Virginia Preservation Alliance Moves to Richmond to Enhance Strengths.(Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News)

Dec. 3--A preservationist who moved to the historic city of Richmond to lead the Preservation Alliance of Virginia is raring to go.

Except Executive Director George W. Edwards has to hire a program coordinator/office administrator -- a key staff member -- first.

"We've come a long way in three weeks in terms of unpacking and getting opened up," Edwards said recently.

In its move this fall from Charlottesville, where it was based for most of its 16 years, the alliance gained Edwards, previously the executive director of the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota. He succeeds Kat Imhoff, who left in February to oversee the Monticello historic site after 3 1/2 years as executive director. Edwards has almost 15 years' experience in historic preservation and downtown development.

The alliance lost its program coordinator/office administrator when her family moved to Georgia. The other staff member, a special events coordinator who works part time, is commuting from Charlottesville.

The …