Bio
Rob graduated from Roger Williams University’s Historic Preservation program in 1991 and founded Heritage Restoration, Inc. (HRI) in 2001 to maintain, restore, and enhance historic buildings. HRI’s versatile workshop fabricates and restores the unique and challenging, and our state-of-the-art finishing shop restores windows and doors in a production line style system. The HRI crew has manipulated, lifted, reconstructed and restored buildings from the 17th to the 20th century, always with a high regard to preservation, function and longevity.
In January of 2022, Rob purchased Sutherland Welles, LTD with his wife Mara Cagnetta (President) and moved the production from Vermont to Rhode Island. Sutherland Welles was founded in 1967 to formulate 100% pure polymerized tung oil into a family of finishes that nourish, renew, and protect wood and other surfaces.
Rob remains committed to train and educate students of all ages seeking skills in restoration techniques; from homeowners to high school to graduate students. Rob taught at Roger Williams University’s Historic Preservation program, introducing students to how buildings are analyzed, maintained, and manipulated. HRI has been the recipient of three RI State Historic Preservation Awards, two Doris Duke Preservation Awards, and a Providence Preservation Society award. Rob has a blog, including his years with the South County Independent and Providence Journal Bulletin, and serves on various local boards and committees
