Lolly Rash

Executive Director

After serving as a board member, board president and volunteer for MHT for many years, Lolly took over as Executive Director in 2013.  Lolly has over thirty years of experience in historic preservation, including her work as Historical Administrator for the City of Biloxi, Program Manager for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Vice President of White House Properties.

Claire Cothren Winn

Director of Programs

Claire has been a part of the Board of Trustees for five years as a board member, Treasurer, Vice President and President. She has degrees in Interior Design from Mississippi State University and Historic Preservation from the University of Georgia. Originally from Natchez, she worked for many years with Waycaster & Associates Architects on public and private preservation and restoration projects across Mississippi and Louisiana. She also spent some time working with cultural resources with the Army on the island of Oahu in Hawaii and with Dean and Dean Architects in Jackson. She now lives in the Mississippi Delta, managing the historic Baby Doll House in Benoit with her husband Eustace and daughter Frannie and son Hank. One of her favorite projects was the exterior restoration of the Art Moderne Columbia Waterworks Building in Columbia, Mississippi.

Sharon Flowers

Property Manager

A Biloxi native, Sharon has served as MHT's Property Manager since 2023. When not battling raccoons and collecting bricks at Oldfields, Sharon enjoys exploring Mississippi's back roads and bayous.

Jennifer Burt

Preservation Services Manager

Jennifer Burt holds a Bachelor of Science in Merchandising and Textiles with a minor in Business and is currently completing her Master of Fine Arts in Historic Preservation at Mississippi State University. Her graduate research explores creative ways to market historic places and connect them with new audiences, earning first place in Mississippi State University's 2025 Graduate School Image of Research competition. With a background spanning marketing, small business, fundraising, and decorating, Jennifer brings a decidedly creative approach to saving old places and sharing their stories.

Katy Nave Kemalyan

Project Manager

Katy earned an MFA in Historic Preservation from Mississippi State University in 2025. With an undergraduate degree from Southwestern University in Painting and Art History, Katy comes to historic preservation with a passion for historic trades and all types of architectural painting. Her graduate research focused on the management and restoration of small-town mural and signage collections. In addition to her background in the arts, Katy has several years of experience working with the non-profit organizations AmeriCorps and Habitat for Humanity. After living for 3.5 years in Meridian, she is currently based out of Tucson, AZ.

JD Cox

Communications Manager

JD leads creative direction and design, shaping brand systems and campaign creative with a focus on clarity and consistency. He brings a steady, detail-driven approach that keeps the work cohesive across channels and deliverables.

With more than a decade of marketing and advertising industry experience, JD has a proven track record of driving growth, strengthening brand value, and developing long-term client success. JD’s vision and outlook on the creative process has been shaped by time spent in many roles, from production to creative leadership, in the hospitality, tourism, finance, and F&B sectors - experience that continues to inform his approach to building brands that are as strategic as they are visually compelling.