As executive director of Clermont Main Street, Natalie Kahler works to highlight the qualities that make Clermont special while creating opportunities for residents to become part of the community’s continued growth.

“Every place we live has a unique personality,” Natalie says. “My favorite task is identifying those special traits, highlighting them and using that to help people fall in love with our city.”

One of her proudest recent accomplishments is the completion of the first phase of a downtown relandscaping project featuring Florida native plants. Through a partnership with the City of Clermont and Cherrylake Inc., Clermont Main Street is helping design what Natalie describes as what will ultimately be the largest native plant installation in a Florida city.

“It’s a beautification, educational and conservation project that has been extremely well-received,” she says.

Natalie also helps residents discover meaningful ways to contribute through Clermont Main Street’s programs and events. Projects such as “With Love from Clermont” painting exhibition, Clermont On Screen movie celebrations and Anime Nights are designed to appeal to a variety of interests and encourage more people to participate.

“Clermont Main Street has the best mission—we help people find ways to volunteer locally doing things they love to do!” she says. The mission includes people of all ages. “Our newest project encouraged kids to draw pictures of their ideal park. Those drawings are now being used to redesign parks in downtown.”

Natalie’s commitment to public service is inspired in part by her family history. Her ancestors have lived along the East Coast for more than 400 years and she continues to uncover stories about their involvement in their communities.

“I continue to be drawn to the same interests my ancestors had: the arts, government service, ministry, and placemaking,” she says

Her advice to future professionals and community leaders is to recognize and develop what makes them distinctive.

“Spend time cultivating your strengths instead of focusing on your weaknesses,” Natalie says. “You are the only you that has ever walked this planet so your contributions are guaranteed to be unique if you stay true to your gifts and interests.”