Doug Heller worked on organization and publicity to save the historic
Black Horse Inn on Bethlehem Pike. The Black Horse Inn project won the 2006 Community Action Award from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. The fund-raising went extremely well for a project of this type.
He is the creator and webmaster of
ushistory.org, a website visited by over a million people monthly. It is the top-ranked website for the Declaration of Independence, Flag Etiquette, and Benjamin Franklin (partial list). The website of the Liberty Bell in the movie "National Treasure" was modeled on it.
He co-founded
Beyond Books, which is an online interactive textbook company, with courses for K-12 in mathematics, literature, history, science, Internet, and art. BeyondBooks.com was sold to a company in Seattle, founded by Paul Allen.
He is the principal of
paperpen.com, which does internet design, development and strategy. His numerous projects and clients include America Online, The Philadelphia Eagles, The Book and the Cook, The Partnership for International Education, Heritage Vision, the National Museum of American Jewish History, and the Center for Professional Advancement.
Doug did pro bono work for a number of nonprofits, including breastcancer.org (helped establish the website), Or Hadash, Young Involved Philadelphia, and National History Day Philadelphia.
Doug serves on the Board of Directors of
Hope Lodge, just up Bethlehem Pike. The site is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. He is chair of the newsletter/website committee.
Before running for Commissioner, Doug sat on the Springfield Township Communications Committee, which introduced televising the Commissioners Meetings, won approval to redesign the township website, and rearranged the seating in the room to encourage public participation. The group's goals were to seek ways to encourage public understanding and participation in their government. This website was an outgrowth of thinking done by that group.
He was a founding member of the
American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (see Doug's cameos in the movie
Wordplay).
Doug and Nancy are 19-year residents of Springfield, living in a historic 19th century house. Doug is the father of two wonderful adult sons, both proud graduates of STHS.
Read Doug Heller's biography
