Catching up with Dillon Goodson `07
Did you attend the Junior/Senior prom the year it made its return to the USN auditorium? Did you buy an item in the first ever Freshman Class Auction? Did you visit the library the day every book was reversed so that the spines faced inward? Dillon Goodson, the Senior Class President of the Class of 2007, was part of creating these legacies (and legends) during his years at USN. If you remember these achievements (and exploits), you might be wondering where Dillon Goodson has made his mark since high school.
After graduation, Dillon moved to Chicago to attend DePaul University, where he continued to be involved in student government. He served as the President of the student body during his junior year. In addition to serving as the Student Representative to the Board of Trustees and running Student Government Association meetings, his responsibilities and initiatives as President included “coordinating a successful campaign that restored financial aid funding to 270,000 Illinois residents… and increasing awareness of and involvement in student organizations.”
A resident of the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago, Dillon now serves as the Marketing Manager for the Chicago Loop Alliance, which “represents and serves Downtown Chicago and is responsible for making it a vibrant and attractive destination for tourists, workers, students and residents.” The Loop is home to more than 30,000 people and serves as Chicago’s central business, historical theater, and shopping district as well as its government seat. The Loop hosted the Stanley Cup parade for the Blackhawks, which “went right though our area of operation…and brought more than 2 million people downtown.”
Dillon’s passion for his work for the Chicago Loop Alliance is evident as he describes it: “Our work is a mixture of economic development, planning and advocacy, placemaking and publicity. We work closely with the City of Chicago and the hundreds of businesses and organizations that comprise the Loop…It's a fun place to work that's always juggling a bunch of different projects. In 2010, we launched a series called ‘Art Loop’ that has gained international attention, bringing a 3-story eyeball sculpture to the city (in 2010) and painting a prominent intersection in color (in 2012). We also manage a host of pop-up art galleries throughout the city. I'm regularly amazed by the opportunities that come with this job and I am very grateful for it.” Be sure to take a look at the photos of these eye-catching projects Dillon describes.
Personally, Dillon enjoys biking and takes “full advantage of Chicago's warmer months (of which there are 4, in a good year).” He also continues to serve as a community leader and is part of several Boards which serve Chicago, including the Junior Board at the Auditorium Theatre and the Board of the Friends of Downtown.
Date Posted 
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Marte Beaty7/20/2013 @ 9:11 PMAhh, the Class of 2007, my very favorite USN class and Dillon is one of the reasons why. That entire class was amazing and I enjoyed working with them on their many "firsts".
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Jan Maier7/19/2013 @ 6:57 PMAnd to think I knew him in second grade!!!! I expect only more wonderful updates about Dillon!!
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Teresa Standard7/18/2013 @ 1:58 PMGo Big D! Thanks for making the Loop a happening place!
