Holly DDA Welcomes Optimistic New Director Katy Hughes

(Crystal A. Proxmire, May 11, 2017)

Holly, MI – Lifelong Holly resident Katy Hughes is ready to start an exciting chapter in her life, helping the community she loves to grow and prosper as the new Downtown Development Authority Director.

Hughes was hired by the DDA board after the recent departure of Andy Potter who left to work as City Manager for Lathrup Village.  She will also be serving as the Assistant Village Manager for Holly,  with part of her salary coming from the DDA budget and part from the Village.

“I am excited about working for the DDA because this is my hometown and I think that I can positively affect the future for the residents of the Village by building consensus, bringing people together, enhancing communication, and boosting economic development by using a well thought out, targeted approach,” Hughes said. “I’m an optimist and I feel that enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm.  The energy in this town is palpable and my excitement and love for the Village of Holly is easy to see.”

Hughes graduated from Holly High School and married her high school sweetheart. Their daughter is a proud fourth-generation Holly resident.

The Village of Holly has been home Hughes’ entire life, minus a few years to attend Saginaw Valley State University where she earned her BA in Communications.  She worked for the State of Michigan in areas of talent acquisition and communications that included organizing events and editing press releases, speeches and newsletters.

Prior to that she trained emergency room and resident physicians on how to use improved communications skills to have a better bedside manner.

Working on behalf of the businesses and residents is a dream come true for Hughes. “I often volunteer for festivals and events in Holly; I enjoy being involved in the goings on.  I love the small town feel where everyone knows each other and takes care of one another.  Holly has been referred to as Maybury (from the Andy Griffith Show) or a scene from a Norman Rockwell painting.  People like the Village of Holly for its feeling of ‘home’.  And I want to lead others to our town so that they too can experience that feeling,” she said.

The DDA’s vote to hire Hughes was unanimous.  DDA Chairperson Dick Rossell, who owns Holly Hills Primitives, said “I’ve known Katy for many years and I couldn’t be happier with her selection. She will do an outstanding job.”

Janice Seeley, a resident board member, said “I have the utmost confidence in Katy’s abilities as Holly’s new DDA Director. Her long standing relationships with the business owners and village leaders, along with her proven ability to lead and inspire made her a natural choice for this position. She is an excellent communicator and has the passion and drive that will help Holly achieve its potential.”

Learn more about Downtown Holly at http://www.mainstreetholly.com/.