David Schmitz is thrilled to be working with People’s Light during this time of transition. Schmitz is the lead advisor for Amplify Leadership Advisors, a consulting firm focused on creating success stories for arts organizations by providing interim Executive Director services, management coaching, and project execution that strategically evolves arts organizations. Prior to People’s Light David served as the Interim Managing Director of Stages Theatre in Houston, TX, Executive Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Executive Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and General Manager of Lookingglass Theatre. Consulting clients have included Lookingglass Theatre Company, Geva Theatre, TheatreSquared, the Producers Association of Chicago Area Theatres, the National Housing Trust and USTA Chicago. He serves as a board member of the Oregon Cultural Advocacy Coalition and has served on the boards of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), Ashland and Lincoln Park Chambers of Commerce, Arts Alliance Illinois, and the League of Chicago Theatres. Schmitz was a founding member of the Professional Nonprofit Theatre Coalition in 2020 and Enrich Chicago, a cohort of arts organizations working to end racism in Chicago arts.