Release from San Diego Pride Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of San Diego LGBT Pride has announced the selection of Eric Heinritz as its new Executive Director. The selection was made after an extensive search and comprehensive selection process managed by Nonprofit Management Solutions, a San Diego nonprofit management support organization.

“We are very pleased to announce this appointment,” said Bianca Burt, San Diego LGBT Pride Co-Chair. Eric brings leadership, creativity, and a deep sense of commitment to our LGBTQI community. As a Board, we are very confident in our decision and look forward to working together with him to achieve the increased mission impact we’ve identified in our strategic plan.”

Eric comes to San Diego Pride with a breadth of leadership experience and perspective. He was the first executive director of the all-volunteer Milwaukee Pride, helping the organization to establish financial controls and increase revenue. From 2001-2014 he served in a number of executive roles at Milwaukee World Festival, including Admission, Food and Beverage Director where he administered a $2.1 million operating budget and directed a team of 950 employees.

Upon accepting the appointment, Eric remarked, “Pride celebrations are a homecoming, and a safe place for all members of the LGBTQI community and I am excited to be welcomed into the San Diego Pride family.”

Eric was selected by the Board of Directors upon the recommendation of the executive search committee, chaired by San Diego Pride Emeritus, Jeri Dilno. Mama’s Kitchen, Executive Director, Alberto Cortes and former San Diego Pride board member, Dion Brown served on the search committee along with San Diego Pride board members, Bianca Burt, Lynn Barnes-Wallace, and Jim Seal.

The search and selection process, which began in January, included review of more than sixty-five resumes from local, regional, and national applicants. Eric was selected after more than two dozen telephone, skype and in-person interviews were conducted by the search team. “I can’t thank the committee enough,” said Pride Co-Chair Jim Seal, “especially our community members, Alberto and Dion, who gave so much of their personal time to ensure the integrity of the process and the outcome.”