David Schmitz became OSF’s fourth Executive Director in September 2020 and served through January of 2023. During Schmitz’s tenure, he partnered with Artistic Director, Nataki Garrett towards ushering OSF through the COVID pandemic and the Almeda wildfire. During his time at OSF he also worked with Nataki to help found and run the Professional Nonprofit Theatre Coalition, a national organization that collaborated across various industry verticals to secure $16 billion for the performing arts sector in COVID pandemic relief, and as a result secured $10 million in federal funding for OSF. He also lobbied for and secured an additional $720,000 in pandemic funding from the State of Oregon, and secured a generous $10 million gift from an incredible board member. Schmitz also collaborated with Nataki and organizational leadership to reimagine OSF’s season model, including revising the company’s dynamic pricing model, season structure and donor model.
After leaving OSF, Schmitz rededicated himself to working towards a viable and sustainable arts field by 2050 and founded Amplify Leadership Advisors, a consulting firm focused on creating success stories for arts organizations by providing interim Executive Director services, management coaching/thought partnership, and project execution that strategically evolves arts organizations in changing times. Prior to OSF, Schmitz worked at Steppenwolf Theatre Company for 15 years, serving as Director of Finance and Administration, General Manager, Managing Director, and Executive Director. At Steppenwolf, he led a staff of 200 full- and part-time people, and was responsible at the executive level for strategy and execution of all fundraising, marketing, and business-related activities. His work ensured the world-famous ensemble had the resources and institutional support to achieve their creative ambitions in the present and the future. Prior to working at Steppenwolf, Schmitz was the General Manager at Lookingglass Theatre Company, Associate Artistic Director of Stage Left Theatre, and Business Manager at the entertainment agency Adair Performance. David has served on the boards of the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon, Theatre Communications Group, Arts Alliance Illinois, League of Chicago Theatres, The House Theatre of Chicago and the Lincoln Park (Chicago) Chamber of Commerce. Schmitz is a founding member of Enrich Chicago, a cohort of arts organizations working to end racism in Chicago arts. He has worked as a strategic planning, business practices, finance, and hiring consultant for numerous Chicago organizations, including The House Theatre of Chicago, The Hypocrites, and Stage Left Theatre, among others. He holds a BA in Theatre from the University of Northern Colorado, an MFA from the Theatre Conservatory at the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University, a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Roosevelt University, and completed the Chicago Management Institute, an executive education program through the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.