Meet Dillan

I started with humble beginnings. I was born in Monmouth, Illinois. I grew up in a single-parent household that struggled to make ends meet, relying on food stamps and Medicaid. From a young age, I understood the value of hard work, mowing lawns in the summer and shoveling snow in the winter to help my family. This upbringing instilled in me a fierce determination to provide a different, more stable life for my own children. 

As a student at West Central School District, I dove into the world of sports, finding my rhythm in basketball, football, track, and especially baseball. More importantly, it was here I met Alyssa, my future wife, though she wasn't initially charmed by my playful antics. Over time, my persistence paid off, and we began our journey together. 

With dreams of a career in law enforcement, I attended Western Illinois University in Macomb. After Illinois faced budget cuts that reduced opportunities in law enforcement, I changed career paths and took a job with the railroad. Later, I was appointed State Legislative Director for UTU/SMART-TD advocating for workers' rights and policy changes. In 2016, Alyssa and I welcomed our first child into the world. This compelled us to move back to Illinois to raise our family amidst the familiar rural landscapes of my youth. Alyssa and I got the entrepreneurial itch and launched Dame Fine Coffee in 2020, named after our family—Dillan, Alyssa, Mason, and Easton. The business quickly grew from a custom-built trailer to six brick and mortar locations. I also co-founded D&D Specialty Distribution alongside my brother Dustin, delivering supplies to over 40 coffee shops in the region. Along the way, I worked hard to mentor my team of over 50 employees, teaching them life skills, budgeting, and personal growth.

Driven by a desire to give back to the community, I became an active advocate for education and local businesses. I joined the West Central School Board in 2020, eventually becoming Vice President, and am preparing to run for re-election in 2025. My commitment to the community extended to the Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce and the Eagleview Community Health Board, where I worked to improve rural healthcare. My journey from humble beginnings to successful entrepreneurship has ignited a passion for public service, leading me to run for Congress in Illinois' 17th District. I'm not just running for office; I'm running to uplift every family to ensure that the American dream, as I've lived it, is accessible to everyone willing to work for it.