Eric Dillner, CEO of Shoreline Arts Alliance has leveraged his ability to listen, lead and inspire to deliver stability, visibility, and sustainability to this extraordinary organization and community. He has created an endowment fund and operating reserve fund all the while establishing a foundation for arts scholarships and mentorships. In the last seven years, he has leveraged over six million dollars in college scholarships and tripled awards and SAA direct scholarships for artists throughout the pandemic.

 

Eric is the Founder and Creator of Reopen CT Arts Venues: Science-Based Safety Task Force in partnership with the Dean of Yale School of Public Health. He created 20+ webinars to guide CEOs, venue operators, their staff, leadership, and boards through the reopening and sustaining of operations during and post-pandemic. His webinars have reached over 15,000 viewers in over 18 states and 3 Countries.

 

As a Director of the Board of The CT NonProfit Alliance, Eric is the Arts and Culture Division Chair for the State of Connecticut as well serves on the Audit Committee and Membership Committee. Eric also serves on the Board of Directors of The Barnum Museum, Guilford Community Television (Strategic Design Chair and Nominating Chair), Madison Economic Development Committee, and Connecticut Arts Alliance.

 

Eris is the past artistic/producing director of in-house productions of the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts (the previously named Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center) – the second largest arts organization in the nation-second only to the Kennedy Center, artistic and general director of Shreveport Opera, managing director of Skylight Opera Theatre, and Director of Opera, Voice Instructor and vocalogist at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Eric has produced several commissions of new works including Corps of Discovery, a Musical Journey, and the National Endowment for the Arts funded children’s productions; Why Dinosaurs Don’t Smoke, Why Dinosaurs Don’t Litter and Herman the Horse, a Healthy Tail.

​

At Shreveport Opera, Eric more than doubled operating income and secured the company's largest corporate and individual donations in its 59-year history. He is a past board member of the Louisiana Presenters Network and mentor in the Peer Assistance Network program for Shreveport Arts Council.  Eric was also a member of Rotary International and recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award as well as named one of the Top Young Professionals 40 Under 40 Award by the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. He is a past member of the Spanish Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce and Milwaukee Historic Third Ward Association BID Board, Board of Directors.

​

Eric began his career as a tenor with the New York City Opera and has served as a Grant Panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts.

​

He is the goalie coach for the West Haven High School Ice Hockey team, the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association, and the Stan Makita Hockey School for The Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

​

He resides in Madison with his son, Eric, and wife, Susan Yankee, a Connecticut native and graduate of The Hartt School of Music and Yale School of Music. She is Associate Fellow-Trumbull College Yale University.

​

Susan is a passionate leader and advocate seeking greater outcomes for all persons with disabilities. She is devoted to ensuring an inclusive environment for all. She is currently serving as Chair of the State of Connecticut Advisory Council for Special Education. Susan is a member of the CT ESF-15 Committee for Emergency Messaging for Diverse Communities and is a committee member of the Connecticut Parents Advocacy Council (CPAC) Parents Round Table. She has served on the CT Governor’s Advisory Board for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind; CT Legislative Work Group Concerning Issues Affecting Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind Persons; Working Group Public Act 19-184 to develop guidelines for language assessments of Deaf/Hard of Hearing students; The CT Coalition for Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children; and is a Disability Rights CT Partner in Policymaking Graduate.

​

Their son Eric is seeking an Engineering and Math degree with a minor in photography at Fairfield University and plays for the STAGS Ice Hockey Team.