Angela and Scott Styles founded the Das Leben Foundation with their college-age children, Ellie and Rhett with a mission to preserve history and make it accessible for younger and future generations. The family has traveled extensively in the United States, largely between the Mid-Atlantic corridor between Virginia and New York, and between the Austin-San Antonio, Texas region and New Orleans. Together they have experienced and studied history in many media.
Through their studies and their work, Angela and Scott have not only witnessed history up close; they also understand the government’s role in historic preservation and the most effective methods to communicate history to various populations.
About Angela Styles
Angela earned her undergraduate degree in history from the University of Virginia, graduating with distinction, and her J.D. with distinction from the University of Texas School of Law. She has practiced law for nearly 25 years, and is among the country’s most prominent government contracts lawyers.
She brings to bear her experience as an administrator for federal procurement policy within the OMB, a position that required confirmation by the U.S. Senate, and the GSA’s Public Buildings Service. For eight years, Angela served as executive director of the Defense Industry Initiative on Business Ethics and Conduct. She currently serves on the U.S. Public Buildings Reform Board, assessing and recommending new methods and techniques for managing the federal real estate portfolio.
She also is a board member of the Texas Historical Foundation, the University of Chicago-Argonne National Laboratory, and a Champion for the Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas.
About Scott Styles
Scott has been involved in public policy for the past 30 years. His love of history began with family travels and his education at the University of Texas in Austin, and expanded through his work in the Texas state and federal governments. From 1990 to 1993, Scott served as legislative advisor for Secretary of State James A. Baker III, during which time he witnessed the first Gulf War, the reunification of Germany, and the fall of the USSR. He was also in the U.S. delegation to the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil.
After his executive branch experience, Scott worked for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. He represented over 15,000 worldwide employees before Congress and the executive branch on energy, environment, trade and employee benefit issues. Scott later became the chief of staff for a Texas congressman.
More recently, Scott has been involved in health policy debates, including several years as the senior vice president for federal affairs for America’s Health Insurance Plans, a political advocacy and trade association. He is a consultant in health care and other industries, currently with the Bockorny Group.
About Ellie and Rhett Styles
Ellie is studying at Tulane University, majoring in history and communications. She enjoys the history and culture of New Orleans, and is a key part of the team’s effort to communicate historic preservation to her generation.
Rhett is at the University of Arizona, studying a multi-faceted curriculum called “Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and the Law.” He is involved with creating strategies to reach his generation and help them develop an interest in history.
How Das Leben Supports Historic Preservation
The Das Leben Foundation supports restoration and preservation of historic buildings and can help organizations connect with the necessary entities throughout their historic preservation process. We have experience with the U.S. Department of the Interior, the National Park Service, National Historic Trust, and state and national registers of historic sites.
If you are from a historic site or museum and are seeking support for your organization in the area of historic preservation, expanding your audience reach, or need fundraising development, Das Leben Foundation can help in the following ways:
• Develop strategic partnerships with historic preservation organizations
• Connect potential partners and government organizations that are involved in historic preservation
• Review historic preservation projects and identify potential government assistance such as tax credits, other grants, or government funding
• Assist with development campaigns for historic organizations
• Establish partnerships with educational organizations that use new media and technologies to expand historical knowledge
• Develop new media applications that expand historical knowledge
• Identify and mentor students and student organizations that have an interest in history and historic preservation