Stephen Butler
Executive Director
Stephen Butler is a native of Onondaga County. He received his BA in Theatre from Oswego State University and relocated to New York City. During his years in NYC Stephen worked as the Director of Membership/Programs for the Alliance of Resident Theaters/New York, the Alliance of New York State Arts Councils and at several producing organizations including Manhattan Theatre Club, the Hudson Guild Theater, and Creative Alternatives of New York, a drama-therapy organization serving the greater metropolitan region. He was also an AEA stage manager. Stephen is a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship recipient in Strategic Planning. He returned to Syracuse and obtained a Masters of Arts in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. He also serves as the Executive Director of CNY Arts, Inc.
Elizabeth Lane
Director of Programs
Elizabeth Lane is a native of Madison County and a graduate of Purchase College with a B.A. in Arts Management. Elizabeth first became familiar with CNY Arts (then the Cultural Resources Council) as a performer for seven years in The Adventures of Rudolph. Liz has served as the Decentralization and Grants Manager for CNY Arts since 2013. Prior to working at CNY Arts, Elizabeth gained experience at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City Ballet, and the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, and locally at Syracuse City Ballet and the former Syracuse Symphony Orchestra.
Charlie Poag
Film Fund Program Officer
Charlie is a native of Asheville, North Carolina, and served for more than fifteen years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Combat Cameraman and a Communications Strategy & Operations Chief. His background is primarily in visual communications and educational media. Charlie first came to Syracuse in 2008 to attend the Military Visual Journalism program through the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. After his service, he returned to Syracuse University and earned his B.S. in Public Relations.In addition to his work for CNY Arts, he is heavily involved in the local veterans’ community and advocating for veterans’. He and his wife reside in DeWitt, N.Y. with their two young children, and intend on raising their children in the area.
