by LISA MACNEIL
Hernando Sun Reporter
One day after her election to the Executive Directorship of Brooksville Main Street, Natalie Kahler was rushing off to a meeting. We were somewhat able to catch up with her.
Barely three months on the board of directors, Kahler was nominated to fill the chair of the departing Ryan Malloy. “There was a decision period, and I needed to discuss it with my family,” Kahler said. “It’s a long term commitment.” Not exactly a part-time job, Kahler has already set goals to bring Founder’s Day back to Brooksville, as well as a Women’s Suffrage event sometime in 2020.
The challenges she faces are not new, but they persist; drawing people to visit Brooksville businesses, and keeping business in Brooksville. At present, Brooksville Main Street’s two main events are Uncommonly Artsy and Friday Night Live.
Kahler is well known in the community, having served on Brooksville’s City Council, with one year as Mayor. In twenty years, she’s also founded a respite for children with special needs, ran a weekly food pantry and was an integral force in keeping Chinsegut Hill Retreat and Museum vibrant. She also handled the “boring but necessary paperwork” required to keep the Hernando County Youth League safe while playing football.
As an English and Journalism teacher, Kahler has educated students who have ultimately made careers in photography, filmmaking, education, marketing and writing.
“One of the highlights of my term as Mayor was travelling to Tallahassee to advocate for our acceptance in Florida’s Main Street Program. I have always believed Brooksville Main Street Program is a critical component in making Brooksville its best version of itself. I am honored to have been asked to be a part of it. We are gifted with so much talent and believe we are making great progress in uniting it into a common goal,” said Kahler.
