Member Spotlight
An interview with Billy Piskutz, Director of Development for the Palace Theatre
Q. How did you get into development?
A. I’ve been the Director of Development at the Palace Theatre for a little over two years. I started my career as the catering manager for Franklin Plaza catering in Troy. From there I entered into the field of development taking a job as Assistant Director of Development and Special Events at Albany Medical Center. It was actually a pretty easy transition because a lot of development work is relationship building and event planning. After four and a half years at AMC, I went to work for the American Cancer Society, first as Director of Corporate Relations and then as Director of Special Events. All of these jobs led up to my current position at the Palace.
Q. What has been your greatest achievement since joining the Palace?
A. When I came in the Palace hadn’t really had a development arm operating, it was an opportunity for me to build my own shop from the ground up. That represented a challenge, but also an incredibly exciting opportunity. And it really was starting from scratch, fundraising was non-existent. So I began the lengthy process to developing relationships with the business community; strengthening existing relationships and building new ones. Albany is fortunate to have a generous community that is passionate about supporting the arts, so that helped make my job easier.
Q. What makes your approach at the Palace different than other organizations?
A. Well for starters, we have a facility that sells itself. The Palace has a great historyPalace Theatre LogoPalace_Logo_Color.jpg; it’s the jewel of downtown. But aside from that, I took the approach of rather than asking for a check every year, I tried to really find out what our supporters’ needs were. Maybe they wanted to beef up their civic engagement by sponsoring a movie series. Or perhaps they needed to focus on advertising, or entertaining clients. Whatever their need was, I found out and figured out a way to meet it. The real key to the whole thing is the open conversation.
Q. What’s on the horizon for the Palace?
A. We’ve been looking for a new executive director, and that search is nearing its completion. Also, we want to see a new focus on expanded programming with new leadership coming in there’s always opportunity to look at things again and maybe do some thing a little differently.
We want to continue to get top level talent, and attract stars that are really on the rise.
Q. How does being a member of the Capitalize Albany Corporation support your efforts?
A. Capitalize Albany Corp is essential to the Palace’s success. The work that they do on downtown residential development, business attraction and retention, it keeps downtown lively and vibrant.
The way that Capitalize Albany Corp maintains their park across from the Palace, and lets us use if for events like our gala fundraiser, shows how non-profits can support and benefit from each other.
Q. If you couldn’t do development any more, what would you be doing?
A. I’d be a guide, introducing people to nature; fly-fishing, kayaking, hiking, all of it. I grew up doing those things and as a father of two boys I see what being outdoors has done for me and them. It’s a special experience that not everyone gets to have. I think I would love to do that.
Billy Piskutz,
Director of Development,
Palace Theatre
19 Clinton Ave
Albany, NY 12207
518-465-3335
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