Waterfowl Festival Inc. have recently welcomed new additions to their Boards of Directors in January, Dan Ketelson and Shaw Pritchett.
“This year, we are pleased to appoint two board members with an admirable record of volunteerism with the festival, “ remarked Deena Kilmon, Executive Director. “Dan and Shaw have shown proven leadership over the years and they are both dedicated to the festival’s mission of raising awareness and funds for conservation efforts.”
Dan Ketelsen, is a tenured and award-winning hospitality professional with over 30 years of experience in the hotel and luxury convention sales industry. A graduate of Iowa State University, Dan spent 17 years with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts in Chicago, New Orleans, Dallas, Calgary and Anaheim directing hotel sales and marketing teams. Additionally, Dan has served as the Provider Partner Committee chair at the AMC Institute and on the So Others Might Eat corporate advisory board in Washington, DC. Ketelsen currently is the Account Director for C2 Association Strategies, a role he accepted in late 2025.
Since moving to Easton with his wife Lisa in 2021, Dan has been involved with the Waterfowl Festival as the Tailgate Chair and Co- Chair of Artifacts. Dan currently serves as the Warehouse Chairman and was appointed by Easton’s Mayor Cook to the Waterfowl Commission in 2025. Dan’s enthusiasm for the festival extends beyond the festival weekend, and he is a regular volunteer at Waterfowl headquarters.
Shaw Pritchett comes from a family of dedicated volunteers and has been involved each year since he was a very young child. Growing up, he was introduced to the festival by his father, Albert Pritchett, who served multiple years as Waterfowl Festival and Waterfowl Chesapeake President. Today, Albert and his wife Jennifer continue to support the festival as the Premier Night Chairmen. Shaw’s siblings Finley, Claire, and Austin also work tirelessly on premier night activities, ushering in a new generation of dedicated volunteers. Premier Night proceeds are deposited directly into our Conservation fund each year, resulting in millions of dollars over the years for conservation efforts. The funds raised by premier night have been instrumental in creating many of the environmental organziations in place today on the Eastern Shore.
Pritchett currently is the vice president of C. Albert Matthews, a company that has been instrumental over the years in repairing and restoring the infrastructure of the Waterfowl Building (formerly the Easton Armory). Pritchett has fond memories of being in the building for many years while his family worked on various projects for the festival. Shaw’s leadership experience, love of the the Eastern Shore, and his deep understanding of the operational structure of the festival will be invaluable as the organization approaches its sixth decade.
About Waterfowl Festival Inc.
Waterfowl Festival Inc., a partner of Waterfowl Chesapeake Inc., is dedicated to wildlife conservation, the promotion of wildlife art, and the celebration of life on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The 54th Festival will be held November 14-16, 2025 in historic Easton, Md. General admission tickets are $25 for all three days and VIP packages are also available. For more information, to volunteer, or donate, email [email protected] or call 410-822-4567.
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