Milton Chamber hires new executive director

Kara Kattau, Milton Chamber of Commerce's new executive director, said popular events like Truckin' Tuesday and the Holly Festival are here to stay.

“I think sometimes people go to Lewes or Rehoboth or Dewey and they forget that Milton's here, and I want to bring attention to it,” Kattau said. “It's such a small, quaint, friendly town, people need to take advantage of it.”

The New York native, who now lives in Lewes, joined the chamber in April and is busy preparing for the organization's upcoming Horseshoe Crab and Shorebird Festival set for Saturday, May 27.

“We have a lot going on right now and a lot to get done,” Kattau said, adding that she's excited to support and help run Milton's upcoming Movies in the Park and Concerts in the Park events. She has only been on the job for a short time, but she said she has plans to add new events in the future and bolster the chamber's membership and public presence.

“I envision maybe even some more parades or something like that – things to celebrate the town and what it has to offer, and bring more tourism in,” she said.

Kattau, 43, replaces former Executive Director Lisa Sumstine, who announced in August 2016 she would be stepping down. Kattau is employed part time by the chamber, she said.

Kattau previously worked as a pharmaceutical representative in New York City and has done consulting work for nonprofits, including serving as the executive director for Habitat for Humanity in southern New Jersey. She holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Stony Brook University-SUNY and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. She also studied public administration at the University of Delaware.

“With my MBA, I can also help some businesses get off the ground,” Kattau said, adding that she has plenty of experience planning events and fundraising.

For more about the chamber, go to www.historicmilton.com.