BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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.

Randy is a CPA who retired as a tax partner in the Toronto office of KPMG, Canada LLP in September 2002. Randy articled with Peat Marwick Mitchell, which later became KPMG, receiving his CA degree in 1966. In 1967 he joined CIBC working for the Chief Accountant. After 20 months he was recruited back to KPMG to join their tax group. Within a couple of years, he started a specialty tax practice for Peat Marwick Mitchell and while leading this practice, built it into the largest of its kind in Canada. He authored many articles on tax issues and was a contributing writer to one of Canada’s leading income tax services. He also was a regular speaker at National and International Insurance Industry conferences and was considered an authoritative resource in such areas as corporate acquisitions and divestitures, mergers, offshore captive insurance companies, financing structures and product development.

During his career with KPMG, Randy was a member of KPMG Canada LLP’s Insurance Committee, and a member of KPMG’s International Insurance Tax Committee; a special advisor to The Insurance Bureau of Canada; author and lecturer of a comprehensive three-day tax course for the life insurance industry; a frequent speaker at National and International tax conferences.

While a wintertime resident of Pinehurst, NC, Randy, and his wife Lynne participated in a program called “Communities in Schools” where they mentored young (11yr-12yr) students who came from under privileged circumstances. The goal of this program was to increase the confidence of these young people and their abilities to succeed. They also volunteered at Moore County Regional Hospital (First Health), in Pinehurst, NC. He also prepared individual US income tax returns for low-income persons under a program sponsored by the AARP.

Randy has always been involved in community and charitable organizations, some of these past involvements include:

Member of the Board of Governors and head of the audit committee of The Salvation Army Grace Hospital in Toronto for fifteen years.

Stewardship Chairman for his church in Oakville and Toronto.

Member of the Board of Directors of Theatre Beyond Words, after moving to Niagara-on-the-Lake in 2000.

Board of Directors of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club and was instrumental in improving its financial reporting and ultimately its sale.

Willowbank Jazz Festival:
- Committee member 2004
- Co-chair 2005
- Event organizer 2012 –with Lynne was instrumental in raising more funds for that event than all previous Willowbank Jazz Festival events.
Treasurer of Music Niagara for 4 years
Member of the Stamford Lane United Church Council and its Mission & Outreach Committee

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.

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.

Now that U.S. Congressman George Santos must end his

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.

Meghan McCabe, Director (2023 – Present)

BA Communications, Carlton University, Ottawa, ON Diploma Communications: Art, Media, Theatre, Vanier College, Montreal, PQ

Meghan McCabe is a seasoned communications professional with almost 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Originally from Montreal, Meghan began her journey in the industry with a simple 30 min radio show at her college radio station at 17 and then fell into doing PR on the side for a friend’s band.

With the love of music already ingrained deep within, Meghan then spent the bulk of her career working in the music industry leading the Communications team at the JUNO Awards, Canada’s Music Awards.

Currently working in Corporate Communications, Meghan’s unwavering passion for music and event planning has now guided her to the TD Niagara Jazz Festival!