“Life…ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth.”
–Rocky Balboa
Susan Dinneen is serving as the Planning & Development Director for the Junior League of New Orleans Board of Directors. In this position, she utilizes her forward-thinking capability to advise the board on long-range planning. She cultivates funding sources outside of JLNO’s single event fundraisers and Bloomin’ Deals Thrift Shop and leads the volunteer team that reviews and formulates JLNO’s strategic plan, partnerships, community projects and fundraisers.
Since joining JLNO in 2008, Susan has focused her volunteer efforts on Planning & Development initiatives like Strategic Partnerships, Project Selection, and Project Evaluation, as well as Community Projects like Judgment Call and Second Harvest Food Bank. Her participation in the Project Selection and Project Evaluation committees occurred when the organization was first transitioning its focus to Advancing the Wellbeing of Women, which gave her a comprehensive understanding of how JLNO might best address the needs of women and families in metropolitan New Orleans. Her Junior League training and professional background provide a solid foundation in analysis and strategic planning to ensure JLNO’s external activities effectively address the needs of the community while educating members on organizational development and fundraising.
Originally from the Philadelphia area, Susan received her undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and law degree from Tulane University Law School. She is a partner at King, Krebs & Jurgens, P.L.L.C. law firm and serves on the firm’s recruiting and marketing committees. As an insurance defense attorney, she helps businesses protect against millions of dollars in losses, respond to institutional discovery requests in a manner that protects their proprietary information, and detect and fight fraud. She has authored numerous briefs and argued motions in state and federal courts, and she regularly presents at legal and industry seminars. In addition to being a Louisiana Bar Foundation Fellow, she currently serves as Board Member and Board President for the Travelers Aid Society of New Orleans, and she is a float lieutenant in the Krewe of Muses.
Taking inspiration from Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook and author of the bestselling book Lean In, Susan always sits at the table, seizes opportunity and kicks the heck out of option B if option A isn’t available. She resides in Lakeview with her husband Jefferson Gillane, a Data Analyst in the Internal Audit Department at Ochsner Health System, and their two tuxedo cats, Philly and Abita.
