Current Board of Directors
Bill Bushnell, Interim President
Advertising & Marketing Consultant
Minnetrista, MN
Andrew Walesch, Vice President
Artistic Director, Crooners Supper Club
Singer and pianist
Minneapolis, MN
Michael Schaefbauer, Treasurer
CFP, CPA
Edina, MN
Denise Stibal, Secretary
Insurance Specialist, Focus Financial Network, Inc.
Minneapolis, MN
Steven R. Heckler, Executive Director
Executive Director, Twin Cities Jazz Festival
St. Paul, MN
JC Sanford, Artistic Director
Trombonist/composer/conductor
Northfield, MN
Chris Rochester
Director of the Global Music Initiative
MacPhail Center for Music
Minneapolis, MN
Michael B. Stiegler M.D.
Director, Plymouth Middle School Jazz Bands
Plymouth, MN
Kristine Heckler
Project Coordinator, Twin Cities Jazz Fest
St. Paul, MN
Frances T. Jaffoni, Past President
Retired (Cargill)
Plymouth, MN
John T. Roberts, Past President
New Counsel, PLC
Minneapolis, MN
Honorary Directors
Robert H. Behrens,, Past President
President, Behrens Supply Company
Red Wing, MN
Dr. Douglas R. Snapp, Past Artistic Director and Founder
Chair, Department of Music, Director of Jazz Studies MSU
Mankato, MN
Executive Director
Steve Heckler, Executive Director
Steve Heckler is one of the country’s pre-eminent jazz impresarios, founding the Twin Cities Jazz Festival in 1999 and serving as its executive director ever since. This year’s festival drew more than 30,000 music fans of all ages to 19 different venues and performances by nationally acclaimed soloists and jazz combos including 300 Minnesota musicians. Heckler joined the JazzMN staff in 2015 to help broaden JazzMN’s reach and programming and to establish new partnerships with regional organizations and institutions.