Meet the Staff
Beth Rutkowski, Managing Director
Phone: 216-987-4582 Fax: 216-987-4422
email: beth.rutkowski@tri-c.edu
Ms. Rutkowski is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Tri-C JazzFest as well as working with the JazzFest Artistic Director in scheduling concert performances. Ms. Rutkowski works with the Director of Education on educational programming and the College’s Marketing Director on strategies to increase audience attendance. Before joining Tri-C in 2005, Ms. Rutkowski was the director of education at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, overseeing classes and lessons in music, theater, visual arts, and dance, as well as creative arts therapies and education outreach. Prior to working for the Beck Center, Beth worked for National City Bank in community relations and corporate sponsorships. During her six years at the bank, Beth completed an MBA at the University of Louisville with the hope of rejoining the world of arts where she had worked previously. Beth spent five years working as an actress and musical director for a children's theater touring company after completing a Bachelor's of Music at the University of South Carolina where she concentrated in choral music education and vocal performance. She has also held performing lead roles in musical theater productions with a summer stock company.
Willard Jenkins, Artistic Director
3110 Magazine St. #104
New Orleans, LA 70115
email: muzikmuse@comcast.net
A 1973 graduate of Kent State University, Willard Jenkins has devoted much of his life's work to nurturing the growth and enhancement of jazz music as a fine art form. He has been an arts administrator, producer, presenter, journalist, broadcaster, educator, and consultant. Jenkins is an independent arts consultant, producer, and writer under the Open Sky banner. Much of Jenkins' current activity includes concert and festival planning, artistic direction, consulting, music journalism, and broadcast production work. He currently serves as artistic director of an annual concert series at Tribeca Performing Arts Center and as artistic adviser to 651 Arts. His newest affiliation is as a consultant for Arts Midwest managing the NEA Jazz Masters on Tour program. Jenkins is a regular contributor to National Public Radio’s review service, Jazz Riffs, and currently has radio programs on WPFW in Washington, DC and XM Satellite Radio.
Some of the other organizations Jenkins has been associated with include: Black Entertainment Television, National Jazz Service Organization, Cleveland State University, Northeast Ohio Jazz Society, Smithsonian Institution, Aaron Davis Hall, Rhythm and Blues Foundation, and The Plain Dealer
In 1995 Jenkins was appointed Artistic director of TriC JazzFest Cleveland. He is responsible for the artistic direction of the festival, negotiation of artists’ contracts, and national public relations.
Cliffie Jones, Business Manager
Phone: 216-987-4049 Fax: 216-987-4422
email: cliffie.jones@tri-c.edu
Cliffie Jones is an integral part of Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland's day-to-day operations. She has been involved with Tri-C JazzFest for many years and serves many more roles than just Business Mgr! In addition to jazz, she has a great love of the theater and is very active in Cleveland's Public theater as a gifted actress. In February 2008, Cliffie will be featured as "Rose" in August Wilson's Fences produced by the East Cleveland Theater. Come see Cliffie on stage!
Philip Campbell, Production Manager
Phone: 216-987-4546 Fax: 216-987-4422
email: philip.campbell@tri-c.edu
Philip Campbell has worked in the Theater and Performing Arts Departments at Tri-C for 12 years. During this time he has worked with various outside companies including Belkin Productions, Rock Capital Sound, and 8th Day Sound on events that range from theatre to musical productions. With a focus on all things technical and his experience with sound, lighting, rigging and staging, Philip manages between 60 and 80 productions a year for the Tri-C Performing Arts.
Lilah M. Wiant, Office Assistant
Phone: 216-987-4249 Fax: 216-987-4422
email: lilah.wiant@tri-c.edu
Lilah joined the Tri-C JazzFest staff in April 2007. A 1996 graduate from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, she has had a love of music and the arts from a very early age. She completed her Bachelor of Music degree in 1994 from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. While completing work on her Master's degree, she won the Ohio International Trumpet Guild Solo Competition. Before joining Tri-C in September of 2004, Lilah worked in the capacity of Chorus Manager for the Children's Festival Chorus in Pittsburgh, Pa where she had the privilege of working with performing arts organizations such as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Opera and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh among others. Other past positions Lilah has held include, personnel manager for the Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra, counselor for the Blue Lake Fine Arts Program, and full time private trumpet instructor for the Plano Independent School District - Plano, TX. Lilah currently resides in Sheffield Village, OH with her husband Kraig and three children, 2 1/2 yr. old Lily, and 9 month old twins Max and Ella.
Cynthia Bell, Media Relations
Phone: (216) 921-2741 Fax: (216) 921-3284
email: bellpr@aol.com
Cynthia is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in public relations and marketing. She provides a wide range of public relations services for Performing Arts and Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland. Previously, she worked as director of communications for a mid-sized health care system in