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. He has helped Jazz at the Bistro broaden its artistic presentation and worldwide reputation as one of the leading jazz clubs in the United States. In September of 2004, Bennett 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 talent buyer for the Jazz at the Bistro series, programming the most financially successful season in the club’s history. Subsequent success led to his being named Director of Artistic Administration in 2010. That same year, Bennett programmed the most highly anticipated season in Jazz St. Louis’ history and set a new bar for ticket and subscription revenue. With the continued growth of the organization, he is now programming not only the Jazz at the Bistro series, but additional Jazz St. Louis performances at the Touhill Performing Arts Center and other area venues.

Born in Mason City, IA, Phil Dunlap moved to the metro area in 2000 to study jazz at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. While there, he studied with pianist Reggie Thomas until he graduated in May of 2007, earning bachelor’s degrees in jazz performance as well as music theory/composition, and a master’s degree in jazz performance. He was hired by Jazz St. Louis to head their growing portfolio of education programs in April of 2007.Outside of the office, Phil remains active as a teacher, lecturer and performer. In 2010, he became an Adjunct Professor of Music at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. He has given pre-concert talks for the St. Louis Symphony, presented clinics at MMEA and MBA, and is the host and writer for Building Blocks of Jazz, an education segment that appears as part of HEC-TV’s I Love Jazz. In 2009, he traveled to Kabul, Afghanistan with American Voices as an artist in residence at Kabul University and the National Institute for Music.As a performer, Phil has presented numerous concerts in St. Louis, performing alongside musicians such as Terell Stafford, Houston Person, Jimmy Cobb, and Christine Brewer at venues such as the Sheldon Concert Hall, Powell Hall and Jazz at the Bistro.Most recently, Phil received the Certificate of Merit Award from St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association and was named “30 Under 30” by the St. Louis Business Journal.

As a performing musician since 1973 (guitar), and former recording engineer and producer, Larry Gregory has spent most of his life around the edges of the music business. After a failed attempt to become a “Rock Star” in the late 70’s, he attended Washington University School of Engineering, and spent the next 35 years in the engineering/construction/design and building maintenance fields, while still playing gigs at night. His most recent musical endeavors have been as a big band guitarist, arranger and section leader with the Route 66 Jazz Orchestra, the Starlighters Swingin’ Big Band, and the St. Louis Big Band.A lifelong jazz fan, Gregory has been a supporter of Jazz St. Louis in one way or another since their move to Grand Center, as a patron, performer, and special event volunteer. Upon retirement from his “day job”, and due to his experience in concert production AND building management/maintenance, he was brought in on a part-time basis to help in the operations and production departments. After his many attempts to try to look indispensable, we finally just gave him a desk.

Travis joined Jazz St. Louis in January of 2017 as the Director of Marketing, and he brings more than ten years of experience in both commercial and non-profit marketing. Most recently, he was a Senior Program Manager at Fusion Marketing, and it was there that he successfully increased brand engagement for companies like Anheuser-Busch and Kia Automotive. Before that, he was the Director of Events and Theaters at Grand Center, Inc. and has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Illinois State University. Travis moved from Chicago to St. Louis in 2008, and he enjoys gardening, collecting art, and spending time with his wife and two dogs.

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Bree Melton joined the Jazz St. Louis team in March 2017 as the executive assistant, supporting the president & CEO and the development team. Originally from the DC area, Ms. Melton moved to St. Louis in 2014 to transition from teaching to nonprofit program management. She studied English and vocal performance at Washington and Lee University and has always loved jazz, so working for a nonprofit organization focused on jazz performance and education is a natural fit.Outside of Jazz St. Louis, Ms. Melton enjoys singing with the Ladue Chapel choir, running and practicing yoga, serving on several nonprofit boards and volunteering. She lives in Holly Hills with her boyfriend and American foxhound.

Wendy Rosenblum joined the Jazz St. Louis team in July 2014 as the Director of Development. Wendy comes to Jazz St. Louis with almost 20 years of development experience in annual, capital, and endowment fundraising. Most recently she oversaw all planned giving efforts and back-office management for the Jewish Community Foundation of St. Louis, a service of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, which has assets of over $100 million. Prior to that, Wendy worked as the Development Director at Forest Park Forever in St. Louis and began her career as a Development Associate at the Jewish United Fund in Chicago. Wendy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Indiana University and a Graduate Certificate in Non-profit Management from Washington University.Wendy spends her free time with her husband and daughter and enjoys travelling, cooking, reading, gardening and yoga. She is involved with the St. Louis Planned Giving Council and Temple Israel/Deutsch Early Childhood Center.