Waterfowl Festival Inc. have recently welcomed two new additional members to the Board of Directors for 2025.
“As our organization continues to grow, we are pleased to announce the addition of Durrer and Burns to our team. Durrer was a key member of our volunteer core in 2024, chairing two separate committees and supporting our operations downtown. Burns is a respected, second-generation life-long volunteer, carver, and chairman of the scholarship committee. Both individuals exhibit the highest commitment level to the mission of the festival.” remarked executive director Deena Kilmon.
Over his 20 years working in the federal government and in national politics, Austin has served as Chief of Staff for multiple Congressmembers on Capitol Hill, in the Executive Branch, and as campaign manager for a major statewide campaign. Through this experience, Austin has developed exceptional relationships, knowledge, political expertise and the ability to develop and communicate complex issues designed to advance client interests at the federal, state and local levels. As a partner at Moran Global Strategies, a leading government relations consulting firm, Austin is an expert on the appropriations process, focused on the defense technology sector.
Burns has worked as an educator for over two decades with Talbot County Public Schools and is a graduate of the University of Maryland College Park and Johns Hopkins University. Burns lives on West Sherwood Farms, his family farm, located outside Bozman, Maryland. Ernie continues to create bird and duck sculptures in the studio that inspires him and serves on the scholarship and carving committees for the Waterfowl Festival.
