Simon Hall, Chair (2022)
St. Catharines, ON
B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed.
Ridley College, Head of Guidance (retired)
Simon and his wife, Susan, have actively enjoyed and supported the musical bounty the NJF has brought to our region from its very beginning. Simon's role, after being invited to join the Board as a Director in 2018 with a focus on management and events, evolved to Secretary in 2020 and to Chair in 2022.
A career at Ridley College (as an English teacher, department administrator, and squash coach) involved significant travel and events from the local to the international. Simon brings this extensive experience and a broad range of affiliations to the NJF's organization and planning.
In addition to the academic and arts worlds, Simon is an avid squash player, and long-time administrator, tournament official, and coach. Since 2014 he has coached the Brock University Men's and Women's Squash Teams.
Carlos Garcia, Director (2018 – present)
Port Dalhousie, ON
B.Sc. (Mathematics), M.Sc. (Physics), M.B.A.
Private Sector Strategic Planner, Retired
Port Dalhousie Ward, City Councillor
Carlos Garcia brings over 25 years of professional business experience in the private sector as a corporate manager and strategic planner. Carlos is the Ward Councillor for Port Dalhousie. Councillor Garcia currently serves on the Performing Arts Centre’s Equity, Diversion, and Inclusion Task Force because he feels strongly about supporting those from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. He also advocates for women wanting to run in office. He is passionate about conservancy and heritage and co-founded the Port Dalhousie Conservancy, Niagara’s largest volunteer heritage organization with 600+ members. In 2009 it received the prestigious June Callwood Award in recognition of its volunteer work.
Born and raised in Niagara, Greg loves all this region has to offer and plans to continue his professional and personal journey here too. 
Greg has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for helping his local community. He constantly looks for new ways to evolve as a professional and to foster new ways of giving back to this amazing Niagara community. Greg is an avid craft beer lover, a coffee snob and loves to play his guitar and basketball in his spare time.
Howie and his wife have owned the historic Lyons House B&B in Niagara-on-the-Lake for the past 22 years. 
Some of Howie’s community service contributions include:
2012/13 - President of the Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake
2017/18 - Treasurer of the Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake
2011 - 2019 - Chair of Icewine Martini Party for Rotary Club of NOTL
2012, 2014, 2016 - Chair of Fashion Show for Rotary Club of NOTL
2013 - 2019 - Chair of Paul Harris event for Rotary Club of NOTL
2019 - Co-Chair of 25th Anniversary Party for Rotary Club of NOTL
2011 - 2020 & 2022 - Committee member for Canada Day for Rotary Club of NOTL
2011 - 2019 & 2022 - Committee member for Holiday House Tour for Rotary Club of NOTL
2017 & 2019 - Committee member for POLO for the Niagara Museum
2019 - Committee Member for District Conference for Rotary District 7090
2021 - Chair of Golf Tournament for Rotary Club of NOTL
For more than 30 years Cat has worked in the entertainment industry. Her experience as an advisor and consultant in project management and funding has contributed to the success of thousands of artists, organizations and non-profit organizations. 
Since 2019 Cat has been Director of Business Development at Linus Entertainment. Linus is the home of Canadian outstanding record labels Stony Plain, True North, Children’s Group and Borealis Records. As the Head of the Marketing Department, she leads a team to publicize and promote recordings around the world.
Prior to 2019 Cat ran Catbird.ca, a fundraising company for artists and organizations, that for 12 years represented Canadian artists all over the world. Through her work at Catbird.ca more than $9-million in funds were raised that supported musicians, filmmakers, dancers, visual artists, game coders, TV producers, and those people working with these artists.
creative resume writing service, I must write my own. It must be brief. And the truth. My qualifications to be on the Niagara Jazz Festival Board are short, and therefore brief. As a result, it is true. I love Jazz! Don’t know much about it but my passion has notably helped other Jazz Organizations like JAZZFM 91, winner of the World Radio Awards “Best Jazz Format in the World”. I consulted on its marketing when it launched in January 2001. For its first 5 years I helped build its new brand, plus advertising and sponsorship revenues to record highs. I’ve helped other arts organizations in Niagara too, including Stage (Press Theatre) and Music (Garden City Productions.) Over 60 years as a leader in Canadian Broadcasting I’ve supported many other not-for-profit organizations as well.Digital Marketing + Media Consultant | Music + Entertainment Pro 
Hailing from the heart of wine country in Niagara, Canada, Jeff (J.R.) Hardy is an authentic creator that produces narrative-driven artistic, creative and entertaining content that resonates with your target audience—through music, video, photo and immersive experiences. With a client-driven, holistic, marketing focus, he’s a passionate leader embracing digital strategy, design and data. Drawing from years of agency experience leading a talented creative team, Jeff (J.R.) believes that building relationships, listening and communicating with clarity are the keys to success.
Find Jeff on Linkedin HERE.