Edward Jones Investments

Having experienced the ultimate joy and power of Jazz Camp West annually since 2006, and participating in the offshoot Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir since 2007, I am thrilled to become a member of Living Jazz's Board of Trustees. 40 years ago, Stacey Hoffman created a truly transformative experience that brings together a glorious tribe of every layer of music makers - from teens to octogenarians, the Bay Area and around the world - and Lyz Luke is now guiding it brilliantly into it's next iteration. I can't imagine a better place to be, carrying the torch forward as Living Jazz continues expanding the light of transformation and community through music.

Senior Engineering Manager, Sprout Social

Hardik is a passionate advocate for jazz, blues, and mindfulness. His musical journey began two decades ago through a cherished family connection and deepened through formal study at De Anza College in the form of a course on Jazz Appreciation. This educational experience proved transformative, revealing music's power as both an educational tool and a gateway to emotional awareness. His dedication to music has led them to explore numerous music festivals and concerts across the country, including the 2024 Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

As a Board Member of Mindful Life Project, he champions mindfulness and mental health initiatives for youth, particularly in underserved communities. The organization specializes in integrating mindfulness practices into elementary and middle school curricula through trained coaches who bring both the science and practice to young students.

With over 15 years of leadership experience in Silicon Valley, including key roles at Zynga and LinkedIn, he brings valuable expertise in organizational growth and development. His commitment to Living Jazz stems from a deep belief in the organization's mission to expand music education to future generations

Associate, Reed Smith LLP

Mariah is an Oakland native, an attorney, and a proud new mom who’s passionate about building a more just and inclusive world.  As a first-generation college and law school graduate, she understands how life-changing access to a quality education can be—and she's committed to helping open doors for the next generation.  Mariah doesn’t just talk the talk; she walks it, with heart, hustle, and the kind of sharp insight that separates the doers from the dreamers.

Senior Accountant, Head-Royce School 

Music is my joy, and I’m excited to share it with the Living Jazz community! I’m delighted to blend my background in finance with my passion for making music education more accessible. I admire Living Jazz’s commitment to embrace artists of all skill levels by building a community rooted in collective care

Consultant to Organizations

“Living Jazz does two very important things that are often incompatible in today’s results-at-any-cost world. It fosters individual mastery while also building community and connectedness. In so doing it brings out the best in all of us and is really a very unique gift to the world.”

Gap Inc / Digital Product Creation SME

"I joined the Living Jazz board to bring diversity in thought and action, and to expand the opportunities to the community we serve.   Being a member of this board means so much as it allows me to help support music and arts access and help change lives in doing so."

Interim CFO for Energy Innovators Network - Retired (from Chevron Corp after 33 years)

Dave worked as an engineer, engineering manager, and business manager for Chevron Corporation for 33 years, retiring in 2013.  Most of that time was spent in Chevron businesses and joint venture companies that licensed refinery technology that produced clean transportation fuels and lubricants to other companies worldwide.

From 2015 to 2020, Dave served as the Chief Financial Officer for Future Fires, a Bay Area immersive arts start-up company that produced two Luminary events at the Midway event space in San Francisco as well as other smaller art installations around the Bay.  He is currently Interim CFO for Energy Innovators Network.  He has also been the Database Manager for the Art Deco Society of California for the past 30 years (and was honored with their Preservation Award this year).

Dave is a jazz and classical bassist in the San Francisco Bay Area, an avid photographer and bird watcher.

Research Scientist, Google DeepMind

Jesse Engel is a guitarist, scientist, and longtime member of the Living Jazz community. Also known as “Tasty Chops” by his Jazz Camp West family, he hasn’t missed a year of camp since he started attending in 2002. For his day job, he is a leading researcher at the intersection of computers, music, and creativity. 

“Jazz Camp is home for me. The generosity, acceptance, and loving creativity that everyone brings to camp has brought me back year after year (since 2002), and the community of camp feels like an extended family. Much like other intentional communities, Jazz Camp (and Living Jazz) works because everyone contributes something unique of themselves as a gift to the community. I’ve tried to do that myself as a camper, and hope to continue that spirit in my additional role as a board member.”

Realtor® | Compass

Courtney grew up in Dallas, Texas, but she hit the road the moment she could. First, she toured the country as a singer-songwriter. Next, she moved to Philadelphia to run operations for a record label. After that, love took her northward to New York to live with her now-wife, as her career evolved again to managing musicians. When a wild hair pulled them toward California, well over a decade ago, they moved west and found their true home in Oakland.

At every phase of her career, in each city, one thing has remained constant: Courtney is known by friends, family, colleagues, and clients for her honesty, fairness, inventive problem-solving, and relentless work-ethic. She admires loyalty, compassion, and good humor in other people; in kind, she embodies those traits with every task she takes on and with every person she meets.

Buying her first home in 2021 sparked Courtney’s love for real estate and she got her license as soon as possible. In addition to being a practicing REALTOR®, Courtney remains active in the music community and continues to support artists’ growth and ability to share their music with the world.

Senior Director at Kaiser Permanente

Michael Gill is a Senior IT Director of Application Development at Kaiser-Permanente, supporting national health plan functions. His thirty year career has focused on IT and business operations, primarily in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. He holds a BA in Humanities from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Saint Mary’s College of California. Michael is also a pianist and composer, with a background in rock, jazz, progressive rock, and Jewish music. As a Fellow in the Max Helfman Institute for New Jewish Music, Michael was one of eighteen international composers who authored a new musical “David’s Quilt” based on a biblical libretto, its 2017 world premiere in Los Angeles featuring the UCLA orchestra and chorale. In 2022, Michael was one of fourteen composers commissioned for a Los Angeles production presenting new music in honor of the 50th anniversary of the death of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, a key figure in 20th century Jewish philosophy and the fights for American and international social justice. Michael recently completed a two year certificate program in the Berklee School of Music’s (Boston) online program, studying digital orchestration techniques and soundtrack composition.

Michael is another in the long list of people associated with Living Jazz for whom Jazz Camp West touched his life deeply, providing education, confidence-building, and deep friendships.

Principal Engagement Strategist, Rachel Medanic Communications

Rachel helps companies build more vibrant workplaces through program design, coaching, training, and employee listening. She specializes in reimagining the employee experience using strategic communications, community-building, and human-centered design workshops. She has led change initiatives with over 25 organizations across healthcare, biotech, entertainment, medical technology, and non-profits.

With deep expertise in communications and the human experience, Rachel is a lifelong student of the performing arts with a passion for the vocal arts and dance. She believes the arts are undervalued for their power to put people of all ages in direct connection with their own powers of empathy, creativity, adaptability, resourcefulness, and resilience.

My love for music and dance started in my childhood home with my Puerto Rican family; our gatherings always included the wonderful musical rhythms of Puerto Rico.

I have been part of the Living Jazz community since 1993 when I started singing with the Oakland Jazz Choir.

In my professional career I was fortunate to spend 30 years advocating for immigrant children and families and providing treatment for those suffering from trauma.

After my retirement from the Department of Public Health in San Francisco, my engagements have included volunteering and/or fundraising for the Berkeley YMCA, the International High School in Oakland, Consider The Homeless, and Bread and Roses.  I was involved in campaigning to elect Adena Ishii as Berkeley Mayor.  I am currently fundraising and volunteering for the Berkeley Food Network and continuing to produce and perform Porch Concerts in Berkeley -- to date there have been 40 such concerts since 2020.

I hope to continue to build Community by making music accessible to all and by networking to increase community and prevent isolation.

Entrepreneur - 1528 Webster Cowork

Anthony Severo is a founder, technologist, and creative force with a deep passion for innovation and community. Though rooted in tech, his interests span space design, filmmaking, and community-building. He is the creator of 1528 — a coworking space in Oakland that fosters creativity — and the founder of Inclined, an agency focused on eCommerce and Shopify launches. His versatility has earned him a reputation as a connector and builder across industries.

Throughout his career, Anthony has held leadership roles at Macy’s, Intuit, and Williams-Sonoma, and contributed to the success of startups like Demandforce and Rocket Lawyer. He brings together business strategy, user experience, and technology to turn ideas into reality.

Above all, Anthony is driven by a deep love for Oakland. Through every project, he works to help the city gain the recognition it deserves — as the world-class city he knows it to be.

Alison Schmitt is a director at Jobs for the Future. In that role, she helps drive JFF’s place-based approach to inclusive regional economic development, with a particular focus on California. Her portfolio of work includes worker-led approaches to improving job quality, inclusive cluster development, and supporting the inclusion of community-based organizations in regional workforce and economic development initiatives.

Before joining JFF, Alison served as the director of financial analysis at ReNEW Schools, a nonprofit charter school network in New Orleans. While at ReNEW, she also served as a college and career counselor for seniors at an alternative high school for over-age, under-credited students. Earlier in her career, Alison worked at a boutique strategy and management consulting firm and was an inaugural member of Venture for America, a fellowship that matches recent graduates with startup companies in post-industrial U.S. cities. 

Alison has a Master of Public Policy degree from UC Berkeley’s Goldman School and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School. Alison is a member of SPUR, the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association and sings in the University of California Alumni Chorus.

Bandleader, The Super Super

Bebecca Sharp (they/she) is a musician, composer/arranger, founder of non-profit LGBTQ+ big band The Super Super, and works with other non-profits to prevent financial exploitation and sexual violence towards women and the LGBTQ+ community. Bebecca is passionate about creating musical opportunities free from the patriarchal oppression that discourages women and girls away from the bandstand and about working with Living Jazz to increase access to jazz music for both audiences and performers.

Director of Financial Systems, Genentech