Conversations with Elizabeth Milli

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Milli.

Hi Elizabeth, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story with BAYarts really began more than 10 years ago, when I started as a volunteer helping out around the BAYarts campus in Bay Village—the same neighborhood where I grew up. What started as volunteering eventually turned into a paid position, and from there I worked my way through a variety of roles and responsibilities within the organization.

Each position allowed me to learn a different part of BAYarts, from operations and events to programs and facilities, while working alongside the artists, teachers, volunteers, and community members who make BAYarts such a special place.

In January 2025, I had the opportunity to step into the role of Executive Director. Today, I oversee our staff, teachers, artists, and volunteers and have the privilege of helping guide BAYarts into its next chapter. It feels particularly meaningful to be leading an organization that is part of the community where I grew up—and where I first started as a volunteer more than a decade ago.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road, but I think that’s true of any meaningful journey. There have been plenty of challenges along the way, both personally and professionally, and there have been times when I’ve had to step outside of my comfort zone and figure things out as I went.

One of the biggest transitions for me was moving from someone who helped make things happen behind the scenes to someone ultimately responsible for leading the organization. That has required me to grow as a leader, make difficult decisions, and learn to trust my own instincts.

I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to listen, to surround yourself with good people, to stay open to learning, and to keep moving forward when things get complicated. Looking back, some of the harder moments have probably taught me the most and have made me a stronger and more confident leader.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work at BAYarts is a little bit of everything. As Executive Director, I oversee our staff, teachers, artists, volunteers, programs, events, fundraising, and day-to-day operations, but one of the things I’m most passionate about is creating spaces where the arts can thrive and where people feel connected to their community.

I’m especially proud of the renovation projects I’ve been involved with during my years at BAYarts, and particularly the transformation of the old Huntington Playhouse into the BAYarts Cultural Center. Watching that project evolve from an aging, underused building into a vibrant home for the arts has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve been involved with the project for many years, so seeing people now use and enjoy that space is very meaningful to me.

I think what sets me apart is my somewhat unusual, full-circle journey to the arts. I grew up in Bay Village, right near the BAYarts campus, and I actually played on the property as a child. Years later, I came back as a volunteer, eventually became a member of the paid staff, worked my way through a variety of roles, and ultimately became Executive Director.

Because of that history, BAYarts is more than just an organization I lead. It’s a place that has been part of my life for a very long time. I think that personal connection gives me a different perspective and a deep sense of responsibility for preserving what makes BAYarts special while also helping it grow and evolve for the future.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is the importance of being flexible. Things rarely go exactly as planned, and I’ve learned that being willing to adjust, rethink, and sometimes completely change course can be much more valuable than trying to force things to go the way you originally envisioned.

That lesson has certainly been true throughout my journey at BAYarts. I’ve moved through different roles, taken on responsibilities I never expected, and ultimately found myself in a leadership position I may not have imagined when I first walked through the doors as a volunteer. There have been plenty of unexpected challenges and changes along the way, and learning to adapt has helped me navigate them.

But I’ve also learned that flexibility doesn’t mean losing sight of what matters. For BAYarts, that means staying true to our mission of supporting local artists and creating opportunities for people to experience and participate in the arts. We can evolve, try new things, and respond to the needs of our community while still holding onto the values that brought us here in the first place.

I think that’s true in work and in life. Sometimes the path you didn’t plan turns out to be the one that brings you exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bayarts.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bayarts_ohio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bayartsohio/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-charles-milli-5a710330/