Preservation Trades Network
Preservation Trades Network (PTN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization, founded in 1997, that provides education, networking, and outreach for traditional building trades professionals through its annual International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW), scholarships, and award programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersDetroit, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Preservation Trades Network does
Preservation Trades Network (PTN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization founded in 1997 and headquartered at PO Box 442205, Detroit, Michigan. Its stated mission is to provide education, networking, and outreach for the traditional building trades that conserve the built environment, spanning masonry, plaster, windows and doors, joinery, carpentry, timber framing, roofing, metalwork, and decorative finishes. The organization's primary constituency comprises preservation trades professionals, students and apprentices in trades programs, academic and vocational institutions, and adjacent preservation nonprofits; it operates across North America with select international programming (e.g., ITES 2015 in Savannah, partnerships in the UK).
PTN's core offerings are centered on the annual International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW), a multi-day hands-on demonstration and training event that has run since 1997 and rotates geographic locations (Charleston 2012, Detroit 2017, St. Clairsville OH 2022, St. Paul MN 2023, Medina NY 2026). Supporting programs include pre-conference specialized workshops, the annual Askins Achievement Award recognizing master-level preservation trade contributions, and two scholarship programs — the Misia Leonard Scholarship (up to $1,000 travel assistance for students/apprentices) and the Christopher P. Robinson Scholarship (international preservation exchange). PTN also publishes educational content including The Whitehill Report.
The business model is membership-subsidized nonprofit: revenue is generated through tiered annual memberships (Individual $60, Couple/Family $80, Senior $25, Student/Apprentice discounted, Corporate/Institutional $300), multi-year membership options, event registration fees for IPTW ($150-$500 tiered pricing), corporate sponsorships, and tax-deductible donations to the Scholarship Fund. Distribution is community-led, primarily through the annual event, the ptn.org website (built on Wild Apricot membership software), email newsletters, and Facebook. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and has no parent company, venture backing, or investor structure.
Preservation Trades Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Preservation Trades Network
- Legal name
- Preservation Trades Network
- Website
- https://ptn.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Preservation Trades Network (PTN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization, founded in 1997, that provides education, networking, and outreach for traditional building trades professionals through its annual International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW), scholarships, and award programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Preservation Trades Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Detroit
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Preservation Trades Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: PTN generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees at various tier levels including Individual ($60), Couple/Family ($80), Senior ($25), Student/Apprentice (discounted), and Corporate/Institutional ($300), with multi-year options available.
- Event Registration Fees: The organization generates revenue through registration fees for the annual International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW) and pre-conference workshops, with tiered pricing for members, non-members, students, and military/veterans.
- Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, PTN accepts tax-deductible donations to support the Scholarship Fund which helps bring students and apprentices to PTN events, workshops and field schools.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Membership - $60/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Couple/Family Membership - $80/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Senior Membership - $25/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Student/Apprentice Membership - Discounted |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate/Institutional Membership - $300/year |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Three Year Individual - $165 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Three Year Couple - $210 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Three Year Senior - $65 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Three Year Corporate/Institutional - $825 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Preservation Trades Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PTN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization that provides education, networking, and outreach for traditional building trades. Its core deliverable is the annual International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW), a multi-day hands-on event where master craftspeople demonstrate and teach preservation skills across masonry, carpentry, metalwork, plaster, stained glass, roofing, timber framing, and joinery. Supporting offerings include pre-conference specialized workshops, tiered membership programs, scholarships, and trades education publications such as The Whitehill Report.
Product overview
The Preservation Trades Network (PTN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization providing education, networking, and outreach for the traditional building trades. The organization centers around the International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW), an annual three-day hands-on event featuring live demonstrations across multiple preservation trades disciplines. Supporting offerings include pre-conference workshops (cobblestone masonry, wooden window restoration, cemetery preservation, log house preservation), scholarship programs (Misia Leonard Scholarship providing travel assistance up to $1,000, Christopher P. Robinson Scholarship for international exchange), and the annual Askins Achievement Award recognizing master-level contributions to preservation trades. PTN operates membership programs at various tiers (Individual, Couple/Family, Senior, Student/Apprentice, Corporate/Institutional) providing registration discounts, voting privileges, and member-only access. The organization also produces trades education publications including The Whitehill Report.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- IPTW: International Preservation Trades Workshop - PTN's flagship annual event bringing together preservation trades practitioners for hands-on demonstrations and education.
- Askins Achievement Award
- Misia Leonard Scholarship
- Christopher P. Robinson Scholarship
Products and services
- International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW) Annual multi-day hands-on event where master craftspeople demonstrate and teach traditional preservation building skills to tradespeople, students, and preservation professionals from across North America.
- Pre-Conference Workshops
Quantifiable outcome
- Annual IPTW events since 1997 with growing attendance from tradespeople across North America
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Preservation Trades Network
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Preservation Trades Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Preservation Trades Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Talis Historic RestorationcoreHost venue for IPTW 2026 at 324 Catherine St, Medina, NY. An old school building turned into a window restoration shop, providing classrooms and outdoor space for demonstrations.
- National Trust for Historic PreservationmajorProvided discounted attendance ($500) for PTN members to attend PastForward 25 workshop in Milwaukee, WI on September 16-18, 2025.
- National Park Service Historic Preservation Training CentercoreHPTC houses the permanent award plaque listing Askins Achievement Award winners at Gambrill House headquarters in Frederick, MD. HPTC staff are regular instructors and presenters at PTN events.
- Window Preservation Standards CollaborativecoreCollaborative of window preservation experts including PTN members. Co-hosts National Window Preservation Summit and develops window preservation standards.
- Belmont College Building Preservation & Restoration DepartmentcoreHost of IPTW 2022 at Belmont College in St. Clairsville, Ohio. Provided facilities and student support for the event.
- Association for Preservation Technology International (APT)majorPTN and APT held parallel annual conferences in 2012 in Charleston, SC, creating collaborative experiences between preservationists, architects, engineers and building trades.
- Atlas PreservationminorLed cemetery preservation workshops at IPTW events. Jonathan Appell has provided workshops nationally in collaboration with towns, states, historical societies & cemeteries.
- National Barn AllianceminorPartnered with PTN for IPTW 2016 barn tour showcasing historic farmsteads and barns in the Shenandoah Valley.
- Savannah Technical College Center for Traditional CraftcorePartnered with PTN to host ITES 2015 (International Trades Education Symposium) in Savannah, Georgia.
- Frederick Douglas Greater Rochester International AirportminorOne of three airports serving IPTW 2026 attendees, located approximately 54 minutes from Medina, NY.
- Buffalo Niagara International AirportminorOne of three airports serving IPTW 2026 attendees, located approximately 43 minutes from Medina, NY.
- Toronto Pearson International AirportminorInternational airport option for IPTW 2026 attendees, located approximately 2 hours from Medina, NY.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Preservation Trades Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- National Barn Alliance: Nonprofit dedicated to preserving historic barns and farm structures through education and advocacy. Comparable niche preservation nonprofit that has partnered with PTN on barn tours at IPTW.
- Traditional Building Magazine / Restore Media: B2B media brand focused on traditional building, historic restoration, and traditional materials. Adjacent in serving the same trades audience and publishing educational content.
Direct peers
- National Preservation Institute: Nonprofit educational organization that delivers continuing-education training in historic preservation to professionals. Comparable education-focused mission serving preservation practitioners.
- Vernacular Architecture Forum: Scholarly nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the study and preservation of vernacular architecture. Comparable membership and conference-based model serving a related preservation audience.
- Association for Preservation Technology International (APT): International nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the best technology for conserving historic structures. APT is a direct peer in the historic preservation education and professional community space and has co-located conferences with PTN.
- Window Preservation Standards Collaborative: Collaborative of window preservation experts including PTN members that co-hosts the National Window Preservation Summit. A niche peer that operates within PTN's broader community.
- National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center: Federal program within the National Park Service that trains preservation trades professionals. Houses the Askins Achievement Award plaque and sends staff as instructors to PTN events, making it the closest public-sector peer.
Regional players
- Preservation League of New York State: Statewide nonprofit providing education, advocacy, and technical assistance for historic preservation in New York. Comparable nonprofit membership and education mission within a defined state geography.
- Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia: Regional nonprofit focused on preserving Greater Philadelphia's historic buildings through education, advocacy, and technical assistance. Comparable membership-driven model in a specific geography.
Broad incumbents
- National Trust for Historic Preservation: Leading private nonprofit focused on saving historic places, with a broader advocacy and policy mission. Overlaps with PTN on preservation education and has offered member discounts for PTN members to attend PastForward.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Preservation Trades Network social profiles
Digital presencePreservation Trades Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Preservation Trades Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Preservation Trades Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Preservation Trades Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Preservation Trades Network
What does Preservation Trades Network do?
PTN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization that provides education, networking, and outreach for traditional building trades. Its core deliverable is the annual International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW), a multi-day hands-on event where master craftspeople demonstrate and teach preservation skills across masonry, carpentry, metalwork, plaster, stained glass, roofing, timber framing, and joinery. Supporting offerings include pre-conference specialized workshops, tiered membership programs, scholarships, and trades education publications such as The Whitehill Report.
Is Preservation Trades Network a public or private company?
Preservation Trades Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Preservation Trades Network founded?
Preservation Trades Network was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Preservation Trades Network based?
Preservation Trades Network is headquartered in Detroit, United States, in the North America region.
How does Preservation Trades Network make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are event Registration Fees and donations and Contributions.
Who are Preservation Trades Network's main competitors?
Others on record are National Barn Alliance and Traditional Building Magazine / Restore Media. Direct peers are National Preservation Institute, Vernacular Architecture Forum, Association for Preservation Technology International (APT), Window Preservation Standards Collaborative and National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center. Regional players are Preservation League of New York State and Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. National Trust for Historic Preservation is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Preservation Trades Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Preservation Trades Network.