Steven A. Wolff
Steven is the founding Principal of AMS Planning & Research Corp. and AMS Analytics LLC. He works from the firm’s Connecticut headquarters. For 30 years, Steven has provided counsel to arts, culture and entertainment enterprises on strategic initiatives, the planning and development of capital facilities, and arts industry research. In addition to work with AMS clients, Steven is a leading industry thinker and speaker exploring topics from the role of ‘anchor cultural institutions’ to ‘re-thinking success’ for 21st century arts and cultural enterprises. He was awarded the ACQ5 Global Award as US Gamechanger of the Year in 2017 and 2018. In both years, the firm was also recognized as US Niche Planning Consultancy of the Year.
Steven has helped to guide more than $9 billion of new and renovated capital facilities for the arts working with notable architects and theater designers. Among the most recent, the Eccles Theater (Salt Lake City), the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts REACH expansion in Washington, DC, and planning for the City of Vancouver, including the Granville Island 2040 Master Plan. He has guided projects from needs assessment through project definition to site selection, financing and project implementation, operation, and re-imagination.
Steven provides research and management counsel to drive innovative new business models, including change initiatives, governance and management evolution, strategic planning and program evaluation. Recent assignments include renowned theater companies, (A.C.T. -San Francisco, Arena Stage, and The Old Globe), to major performing arts centers (The Perelman Center / World Trade Center PAC, Kentucky Center for the Arts and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall) to major foundations (The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation).
Steven was on the faculty at the Yale School of Drama (2008 – 2017), where he received a Master of Fine Arts degree in theater administration and taught Decision Support. He serves on the Board of several arts and educational not-for-profit organizations.
