Meet the Team | Fishers Arts Council

MEET THE BOARD

ROSS HILLEARY

PRESIDENT

Ross currently serves as the Director of Planning and Zoning for the City of Fishers. A native of central Illinois, Ross moved to Fishers in 2017. While in Illinois he served a three-year term on the Danville, Illinois Arts in the Park non-profit board where he led their marketing efforts and served one year as president. Ross has a passion for looking at ways to improve the built environment and the community we live in today through sustainable measures, smart growth practices, and community design standards. Ross believes that public art and cultural programming are essential for a vibrant community and quality of life. In 2021, Ross was awarded the Nickel Plate Arts Emerging Arts Champion. Ross has a bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning and Development from Ball State University and is CNU-Accredited. Ross lives with his husband and two dogs in Fishers, Indiana.

Ross joined the board in 2022. He served as Vice President and Treasurer for 2023. He began serving as President in 2024.

CHRIS HAYES

VICE PRESIDENT

Chris is an IT Project Manager and Process Engineer for the IT Department of the Veterans Administration. He is a 22 year resident of Fishers, but has had ties to the community since the early 1980s. He holds an MBA from the University of Indianapolis and a bachelor’s degree from UW-Milwaukee in Mass Media. He’s an avid woodworker, road cyclist, maker, technologist, and epicure. He enjoys turning unique wood pieces and learning more about the arts and mysteries with wood and furniture. He and his wife are active with the local art and makers fairs. He truly believes that everyone has the ability to create some form of art or useful functional items.

Chris joined the board in 2023. He began serving as Vice President in 2024.

DOUGLAS DUSSEAU

TREASURER

Doug is a retired Engineer and has lived in Fishers for 32 years. He is an avid collector of art – he is currently obsessing on collecting Ethnographic Art from the Sepik River area of New Guinea. Doug is also trying his hand at becoming an amateur sculptor – he loves the power of welding discarded metal objects into outdoor sculptures. As a Board Member of the Fishers Arts Council, Doug wants to serve the Fishers community in expanding the reach of arts and art education across our vibrant community.

Douglas joined the board in 2023. He began serving as Treasurer in 2024.

OLIVIA HARRIS

SECRETARY

Olivia has lived in Fishers since she was a little girl and has witnessed the local art scene flourish! She graduated with a Psychology degree and is a self-taught artist. In 2019, she first dabbled in sculpting as a hobby, but quickly found it to be her favorite art medium and passion! Olivia loves supporting other artists and encouraging new ones. She lives in Fishers with her little Dachshund, Willard, who loves to sit on her lap while she’s sculpting in her art studio.

Olivia joined the board in 2023. She began serving as Secretary in 2023.

LAURA VILLANYI

PAST PRESIDENT

Laura’s roots in Fishers go back to 1977. She thought her parents moved her to the edge of the earth. My how things have changed! Graduate of Hamilton Southeastern High School and Purdue University, Laura has always been involved in the arts. She considers herself a skilled craftsman and has done many art projects in many mediums including but not limited to painting, ceramics, lamp working, calligraphy, illustration, photography and jewelry design.
Personal Philosophy - Support the Arts = Buy Art.

Laura joined the board in 2020 and served as President in 2022 and 2023.

SUSAN DICKEY

BOARD MEMBER

Susan moved to the west side of Indy in 1983, after seven years in Fort Wayne, and in June 2003 she moved to Fishers. She retired from VisitIndy after 30 years working with meeting planners bringing conventions to Indianapolis.

An avid flower gardener, she enjoys giving away surplus blooms - daffodils, lilacs, peonies, daisies, black-eyed Susans and more. Always on the lookout for new restaurants, retail, and attractions to share with others, Susan has a grasp on what is where in the area and is a member of Indiana Landmarks, Newfields, and Heartland Film.

Going to First Fridays, Second Saturdays, and other arts events plus annual local art fairs is a favorite pastime. "Meeting artists and seeing their studios is the best part of making purchases."
Susan joined the board in 2024.

GREG DIERFELDT

BOARD MEMBER, MUSICAL ARTS CHAIR

Greg is an IT Project Manager with IU Health and has been a Fishers resident since 2015. Originally from Louisville, he has been in healthcare for over 20 years. His early career includes Marketing, Advertising, and PR, where he helped design and market educational books and curricula. Greg has volunteered with non-profits for many years serving as the Finance Chair and Board Member for IN Council for Exceptional Children, Options Unlimited assisting in the employment of the disabled, the Louisville Orchestra, Hamilton County Humane Society, and as a board member with Fishers Music Works, among others. Greg’s art form is the piano, and he continues to play for his personal enjoyment. Greg holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Louisville, an MBA degree from the University of Evansville, and is a PMP certified project manager.

Greg joined the board in 2022.

PAT GRABILL

BOARD MEMBER, JURIED EXHIBIT CHAIR

Pat is a retired English/Language Arts teacher with 30 years of classroom experience. A resident of the Indianapolis area since 1993, she and her husband moved to Fishers three years ago when they built a house in Avalon of Fishers. Pat is involved in several organizations, and has been a watercolor painter since she received a Lilly Teacher Creativity grant at the end of the 90's, which allowed her to take her first art classes. She has been painting ever since and currently serves on the Board of the Watercolor Society of Indiana. Pat is an appreciator of ALL the arts and loves music, dancing, reading, writing, and, of course, painting.

Pat joined the board in 2020.

TYNA GREEN SEALL

BOARD MEMBER, DEVELOPMENT CHAIR

Tyna Green Seall has been a community leader/volunteer for over 25 years. She has been assisting the Fishers Arts Council since 2019 when she relocated to Fishers from Orlando, Florida. One of her favorite organizations to volunteer with was the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts where she was involved for many years. Tyna is a yoga instructor, master gardener, mother, and grandmother. She also enjoys the culinary arts and travel. Tyna has a background and holds certifications for philanthropy and nonprofit from Edith Bush Institute for Philanthropy. Tyna is looking forward to meeting more residents in the Fishers area and serving the community as the FAC board member.

Tyna joined the board in 2023.

OLIVIA HOLT

BOARD MEMBER

A 2016 graduate with a Bachelor of Arts, Olivia honed her skills and passion for fine art at Ball State University. She pursues creativity and emotion through artistic expression, eliciting contemplation and curiosity from her audience. With a preference for charcoal Olivia puts a twist on the classic concept of drawing and experiments with mixed media. In her spare time she can be found in her element of art, playing trivia with friends, and traveling.

Olivia has been a board member since 2018.

PHILIP PALUSO

BOARD MEMBER, PROMOTIONS CHAIR

After contributing to the early growth of the Fox Broadcasting Network as an affiliate
promotion executive in Los Angeles, CA, Philip Paluso moved to the Indianapolis
market to produce award-winning local and national corporate, advertising and
entertainment video/film programs.

In 2004 he co-produced and directed multiple cameras in Grand Prairie, TX, during a
two-night stop in Blue Man Group’s original “Complex” arena tour. The subsequent DVD
made from the footage achieved multi-platinum status.

His feature documentary "Wings for Maggie Ray," which premiered in 2013, explored
the life of aviator and Indiana native Margaret Ringenberg, who joined the Women
Airforce Service Pilots program (WASP) in World War II and ultimately became a
revered flying legend. It screened at nearly a dozen film fests and won the Bronze
Plaque Award at the 61st Annual Columbus (Ohio) International Film Festival, the
festival’s second highest award. The film aired on close to 200 PBS stations nationwide
until 2019 and is currently available on Amazon Prime Video. The list of accolades for
his producing, writing, and directing of documentary, corporate and commercial
programs include Aurora (Best of Show), Tellys, Videographer, and Vision awards.

Paluso founded Medium Cool Pictures in 2009 and produces corporate video for
advertising and marketing agencies, corporate/business, and non-profit entities. He is
also active in indie narrative film and documentary production as a writer, producer,
cinematographer, director, and editor.

Philip joined the board in 2022.

TOM RICH

BOARD MEMBER

Tom hails from Western PA, but spent 30 years in suburban D.C. He has lived in Fishers for the past 29 years and was a past member of the board for six years. His goals are to work with the city of Fishers, local businesses, and various artist organizations to expand opportunities for artists to exhibit and sell their art; to expand the opportunities for residents and visitors of Fishers to enjoy the visual arts; and to promote additional opportunities for the performing arts in Fishers.

Tom is also a member of Fishers Police Academy Alumni Association. He earned a B.S. in Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Tom lives in Fishers with his wife, Connie. Free time is spent with grandchildren, Nash and Cooper, and traveling.

Tom was a member of the board from 2016-2022. During his tenure he served as Treasurer, Vice President, and President. He rejoined the board in 2024.

LATRICA SCHOOLEY

BOARD MEMBER

Latrica Schooley has been an entrepreneur and community volunteer for 29 years. She has been a lover of the arts since 6th Grade when she started her journey at Emerson Performing Arts School which she is proud to be a graduate of as a music major. It afforded her opportunities to attend college with the assistance of a music scholarship / coupled with an academic scholarship as a first generation college student. Her focus in volunteering has been with youth groups at Grace Church and she has a deep passion for speaking up for children who can not speak up for themselves whether they are differently abled, and/or in foster care. She is a mom, wife, and grandmother. She enjoys visual and performing arts and looks forward to assisting the Fishers Arts Council bringing Arts forward to community members and meeting more residents in Fishers.

Latrica joined the board in 2024.

AMANDA WILHITE

BOARD MEMBER

Amanda is a Corporate/M&A attorney and has lived in Fishers for 2 years. She hold a JD from Howard University School of Law and a BA from Alabama State University. She considers herself an avid admirer of art and enjoys helping stage the gallery. She looks forward to serving the community and its artists as a FAC board member!

Amanda joined the board in 2024.

STAFF

LES REINHARDT

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Les is an Equity Stage Manager, mother, and Fishers resident since 2017. Born in Indianapolis, she lived in the San Francisco Bay for 15 years before returning to her home state. Les has worked professionally in audio/visual, theater, ballet, Bach festivals, new works festivals and enjoys art in all its forms. She also volunteers for Fishers Cub Scout Pack 160. She served as Treasurer of the board from June 2018 through December 2020. Les served as Operations Manager for Nickel Plate Arts (now Noblesville Creates) for three years. She currently works for Fishers Parks.

Les was appointed Executive Director in January 2021.