His liberal arts education and business experience led Stephen Schultz '82 to his new position as executive director of the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts in Jackson Hole, Wyo.  A landscape painter in his own right, he brings to the post over 20 years of senior executive management experience with both public and private companies. He oversees the center's $1 million annual budget and 19 employees.

A fine arts major, Schultz began his career as an art director for Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, “which led,” he notes, “to an early expertise in desktop publishing.” He was a co-founder of an early Internet technology company, then was recruited by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in Boston to weave together its numerous Internet offerings “into one compelling business solution.” He went on to several senior executive roles in investor relations, communications and marketing. 

How did this turn into managing an arts center in Wyoming? “My family and I had been vacationing in Jackson Hole for many years and I was fortunate to land an opportunity that leveraged my business experience and my St. Lawrence-developed arts education,” he explains. “It’s literally a dream come true!

“My time in the art studio in college, and being around amazingly creative and unique people, was instrumental in developing my own creativity which I use every day in my business career,” says Schultz, who was also affiliated with Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He remains in touch with some of those people.  His favorite memories, though, revolve around “Late nights working in the art studio on some project while Heather Bow would study next to me.” The two eventually married; they have three children.

“St. Lawrence provided me with a well-rounded educational experience,” Schultz says. It’s that well-roundedness that inspires him to turn the winter sports mecca into an arts destination.