Steven L. Peters is the founder and president of VenuWorks. He holds both a BA and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa. He began his career in 1976 in Dubuque, Iowa as manager of the Five Flags Center. He managed the Iowa State Center on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, IA and the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN before being named a vice president of Ogden Entertainment, an international venue services company based in New York City. In 1996, Steve left Ogden to form VenuWorks (originally called Compass Facility Management), a company he created to better serve the unique management and operational challenges of mid-market facilities. Today VenuWorks provides management services to over fifty theatres, arenas, conference centers, stadiums and outdoor amphitheaters in twelve states.
Steve has always had a passion for theatre. In 2010 he partnered with Michael Brindisi and Tamara Kangas Erickson in the purchase of the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre in suburban Minneapolis, the largest and oldest Equity dinner theatre in the US. In 2014, VenuWorks co-produced the Tony winning Broadway revival of YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU staring James Earl Jones. That same year, Steve co-founded Touring Theatre Associations, producing top quality musical theatre tours throughout America. In 2016, Steve is partnering with international performer and producer Michael Londra to create VenuWorks Theatricals to bring new musical and theatrical projects to the stage.
Steve is a Past President of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM). In 2015, he was recognized with IAVM’s Charles A. McElravey Award for lifetime achievement. He currently sits on the board of the League of Historic American Theatres.
With five adult children, and five grandchildren, Steve and his wife Randi are active supporters of many community organizations, including United Way of Story County, The Ames Chamber of Commerce, Youth and Shelter Services, League of Women Voters, and Bethesda Lutheran Church. Steve was also one of the founders of the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau.