 MIchael Miller, executive director
Michael is a highly-regarded San Jose arts leader who has designed, directed and managed large-scale arts events in national and international venues.
Born on the South Side of Chicago, Michael’s love for Jazz and Blues started at an early age influenced by his two older siblings. After college he moved to California where he met his future wife, Melinda Moreno, a native of San Jose. Michael graduated from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business’ Executive Program for Non-profit Leaders and from the University of Kentucky with a BA in Business Administration and Accounting.
Most recently, he was CEO and executive producer of American Musical Theater of San Jose, a seventy-four year old nonprofit musical theater organization with a $10M annual budget. Prior to his role with AMTSJ, Michael held senior production roles with PaperMill Playhouse, and Holland America Cruise Lines. His entry into the entertainment business started in a Northern California night club which led him to 7 years of touring in almost every aspect of the music business. Michael has been involved in the production of 100’s of events and has spent his entire career dedicated to arts.
As a member of the San Jose arts community, he has served as Chair of the Arts and Cultural Roundtable, Executive Board of Team San Jose, Chair of the Arts Board of Team San Jose, Chair of Theatre Preservation Inc., Santa Clara University Arts Advancement Board, 1St ACT Silicon Valley catalyst team, Teatro Vision board member. He is also a committee member for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Silicon Valley and Team in Training.
Silicon Valley Business Journal recognized Michael as one of Silicon Valley’s top 100 executives while San Jose Magazine recognized him as one of the most influential executives in Silicon Valley. In 2009, he was voted Man of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Silicon Valley.
 Lucie Paye, Director of Strategy
Lucie is an arts marketer with experience in America and Europe. Before joining the San Jose Jazz team, Lucie spent five years asthe Director of Communications and Head of Education for the International Festival of Gardens in France— THE #1 garden design competition. Lucie authored four books about garden design and trends. Moving to Silicon Valley, she looked for an arts organization that had the spirit of innovation one associates with this region, that epitomizes this unique place and serves the community. She found these elements with San Jose Jazz—a lively, wide-ranging arts organization, a dynamic and entrepreneurial team, and above all, America ’s extraordinary gift to world culture: jazz.
 Bruce Labadie, Artistic & Festival Director
Bruce Labadie has over 30 years of experience in performing arts management and festival production. He directed all programs at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga for 18 years, was performing arts director at Montalvo Arts Center for 12 years, has been director of many festivals in San Jose, including Brew Ha Ha, the San Jose America Festival and has been a founder and the festival director of the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest since 1990.
 Harley Christensen, Director of Education & Development
Raised in a rough and tumble Midwestern industrial town located on the shores of Lake Michigan between Milwaukee and Chicago, Harley developed an appreciation of music by listening to Midwestern radio stations that featured big band, cow jazz, and, later, R & B. When he got to college the blues was emerging as a musical force and he found himself drawn to such artists as Paul Butterfield, B.B. King, and Muddy Waters. Later, he migrated to jazz where he found the groove of iconic jazzman like Brubeck, Hancock, and Mulligan. Harley strongly supports the National Arts Education Public Awareness Campaign when it states that, “The arts are much more than just fun "extra" activities for kids. Participation in the arts opens up children's worlds and minds and offers them the skills they need for a bright future.” Harley comes to San Jose Jazz from the Independent Adoption Center in Pleasanton, CA where he was the National Marketing & Development Director. Prior to that he was the Associate Executive Director and Director of Communications & Development at the Institute of Computer Technology in Sunnyvale, CA. Harley earned his MFA in film and television producing at UCLA.
 Tricia Fornesi, Director of Business Development & Special Events
Tricia focuses on sponsorship activities for San Jose Jazz’s year round programming. Prior to joining the organization she worked for the City of San Jose for 17 years, the last six with the Office of Cultural Affairs where she led sponsorship activities for City events. Although born in the Midwest, Tricia grew up in Silicon Valley where she earned a BS from Santa Clara University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration at San Jose State University.
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