Gene Dobbs Bradford, Executive Director
Gene Dobbs Bradford has been the Executive Director of Jazz St. Louis since February 1999. During that time he is credited with building the organization’s contributed and earned income from $375,000 to $1.2 million today. Mr. Bradford has received many honors, including the St. Louis Business Journal’s “40 Under 40,” “Most Influential People in St. Louis” and “Inclusive Leadership” awards. Under his leadership, Jazz St. Louis received the 2006 “Excellence in the Arts” award from the Arts and Education Council of Saint Louis and its flagship program “Jazz at the Bistro” was named one of the ten great jazz clubs in the country by Wynton Marsalis in USA Today. He holds a bachelor’s degree in double bass performance from the Eastman School of Music and an MBA from Washington University. From 1994-99, he was Director of Operations for the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.
Bob Bennett, Director of Operations
Bob Bennett joined Jazz St. Louis as Director of Operations in June 2000. Mr. Bennett is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, with a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in jazz performance. Mr. Bennett has helped the club broaden its artistic presentation and worldwide reputation as one of the leading jazz clubs in the United States. In September of 2004, he helped the organization successfully launch their “All-Star Student Ensemble,” a group featuring the best high school jazz talent in the St. Louis area. Under his direction, the program expanded to feature two ensembles in each of the following two years. In 2007, Mr. Bennett became the sole booker for the Jazz at the Bistro series, programming the most financially successful season in the club’s history. He also is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of Jazz St. Louis at The Bistro at Grand Center (JATB performance space).
Phillip Dunlap, Director of Education
Phillip Dunlap has been the Director of Education for Jazz St. Louis since April 2007. He holds bachelor’s degrees in jazz piano performance and music theory and composition as well as a master’s degree in jazz performance from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Mr. Dunlap is an active musician as well as an educator. He performs extensively throughout the United States and abroad with his own group, the Legacy Jazz Quintet, and as a sideman having performed with musicians such as Jimmy Cobb, Terell Stafford, John Pizzarelli, and Houston Person. Recent performances include appearances in the Cedarhust Chamber Music Series, Elmhurst College Jazz Festival, Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival, Powell Symphony Hall, Jazz at the Bistro and the Missouri History Museum. Mr. Dunlap frequently performs with members of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) and has conducted pre-concert talks for the SLSO on topics covering music history, theory and literature. He is also a faculty member of American Voices and in the summer of 2009 traveled to Afghanistan where he was artist in residence at Kabul University’s School of Music and at the National Institute for Music.
Kate Eastwood, Executive Assistant
Kate Eastwood was hired as the Executive Assistant to Gene Dobbs Bradford in October 2008. Ms. Eastwood has a rich history of serving in the arts, having spent seven years at the UCLA Center for the Performing Arts and five years at the SLSO. She was the “go to” person at UCLA when it came to handling the mercurial and demanding soprano Kathleen Battle at the pinnacle of Ms. Battle’s career. In addition to assisting Mr. Bradford, Ms. Eastwood performs JSL’s bookkeeping function and offers support to all of the JSL staff. Ms. Eastwood sings with the St. Louis Metro Singers and the Manchester UMC Choir. She is originally from Minnesota and majored in Medieval and Renaissance History at the University of Minnesota.
Melissa Jones, Director of Development
Melissa Jones joined Jazz St. Louis as Director of Development in August 2006. Ms. Jones oversees development and communications and serves as board liaison for Jazz St. Louis. Under her leadership, the organization has increased its contributed income by 47% the past two years. This is Ms. Jones’ first foray into fundraising for the arts, having worked in development for social service organizations such as St. Louis City Court Appointed Special Advocates (now Voices for Children) and religious entities. She previously worked in HR for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri and volunteer management for St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Ms. Jones holds a bachelor of arts in human resource management from Lindenwood University and graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. Ms. Jones is completing a second term on the board of directors for a nonprofit arts organization and is an active member of the SOS Women’s Fund and the St. Louis chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Devin Rodino, Guest and Artist Relations Assistant
Devin Rodino began with Jazz St. Louis as an intern in May 2008. Upon completion of his summer internship, Mr. Rodino was hired as a part-time employee while finishing his senior year at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where he graduated in May 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in music business. Mr. Rodino’s wide range of duties include providing support to all of the JSL staff, running Jazz at the Bistro concerts, coordinating volunteers and managing JSL’s website, e-newsletter and social networking sites.
Austin Skinner, Development Writer
Austin Skinner joined Jazz St. Louis as a Development Writer in August 2010. Mr. Skinner graduated as a University Scholar from Fontbonne University in May 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in English—including a minor in American Culture Studies and a concentration in professional writing. Currently, he undertakes the writing/editing responsibilities of the organization via grantwriting, reporting, corporate proposals, and appeal letters. He is also an active member of the St. Louis chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.