Board Members and Categories
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Derek T. Davis

Chair 
Curator
Derek T. Davis, now retired, was previously the Curator of the Old Dillard Museum in Fort Lauderdale, developing cultural and educational programs at a historic schoolhouse listed on the National Register of Historic sites, built as the first public school building for blacks in Broward County.  His work included organizing exhibitions, administering musical concerts, managing collaborations with cultural organizations, facilitating policies and procedures for non-profit fundraising organizations, conducting tours, and overseeing website development and managing the museum staff.  

He received his Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Florida Atlantic University.  Reappointed in 2016 by then Commissioner Dale V.C. Holness, Derek Davis currently serves as Chair of the Historic Preservation Board and fills the professional category of conservation or curation.

Jeff Schwartz

Vice Chair

Historic Preservation

Jeffrey Schwartz is the President of the Parkland Historical Society.  In this capacity, he was directly involved with creating and burying the Parkland time capsule, scheduled to be opened on the city’s 100 year anniversary.  He initiated the city’s historical marker program, identifying and marking sites as well as educating public visitors, and was critical in getting the city’s first book on the History of Parkland, Florida, written and published; he wrote the acknowledge for the final publication.  

A world traveler, he has been to almost 100 countries, for both work and personal enjoyment.  He received his Bachelors of Geology from City University New York, York College, and followed up with a Lamont Doherty Geological Observatory Fellowship in Geophysics at Columbia University.  Reappointed in 2017 by then Commissioner Michael Udine, Jeff Schwartz currently serves as a Vice Chair of the Historic Preservation Board and fills the professional category of historic preservation.​

Staff​

Rick Ferrer
Historic Preservation Officer
Bradley Lanning, PaleoWest Archaeology, LLC

County Archaeological Consultant

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Anthony Abbate

Board Member
Licensed Architect
Anthony Abbate, is Associate Provost for Florida Atlantic University Broward Campuses, and Professor at the School of Architecture.  He is also an NCARB certified architect registered in Florida and New York, with a Master of Architecture from Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Catholic University of America.  
Abbate received the William G. McMinn Award for Outstanding Architectural Education from the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects in 2014, the Arango Design Award in 2000, Washington University's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1995, and 22 awards from the American Institute of Architects for design excellence as well as the President’s Award for Distinguished Service.
He is a past chair of the Broward County Cultural Council and former chair of the County’s Public Art and Design Committee. He served on the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Board of Adjustment, chaired the City’s first Sustainability/Green Committee, chaired the Sustainability Advisory Board, and chaired the Beach Redevelopment Advisory Board (BRAB).  He is past president of the Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale and is the President of the Rotary Fort Lauderdale 1090 Foundation.
With a long record of community service and leadership, he currently serves on the board of directors of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, and Hispanic Unity of Florida (HUF). He is a member of Leadership Florida; and is also a regular contributor to the Sentinel’s South Florida 100 opinion page.  Appointed in 2019 by then Commissioner Tim Ryan, Anthony Abbate currently serves as a member on the Historic Preservation Board and fills the licensed architect category.

Jonathan Axler

Board Member

Historic architecture, architectural history, or related profession

Jonathan Axler is a South Florida native who is Programs and Education Coordinator at the Stranahan Ho​use Museum, Broward’s oldest  known house, where he’s developed new and expanded existing programs. He formerly  worked at Plantation Historical Museum in exhibit development, tours and in trainings. Jonathan also worked as Gallery Curator at Flamingo Gardens  wildlife, botanical, horticultural sanctuary, one  of Broward’s oldest attractions. He has had an  extensive past of working in support of natural history and historical museums and sites. Appointed by Commissioner Nan Rich, Jonathan Axler currently serves as a Member of the Board and fills the professional category of historic preservation.

Daniel J. Stallone, Esq.

Board Member

Historic Preservation Planning and Land Use

Daniel J. Stallone is the Town of Davie Police Code Compliance Official, a former legal advisor to the Davie Police Department with experience in red light camera infraction program, forfeiture actions, false alarm enforcement program coordinator, and code enforcement of zoning and land use codes, lien and fine mitigation, and author of municipal ordinances. 

Daniel Stallone holds a Bachelors in Geology from the University of Dayton, Ohio; Master’s in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University; Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University and admitted to practice law in Florida; and completing a dissertation on complaint analysis for a Ph.D. in Conflict Resolution, also from Nova Southeastern. Reappointed in 2017 by then Commissioner Steve Geller, Danny Stallone currently serves as a Member of the Historic Preservation Board and fills the professional category of historic preservation planning and land use.​

Cynthia Strachan-Saunders

Board Member

Historian, Folklore 

Cynthia Strachan-Saunders is a vocalist, songwriter, actress, and author.  As a vocalist, known as “Jus’ Cynthia”, her debut CD is a collection of smooth jazz and contemporary songs.  Her debut book, a pictorial and written oral history of the first decade of Carver Ranches, stemmed from her grandparents, who were original pioneers of the area.  

She currently owns, occupies, and maintains the first Broward County Designated Historical Site, her family home of Bowles-Strachan House, and operates the associated museum on-site.  Reappointed in 2017 by then Commissioner Barbara Sharief, Cynthia Saunders currently serves as a Member of the Historic Preservation Board and fills the professional category of history or folklore.

Kim Weismantle Schwartz

Board Member

Kim Weismantle is a Davie native and the Education Director at the Old Davie School Historical Museum. After completing her Bachelors in Recreation and Leisure Management and a Masters in Public History at FSU, she has worked to share the fascinating history of her hometown of Davie. She brought her background and love for children’s programming to the Old Davie School Historical Museum in 2013, revitalizing the interactive Step Back in Time school program which welcomes over 5000 students each year and crafting new exhibits featuring the natural environment of the Everglades frontier, the agricultural history and the changing and growing community of Davie. She is dedicated to the ongoing research of Davie and west Broward during the twentieth century. With the incredible photograph collection of the Davie School Foundation archive, Kim authored Images of America: Davie, from Arcadia Publishing in 2021. Appointed in 2023 by Mayor Lamar P. Fisher , Kim Weismantle serves as a member of the Historic Preservation Board and fills the professional category of historic preservation.