Kennett Collaborative has announced the appointment of Daniel Embree as its new Executive Director. He will begin his post on January 3, 2023.
Embree joins Kennett Collaborative as an experienced executive with more than a decade of proven successes in non-profit management, strategic planning, programmatic expansion, community engagement, and capacity building through fundraising and advancement activities.
“I’m deeply honored to be named the next Executive Director of Kennett Collaborative. I look forward to continuing the important work Kennett Collaborative does to make our community the welcoming and thriving place it is,” Embree says. “As a Kennett area resident, I am excited to work with our staff, Board, partners, merchants, and the entire community to elevate the programs, events, businesses, and one-of-a-kind experiences that give Kennett its unique character and make it such a great place to live, work, and visit.”
Since 2018, Embree has served as Director, National Programs for the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers in New York City. In that role, he managed a large network of regional partners to provide recognition for creative teens, planned and implemented a series of annual events attracting 3,000+ attendees, and supervised staff and day-to-day operations for programs benefiting more than 100,000 students annually. Prior to joining the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers in 2016, Embree managed youth programs for the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, where he designed curriculum, created successful marketing campaigns to grow engagement and income, and coordinated cultural exhibitions featuring diverse artists.
“Our executive director search yielded a field of stellar candidates,” says Kennett Collaborative Board President Mary Kay Gaver. “Daniel’s passion for connecting communities through cultural experiences, his savvy business acumen, and his love and appreciation for our region made him the perfect choice. As an artist, Daniel makes beautiful things—and he also has a track record of building beautiful programs and relationships. He has the leadership skills, vision, and creativity to continue our trajectory of growth and lead us through our next exciting chapter.”
Kennett Collaborative works to make the community thrive through placemaking, events, and community development initiatives. The organization’s placemaking programs, including Christmas in Kennett and Kennett Blooms and Floral Flash, reimagine and reinvent public spaces through seasonal initiatives that make Kennett a fun and beautiful place to live, work, and visit. “Our events and programs bring people together and celebrate and support local businesses,” says Gaver.
Other popular Kennett Collaborative programs and events include the Kennett Square Holiday Village Market, Kennett Brewfest and Winterfest, the KSQ Farmer’s Market, Summerfest, and Third Thursdays on State Street. Kennett Collaborative’s weekly Around the Square newsletter brings fresh stories about local merchants, events, nonprofit organizations, economic development, placemaking, and more—as well as information and links to local initiatives and events—to subscribers every week. Kennett Collaborative also works in partnership with other organizations to support events such as Clover Market, Juneteenth celebrations, the Memorial Day Parade, Día de los Muertos, Tinsel on the Town, and the Holiday Light Parade.
Photo by Dylan Francis
