Drew McManus may be UpStage Technology's CEO but don’t let the title fool you into thinking he’s only a tech geek. He brings 25 years of global broad-based arts consulting experience to the table and helps clients break the cycle of choosing one-size-fits-none solutions.His expertise spans across multiple sectors and regularly quoted as an industry expert in media outlets including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, and The Chronicle of Philanthropy along with more than 100 additional newspapers, trade journals, and magazine outlets. Broadcast appearances include NPR’s All Things Considered, NPR’s Weekend Edition, and MPR’s Morning Edition.As a sought-after speaker and panelist, he has worked with the Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network, Opera America, Americans for the Ats, National Arts Marketing Project Conference, Southeastern Theatre Conference, National Performing Arts Conference. He’s been a featured lecturer at University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Bolz Center for Arts Administration and Northwestern University School of Music.Fueling his passion for the arts sector with copious cups of coffee, he wears many hats beyond his CEO title at UpStage Technology. He delved into the inner workings of the music industry through the lens of his long-running daily blog, one of the longest-standing voices in the field through when it was retired in 2023. He gives a platform to arts insiders and his dedication extends to transparency, as he meticulously tracks salaries within the industry, shedding light on compensation realities. He has exercised his creativity in a satirical cartoon that playfully pokes fun at the eccentricities of orchestral life. This diverse array of pursuits showcases his profound connection to the sector while his constant drive to engage, inform, and, of course, enjoy the world of arts and culture.He currently resides in the Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood with his wife, violin soloist, concertmaster, arts advocate, and arts administrator Holly Mulcahy.