Atlantic Ave Magazine - April 2020 Issue
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egulars | city people<br />
by diane feen | Photo by Melissa korman<br />
CEO of Old School Square<br />
Shannon Eadon’s orbit is<br />
so bright you almost need<br />
sunglasses to be around her.<br />
The upbeat, can-do superwoman is always up for any task and<br />
sees the world as a magical place.<br />
You could say her superpowers were given to her by her<br />
father G. Lee Thompson. “My father was my role model and told me<br />
to make magic every day.”<br />
And that is exactly what Eadon has done for most of her life. She<br />
rarely sees roadblocks – and if she does – she just lifts them up<br />
with her inimitable positivity and drive.<br />
That is why she was just installed as the new President and CEO<br />
of Old School Square. Running non-profit arts organizations is part<br />
and parcel of Eadon’s raison d’être.<br />
Before coming to Delray Beach, she was the development director<br />
of Bergen Performing Arts Center, prior to that she was Director of<br />
Development for Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey.<br />
There is a lot more to Eadon’s resume than these two high<br />
profile positions, but navigating her resume is akin to scaling<br />
Mount Everest.<br />
That’s because it is littered with words like reposition, streamline,<br />
fiscal responsibility, hired, trained, mentored, developed, designed<br />
and executed. These words are not merely to fill the pages but are<br />
accomplishments Eadon has seen to fruition.<br />
“At Count Basie Theatre the CEO and I increased the budget from<br />
$250,000 to $3.5 million. We did a lot of fundraising.”<br />
Meeting new people and fundraising is nothing new to Eadon.<br />
That’s because she lived in 16 different cities while growing up.<br />
Her corporate executive father moved the family around every two<br />
and a half years. Instead of seeing it as a negative, Shannon took<br />
advantage of the diversity and dynamics of it all.<br />
“I had to walk into a new situation and introduce myself to new<br />
people all the time. I had no choice, I could sit in the corner, or go<br />
out and pay, and I like to play. It really changed who I am.”<br />
It also made her a fearless outgoing adult who thrives in<br />
a multitude of positions. When raising a profile or funds for<br />
organizations Eadon knows exactly what to do. “I am used to<br />
sticking my hand out to say hello and get to know people. I don’t ask<br />
for money, I ask for help to change lives, do good for the community<br />
and be part of a solution to a problem.”<br />
And so far, her place in the business world and non-profit<br />
organizations is somewhere between a high altitude and a<br />
positive attitude. She is goal oriented and laser focused on what<br />
she wants to achieve.<br />
And rest assured when Eadon wants to accomplish something<br />
she plans a strategy and zooms forward. But not without her team.<br />
“I changed offices. Instead of a desk I have a table. A table is much<br />
more conducive to collaboration, more ideas come from around a<br />
table. This is a team - it doesn’t work without all the players.”<br />
A statement worthy of embellishment. “Shannon was laser<br />
focused on our mission and understood how to reach people<br />
and connect their interests to the theatre by highlighting<br />
the history, mission and benefits of supporting us. She was<br />
passionate about building relationships and always made me<br />
feel like part of her team,” said Brian Wilson, former Manager of<br />
Membership at Bergen PAC.<br />
Eadon’s work ethic was installed in her hard drive early in<br />
life. Though her father was a successful businessman (and CEO<br />
of Singer) he wanted his daughter to understand the meaning of<br />
work. “On my 16th Birthday my dad said, ‘Happy Birthday, where<br />
are you getting a job?’”<br />
Eadon made her own wardrobe after graduating high school and<br />
commuted to NYC from NJ for her first job. Entitlement was not one<br />
of the virtues Mr. Thompson passed down to his daughter.<br />
It worked quite well in building her character and charisma.<br />
Eadon was Senior VP at an ad agency and traveled the world. She<br />
attended elaborate Manhattan soirees and often worked six days a<br />
week 12 hours a day.<br />
She also volunteered – becoming a board member, fundraiser<br />
and advocate – for non-profits. She helped conservation, historical<br />
societies, and the Monmouth County Hunt Racing Association (their<br />
annual event attracted over 10,000 people and benefited 26 charities).<br />
It is also where she met the love of her life, Gordon Eadon. “I<br />
knew on our first date that I wanted to marry him.” And sure<br />
enough, two years later they were married and now have two<br />
grown children together.<br />
While her children were growing up Eadon left the corporate<br />
world. But she didn’t join current events clubs or take up knitting.<br />
She started an events company - Exceptional Events - that specialized<br />
in planning and catering weddings, charity events and parties.<br />
Though she majored in marketing, Eadon loves art and the world<br />
of possibilities that open up in that medium of expression. That is<br />
why her new position with Old School Square is the perfect center<br />
of gravity for this Florida newcomer.<br />
“We are changing our programming to suit every demographic<br />
in Delray. We plan to add rock, comedy, dance, jazz, local theater<br />
groups and other things.”<br />
Eadon also moved OSS employees to different positions where<br />
their star can shine. “Moving people around to fit their strengths<br />
makes everyone happy. People are now doing jobs that come<br />
naturally to them.”<br />
Part of this change is developing educational outreach<br />
programs with Delray children. They will not only learn about<br />
music but experience its inherent benefit in their lives. “Putting<br />
kids in drum circles can change their heart rate and their<br />
emotions from angry to calm.”<br />
If the past is any indication of the future, Eadon will be the fearless<br />
leader that takes OSS into the future with gusto and greatness.<br />
“To do a job like this you have to be open and honest. You also<br />
have to be willing to work seven days a week and fold chairs with<br />
the staff at 2am. I don’t look at this as work, this is fun.”<br />
Welcome to the party.<br />
www.<strong>Atlantic</strong><strong>Ave</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.com | april <strong>2020</strong> | 75