June 2022
5 Minutes With … Kara Kading By Teresa McPherson

Kara Kading is director of events and marketing at Milaeger’s.

Kara Kading is director of events and marketing at Milaeger’s in Racine and Sturtevant, Wisconsin. She is also a GPN 40 Under 40 alumnus.

What do you love about your job?

I love that it’s always changing — every season and every day feels like a new adventure in the greenhouse. And I love that I get to be with my family every day.

What keeps you up at night?

The wind! I can never sleep when the wind is howling or during heavy rains because I always worry about the greenhouses or the stores flooding.

If you weren’t in this profession, what would you be doing?

A news anchor, or I’d love to have my own talk show! Jimmy Fallon is my inspiration!

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I love silent sports — canoeing, hiking, sailing, biking — just about anything outside any time of the year. I love to be in motion.

What’s something that few people know about you?

I used to be a professional roller skater and I was first in the state when I was in 8th grade!

Favorite plant to grow? Why?

This is hard because I’m an annuals girl and I love to make colorful mixed combinations. But if I had to narrow it down to just one plant, it would have to be begonias — I love all the different kinds, but especially the angel-wing types, or dragonwing. They perform so well in so many different conditions — sun or shade, they bloom like crazy!