The Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Performing Arts Center Corporation is governed by an 11-member board of directors. The board is chosen by the
New York State Governor, the
New York State Senate, the
New York State Assembly, the
Albany County Executive, and also has a member from the New York State Office of General Services. Construction of the facility was managed by the New York State Office of General Services (OGS). Upon completion, OGS assumed management of the facility operations as well, contracting with Porter Van Zandt, a Broadway director and former executive of
The Acting Company to advise the agency. A public benefit corporation was created by an act of the legislature in 1979. The move was initially opposed by then-mayor
Erastus Corning II, who feared he would have less control over it, though appointed representatives ensured that he remained involved. The first executive of the corporation was Mark Tilley. After two tumultuous years, he was replaced by Patricia Snyder, founder and executive of the
Empire State Youth Theatre Institute. Tasked with revamping programs and operations, she worked closely with noted composer
Joe Raposo, who as Vice Chair of the board of directors, headed the programming task force. Under Synder's leadership, the facility was governed by a union of three organizations—the Egg's own purpose-built corporation, Snyder's youth theatre program, and the SUNY administration, a structure that was called "an administrative nightmare" by the Albany
Times Union. Snyder oversaw a flourishing of youth theatre productions, to the detriment of a broader slate of programming. Her management style was criticized as opaque and combative. A 1987 report recommended dissolving the three-way structure to diversify the facility's programming, creating conflict between Snyder and several board members. The report criticized the organizational structure and Snyder's practices. The factions feuded for a year. In 1988, a proposal brokered by local arts patron Lewis Swyer allowed the youth theatre program to continue at the Egg, while also expanding presentations. The three-way corporate entity formally split, with Snyder stepping down as executive of the Egg but remaining in charge of her theatre programs. The youth theatre company remained in residence at the facility, albeit with a reduced amount of usage amidst its own financial challenges, but new executive director Terry Lorden was hired to oversee the broader portfolio of activities. The three organizations fought over the division of assets. In 2017, the corporation had operating expenses of $1.96 million and a staffing level of 43 people. == Structure ==