Stefan Duga

He/Him

Ticketing & Sales Operations Manager

Patron Experience, Ticketing, and Group Sales — Marketing, Communications & Enterprise

About Stefan

Stefan is currently the manager of ticketing technology and operations. In this position, he works with two other full-time staff, 35 seasonal workers, the ticketing staff and the assistant manager of ticketing technology and operations. His office oversees contact central for all tickets and gate passes, including parking passes, and many other services. Stefan also assists in developing sales support and guest relations programs for staff, training evaluations, and is follow-up primary superuser for ticket systems. He maintains responsibility for cash related to operations and he and the associate manager are responsible for implementing ticketing policy and procedures, such as ticket sales refunds. He also provides technical, logistical and operations support for the Group Sales team. Pre-pandemic Stefan worked with operational leadership on festivals, such as the Fall Festival Village. His responsibilities include recruiting vendors and partners associated with those initiatives.

Before he came to Chautauqua Institution, Stefan was the director of production and technology at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in Jamestown, New York. This is a non-profit organization that has a 1,165-seat proscenium-style theater built in 1923 that hosts touring shows and other events throughout the year, a radio station, an art gallery, and a conference space. He was part of the $5.4 million renovation of four (out of five) buildings they have, overhauling much of the technical infrastructure and facilities. He was responsible for all the theatrical technical needs, crew and more. Before that, Stefan worked as a ticket agent at the Institution while attending the State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia. He earned his bachelor’s degree in theatrical and production design with concentration in lighting.

Why did you choose to work at Chautauqua? What do you like about working at Chautauqua?

It was a way to flex different muscles. I spent a lot of time in the SUNY Fredonia box office and saw it was an opportunity to step up in a familiar area.

I really enjoy working with seasonal staff and watching the amazing way they meld as a team each year. It’s also great seeing what they have next, ophthalmologists, veterinarians, schoolteachers, artists, dancers, the list goes on. When they come back, they continue to be provided with good experiences, support and training that makes them very valuable.

Professional Affiliations

• International Ticketing Association (INTIX)
• United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT)

Personal Interests

Film photography, theatrical lighting design, ticketing systems, pipe organ maintenance and building, and my pets: Australian Shepherd dog Lilly, and gray and white tabby cat Ivy