The Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy originated from long-term discussions with a broad spectrum of stakeholders representing Capital Region arts organizations, private corporations, philanthropists, economic development, chambers of commerce, non-profit organizations, financial organizations, media, and educational institutions. The stakeholders recognize creative enterprises are of vital economic importance in terms of employment, community empowerment, economic competitiveness, enhanced quality of life, and skill building – all leading to the community’s increased well-being. This group is ACE.
On behalf of the stakeholders, the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region and Center for Economic Growth contracted with Mt. Auburn Associates, Inc. to review the Capital Region’s creative economy and assist in the development of a Strategic Action Plan. The objective of the Action Plan is to drive economic growth in the region by leveraging assets within the creative sector.
This economic assessment of the creative sector:
- assessed the current creative economy of the Capital Region of upstate New York
- recommended strategies to increase the impact of the Capital Region’s creative economy
Click here to read the CAPTIVATE report, Leveraging Regional Assets for a Brilliant Future.
ACE is working with cross-sector, geographically diverse individuals, private and public organizations, nonprofits, and community leadership to develop and implement programs that benefit the people, places, and creativity of the greater Capital Region.
ACE Team
Maureen Sager – Founder
Maureen Sager is Executive Director of the Alliance for the Creative Economy (ACE), a project of the Center for Economic Growth (CEG). ACE is dedicated to promoting and growing the Creative Industries in the 8-county Capital Region. She is also Executive Director of the Nordlys Foundation in Saratoga Springs.
Before moving upstate in 2004, Maureen was Executive Producer / Site Director of NickJr.com, the world’s largest internet site for parents and preschoolers, and had marketing roles at several MTV Networks internet brands. Other entertainment industry experience includes positions at Scholastic Inc., PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, and National Film Board of Canada.
She has an MFA in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, studied Marketing at Fordham University Graduate School of Business, and has a BA in English and Economics from Rutgers University.
Reach Maureen at maureen@upstatecreative.org.
Corey Aldrich
Interim Executive Director
Corey has been in the freelance creative world for over 10 years. As a consultant, he is deeply involved in the creative economy working with arts based and cultural institutions and individual artists and makers. His experience is significantly in brand development via experiential design, marketing and public relations.
Corey’s industry experience includes design, media, visual arts and makers, performing arts, and cultural, heritage and preservation organizations. Coming from a diversified corporate background in real estate marketing and sales, Corey decided to move in the direction of freelance consulting in 2010 and continues to strive to find new ways to promote arts and cultural as an important resource across the Capital Region.
Corey currently lives and works out of Troy, NY. For more information please see Corey’s Linked In profile here.