About Us
Diverse Experience
Sandra Scaffidi is the owner and founder of Practical Preservation, a historic preservation consulting firm based in West Virginia. With a professional background that includes collaboration with engineering firms, architectural practices, nonprofit organizations, and municipal governments, she brings a broad and practical perspective on preservation planning, documentation, and community revitalization.
Sandra holds a Master’s degree in Public History and Historic Preservation from Colorado State University and a Bachelor’s degree in History from Binghamton University. She meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards in Architectural History and has conducted architectural surveys and historical research on historic resources throughout the United States.
John Pitman serves as Preservation Associate and Designer for Practical Preservation. He brings more than twenty years of experience in civil engineering, site development, and infrastructure planning, providing the firm with a practical understanding of how preservation projects intersect with transportation systems, grading, drainage, circulation, and community redevelopment.
At Practical Preservation, John leads GIS mapping, graphic design, field documentation, and existing conditions analysis supporting architectural surveys, preservation planning, and Section 106 review. His technical background and visual communication skills strengthen the firm’s ability to document historic resources within their broader physical and infrastructural context.
Certifications
Practical Preservation is recognized by the Small Business Administration as a Woman Owned Small Business as well as an Economically Disadvantaged Small Business.
The West Virginia Department of Transportation has approved Practical Preservation as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and we are now certified under NACIS Code 541720 Research and Development in the Social Sciences (Historic Preservation Consulting Services).
We strive to maintain a safe work environment and have completed the USACE Safety and Health 40 Hour Training course (EM385-1-1) as well as the Red Cross CPR and First Aid Training course.