directly with the Hay House Board and the staff of the Georgia Trust to secure long-term stability for Hay House, both financially and as a historic structure.
About Hay House
Hay House is a National Historic Landmark and a property of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. Built between 1855 and 1859, the 18,000 square-foot mansion at 934 Georgia Avenue is one of Georgia’s premier historic house museums. For more information, visit www.hayhousemacon.org.
About the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
Founded in 1973, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is one of the country’s leading statewide, nonprofit preservation organizations. The Trust works for the preservation and revitalization of Georgia’s diverse historic resources and advocates their appreciation, protection and use.
The Georgia Trust generates community revitalization by finding buyers for endangered properties acquired by its Revolving Fund and raises awareness of other endangered historic resources through an annual listing of Georgia’s “Places in Peril.” The Trust honors preservation projects and individuals with its annual Preservation Awards and recognizes students and professionals with the Neel Reid Prize and Liz Lyon Fellowship. The Trust offers a variety of educational programs for adults and children, provides technical assistance to property owners and historic communities, advocates for funding, tax incentives and other laws aiding preservation efforts, and manages two house museums in Atlanta (Rhodes Hall) and Macon (Hay House). To learn more, visit www.georgiatrust.org.
