Jazz Arts Initiative Directors

Lonnie Davis, Executive Director, has a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in music and additional graduate work in Urban and Regional Planning. Lonnie is a graduate of Leadership Charlotte, Class XXXII, and is an accomplished jazz flutist, composer, and arranger who leads her own ensemble, the Lonnie Davis Quartet. She has had the privilege to play along with musicians such as classical flute virtuoso, Sir James Galway, saxophonist/clarinetist, Victor Goines and legendary jazz saxophonist, Joe Henderson. Lonnie has also performed regularly as a featured soloist, and has been highlighted at numerous festivals and art venues.

Ocie Davis, Artistic Director, is an internationally recognized musician, educator, and composer who has performed with some of the most influential figures in jazz including Ellis Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Christian Scott, Nicolas Payton, and Donald Harrison. Harrison has called Ocie "one of the premiere drummers in jazz." Ocie has also had the distinction of being recognized as a Jazz All-Star by New Orleans Magazine (2005).  Ocie studied music at the University of New Orleans under the direction of Ellis Marsalis.  

Jazz Arts Initiative Board of Directors

Frank Parker, Retired Director of Instructional Technologies, Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC. Consultant for Southern Educational Foundation. Senior consultant for the Teaching and Learning with Technology Group (TLT-Group). Grant writer. (Board Chair)

Dr. Barbara Edwards, Retired Associate Dean, College of Education, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Professional publications in the areas of project evaluation, multicultural children's literature, and literacy development. Grant writer. (Board Secretary)

Bill Bambach, Retired faculty in Adult Basic Education, Human Resource Development, and Employment Readiness Training: Gaston College. Former host and producer of multiple radio programs on WDAV and WSGE devoted to jazz music and jazz history.

Pamela Jefsen, Executive Director of McCreesh Place of St. Peter’s Homes, Inc., which is part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Homeless Services Network.   Previous CEO of the American Red Cross, Carolinas Chapter. Extensive fund-raising experience.

Dr. Thomas Moore, Associate Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Benedict College, Columbia, SC. President of Thomas Moore Enterprises, Inc. Children's recording artist, author of children's books and instructional materials, and internationally-known keynote speaker in early childhood education. http://www.drthomasmoore.com

Peter Sherman, Senior Managing Director of Capital and Debt Advisory group for Ernst & Young Capital Advisors. More than twenty-seven years of experience in the financial services industry, with the last 23 years devoted to investment management and investment banking.

Glyn Stanley, Chief Information Officer for Integrated Capital Strategies, LLC. More than twenty years of experience in information technology, especially in telecommunications and banking. Serves on the Board of Leadership Charlotte.

Ally Yusef, Associate, Patton McDowell & Associates. Five years experience in arts management, with special emphasis in social   media marketing, web analytics, and email marketing campaigns. Experienced in fundraising and marketing solutions.