First Night Austin’s incoming executive director may be new to town, but he’s an old hand at managing this international New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts. Dave Sullivan, whose hiring was made public by the local nonprofit on June 4, first served as director of corporate relations for First Night Boston, the first First Night celebration, which was launched 32 years ago. Twelve years ago, he jumped to First Night International, the organization that now authorizes and monitors the family-oriented (and specifically alcohol-free) celebration in more than 100 cities nationwide and dozens more outside the U.S. There he served as vice president and, more recently, as executive director. He joins the First Night Austin team officially on July 1.
Sullivan will be the fourth person to lead the organization since First Night Austin was founded four years ago. The initial executive director, Ann Graham, resigned midway through the second year when fundraising problems led the board to furlough her pay. Ginny Sanders served as executive director during most of 2007, then board member Patricia Paredes was named interim executive director late in the year as the board undertook a search for a permanent replacement. For more information, visit www.firstnightaustin.org.
This article appears in June 20 • 2008.