FC Buzz: Odinak’s resignation and reflection

BY RYAN ODINAK

About this time six years ago in the summer of 2008, a dedicated group of arts, cultural, business and education leaders met to confirm the launch of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County. A short time later I had the privilege of becoming the first executive director. For three years I had worked alongside these regional leaders to assess and plan for the needs of the Fairfield County arts and cultural sector. Since 2002, I had been providing regional arts and cultural services in my former role as executive director of the Fairfield Arts Council. So this week, as I end my six-year tenure at the Cultural Alliance, I realize that I have been working to support regional arts organizations and artists for more like 12 years.

You may ask, “Who would start a nonprofit or any business, in 2008, in such a challenging economic climate?” At the time there were serious discussions about delaying the launch because the economic future seemed just too uncertain. In the end, we made the tough decision to keep the momentum of the three-year study going and launch the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County. The study had shown us the path and the board and I were determined to follow it.

There were times, particularly during 2009, our second year, as we worked to launch FCBuzz.org and build our membership, when I wondered whether we could find the support to continue. Then our membership started to grow rapidly and funders and partnerships grew. Much of the satisfaction I gained from my job was in getting to know the many people that have helped us grow and working with the dedicated arts and cultural professionals, as well as the many artists, in the region.

So it is with a sense of accomplishment that I move on to pursue may own creative endeavors and focus on working with individual organizations. It has been a pleasure writing this column each month and I thank the Fairfield County Business Journal for the opportunity.

Ryan Odinak is executive director of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.