Wes Kazmarck Named Ocean City’s 2025 Citizen of the Year

The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced that Wes Kazmarck has been selected as the 2025 Citizen of the Year. He will be formally honored at the Chamber’s 2025 Citizen of the Year and Outstanding Business and Beautification Awards dinner on Thursday, November 13, at 6 p.m. at the Ocean City Yacht Club.

Kazmarck is a third-generation business owner in Ocean City, continuing a strong family tradition. His grandparents were responsible for building several hotels in town, including Coral Sands and Sifting Sands. His late father, Alex Kazmarck, opened Surf Mall, which Wes and his brother, Chris, have co-owned for years. Beyond the Surf Mall, Kazmarck owns and operates the clothing boutique Birdcage. His wife, Darcy, a retired schoolteacher, also works with him at Birdcage.

For 19 years, Kazmarck has been a dedicated leader in the business community:

• He has served as President of Ocean City’s Boardwalk Merchants Association (BMA).
• He has been the Boardwalk representative to the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.
• He has been a member of B.A.N.D. (Business and Neighborhood Development).

When reflecting on his time as BMA president, Kazmarck highlighted his pride in helping the business community navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. He was a strong voice, being “adamant that Gov. Phil Murphy should allow the Boardwalk to reopen and ‘save our season. ‘.

Kazmarck also helped to bring together two core business groups: the Boardwalk Merchants Association and the Downtown Merchants Association. He initiated this collaboration by creating inclusive events like Market Madness in 2020, a day-long shopping event at the Music Pier, merchants from both districts. He believes that the town is “stronger because of it,” with both districts collaborating on events.

Another one of Kazmarck’s successful initiatives is Mummers Nights on the boardwalk, which he began in 2008 in cooperation with the city’s Family Nights. Started during a difficult economic time to draw people to Ocean City, the nightly summer event is still a strong attraction 17 years later.

Before moving to Ocean City with his family a decade ago, the Kazmarcks lived in Somers Point. While there, he served on the Somers Point Board of Education as both vice president and president. He has also coached youth sports, including street hockey and field hockey in Somers Point, and flag football in Ocean City²⁴.

Wes and his wife, Darcy, have two children: Liam, 16, a junior at Ocean City High School, and Piper, 19, a sophomore at Arizona State.