President

Current TJO President, Scott Potter, has been a member of the band’s trumpet section for over 30 years. He holds B.A. degrees from both BGSU and UT and is co-owner of Black & White Transportation with his wife Judy for 22 years. When not in the practice room, Scott can be found on a pond, lake, stream or salt flats with fly rod in hand.

Vice President

Rob Cintron is a past President and Jazz Festival Chair for the Toledo Jazz Society. Mr. Cintron was the band director at Swanton and Maumee for 35 years. In retirement, Rob has a very active marching, concert and orchestra judging schedule, acting as the Visual Caption head for the state. He performs on bass and piano, both with his trio and BiG Band BG. Rob holds a Bachelor and Master's degree from BGSU. He and his wife, Janet, live in Springfield Township and enjoy golf, cigars, scotch and their grandchildren.

Treasurer

Don Leary is a founding Board member of the Toledo Jazz Orchestra and has returned to the Board after a ten year hiatus. He is currently serving as the TJO treasurer. Don was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts and moved to Toledo in the mid 70’s. He was the founder of a Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning firm in Perrysburg and retired after more than forty years of professional practice.

Don and his wife, Becky Fuhrman, live in Perrysburg, Ohio and Petoskey, Michigan and they travel frequently to see their two children and five grandchildren in Cincinnati, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana.

Asha Barnes works for the Lucas County Board of Commissioners as the Director of Systems Solutions. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Howard University and her Masters of Business Administration from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Asha sang for the Howard University Choir and for the Cold Call Choir while at Darden.

Asha and her husband, Mark, have lived in Toledo for three decades. They raised three children, all of whom have a strong love of music. Their children learned to play an instrument and will break-out in song when home visiting.

Of her many interests, Asha is a member of the Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Zoo, and Imagination Station. She also serves on the United Way of Greater Toledo Board of Directors and their Data Analytics and Data Strategy Committee.

Adam Nightingale is an attorney at Eastman & Smith Ltd, where his practice is focused on business litigation, white collar criminal defense and government investigations, and insurance issues. Adam received an undergraduate degree in Music from The Ohio State University in 2002, where he was a trumpet performance major. In 2005, he received his law degree magna cum laude from the University of Toledo College of Law.

Adam is an active member of the Toledo legal community; he has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Toledo Bar Association, was president of the Toledo Junior Bar Association, and is a member of the Board of Governors of the University of Toledo College of Law Alumni Affiliate. Adam grew up in Sylvania, and currently resides in downtown Toledo.

Francine is a retired Toledo Public Schools Speech Language Pathologist, Toledo Federation of Teachers President and American Federation of Teachers Executive Vice President. Community involvements have included the Lucas County Mental Health Board, Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, United Way of Greater Toledo, Imagination Station and Toledo Area AFL-CIO. While an AFT EVP she served on the United Way USA Board of Trustees, Learning First Alliance and the AFL-CIO Department for Professional Employees. Fran is an advisor to the David & Lura Lovell Foundation which provides grantmaking that effects social change with a focus on mental health, integrative health and wellness, youth access to the arts and gender parity.

She attributes her love of jazz to her husband of 46 years, Dal, who passed away in May 2019. He was a jazz aficionado. Dal and his high school friends would follow Stan Kenton and his band throughout the Midwest. Kenton’s Peanut Vendor would have become the national anthem if Dal was elected president.

Jeffrey is a highly accomplished Music Director, Creative Director, Singer, Musician, Composer, and Songwriter. With a career spanning over 30 years, he has consistently demonstrated his exceptional talent and passion for music.

As a Music Director, Jeffrey has successfully led various projects and productions across the country, showcasing his innate ability to bring out the best in performers and create unforgettable musical experiences. His keen eye for detail and deep understanding of music theory and composition have allowed him to create captivating arrangements that resonate with audiences of all genres. In addition to his role as a Music Director, He is also a gifted Creative Director. With a keen sense of innovation and a strong understanding of visual aesthetics, Jeffrey has brilliantly merged his musical expertise with captivating visuals, resulting in truly immersive and impactful experiences.

As a Singer, Jeffrey’s melodious voice and piano have captured the hearts of listeners worldwide. His versatile range and emotional delivery have earned him rave reviews and numerous accolades. With his ability to effortlessly switch between genres, Jeffrey continues to impress both critics and fans alike. Driven by a relentless passion for music, he continues to push boundaries and explore new horizons in the industry. His dedication to his craft, coupled with his profound musical knowledge, make Jeffrey a sought-after professional in the music world.

Whether it be through performing, composing, performing, or directing, Jeffrey is committed to creating memorable musical experiences that leave a lasting impact on audiences worldwide. With a unique blend of creativity, talent, and professionalism, he is set to make significant contributions to the music industry for years to come.

Toledo native, Randy Richie, along with Dennis Sankovich, was the 1981 co-founder the Toledo Jazz Society (established for the purpose of creating the Toledo Jazz Orchestra).

Randy is a Liberal Arts graduate of the University of Toledo, where he was a founding member the UT Lab Band. After taking a year off to try to make it as a full-time jazz piano player, Randy went to law school at UT. Upon graduating, he went into the music business full-time, eventfully becoming the Sec-Treas. of the Toledo Federation of Musicians, co-founding the Toledo Jazz Society and playing for 5 years at the Cape House restaurant in Maumee.

After moving to Washington DC in 1983, Randy had a 35 year career producing corporate events for major DC trade associations where he engaged name artists such as Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, the Beach Boys, Johnny Mathis among others. He married Gretchen in 1988, eventually ending up in Leonardtown MD, where they performed at the local French restaurant for 15 years.

He is now retired and moved back to Toledo this past March.

Cheri Crane is the Deputy Director of the Lucas County Office of Management and Budget, where she is most proud of her work with the MacArthur Foundation's Safety + Justice Challenge.

A Toledo native, Cheri was involved in many productions at various local theaters for over 20 years, and served as Treasurer of the Toledo Repertoire Theatre's Board of Directors. Cheri also played in jazz bands at Whitmer High School and the University of Toledo. After a break of many years, she is excited to be involved in the Toledo jazz scene.

Bio coming soon!

Jeff Jaffe

Jon Richardson

Ann Sanford