m/Oppenheim Executive Search Recruits CEO for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation
November 14, 2024 – Non-profit recruitment firm m/Oppenheim Executive Search has recruited Blake-Anthony Johnson as the new CEO of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation (NOJHFF). Don Marshall, who announced his retirement last year, will serve as a valuable resource to Johnson and staff during this transition. Mark Oppenheim, Dennis Hanthorn, Kevin Reddick, and Lee Kappelman led the assignment. The foundation’s board is confident in Mr. Johnson’s unique combination of experience and vision. NOJHFF board chair Rachel Cousin stated: “Blake-Anthony Johnson is a visionary leader whose artistic background, accomplishments, and civic engagement align perfectly with the mission of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.”
“We are excited to welcome Blake-Anthony as CEO and look forward to working with him and our phenomenal staff to strengthen partnerships, support our culture bearers, and continue to build collaboration to support and perpetuate New Orleans’ and the state’s rich heritage,” said Tara Hernandez, immediate past board chair and chair of the search committee. “Blake-Anthony brings intellect, insight, an extraordinary depth of experience, and relationships that will enhance our work and our long-term strategic plan.”
A distinguished leader in music and cultural advocacy, Mr. Johnson brings a remarkable breadth of experience as a civic leader, professional musician, and arts innovator to New Orleans’ most cherished cultural institution. Previously, he served as president and CEO of the Chicago Sinfonietta, a genre-bending, community-centric powerhouse in the orchestral field known for redefining audience engagement and championing innovation. During his tenure, the Sinfonietta experienced significant growth, tripling its operating budget and expanding community outreach. Mr. Johnson spearheaded innovative initiatives such as wellness summits, artist-in-residence programs, and CS360, a symphonic metaverse experience. He also successfully orchestrated the Sinfonietta’s first tour in decades, advancing the orchestra’s mission of promoting community-based programming, placemaking, and social justice through music.
Mr. Johnson also served as co-chair of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, is a member of the Recording Academy and on Faculty at Roosevelt University’s Chicago Conservatory of Performing Arts, in addition to being a guest lecturer at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business & the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University. He is a self-taught and accomplished cellist.
As CEO, Mr. Johnson’s focus will be on strengthening partnerships, securing sustainable funding, and developing programs that celebrate New Orleans’ heritage while amplifying its impact on the global stage. “I deeply admire the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation for its commitment to preserving the spirit of jazz and celebrating the cultural diversity that makes this city unique,” said Mr. Johnson. “New Orleans holds personal significance for me through my family’s roots, and I am honored to serve an organization that uplifts both the legacy and future of this powerful art form, and the vibrant communities connected to it. This is a place where creativity and culture drive both daily life and economic opportunity. I’m eager to build on the foundation’s remarkable legacy, working together to further develop programs that inspire, empower, and position our artists and traditions on the global stage, ensuring they thrive for generations to come.”
Related: Achieving Diversity for Non-Profits
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation preserves and advances the cultural legacy of New Orleans and Louisiana through diverse programs, events, and community initiatives. With a core expert staff of 17 and a 27-member board of directors, the foundation champions both tradition and innovation.
Serving Non-Profits
San Francisco-based m/Oppenheim was founded by Mr. Oppenheim after a 28-year career in organizational development, professional services, and executive search consulting. The organization goes back to two firms founded by the Oppenheim family: CM Oppenheim & Associates, a New York-based company which later extended its operations into Europe, and Phillips Oppenheim, based in New York and focusing on service to non-profits.
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After a career spanning the business, non-profit and government sectors, in 2003 Mr. Oppenheim joined Phillips Oppenheim and upgraded the firm’s operating infrastructure, founded the West region’s office, extended its presence nationally and drove an expansion of its business. In 2008 the East and West regions split, and Mr. Oppenheim and his team founded m/Oppenheim Associates.
Mr. Hanthorn, principal, has had a career of more than 30 years as a performing arts CEO, during which he led and built opera companies in Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Dayton. Prior to joining m/Oppenheim, he founded a consulting practice serving arts and cultural organizations locally, nationally, and internationally.
Mr. Redick, principal, has 30 years’ experience as a chief executive, fundraiser and recruiter for youth development, human services, K-12, higher education and healthcare nonprofits. He has strong experience working with economically-disadvantaged communities, and in the process has fostered partnerships with churches, civic groups, legislators, and other community leaders.
Ms. Kappelman, also principal with the firm, has a 30-year career as a non-profit leader, executive search and fundraising consultant, artist representative, and film and television producer. She previously headed the search and fundraising practices at Arts Consulting Group and led fundraising at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Kappelman has held senior executive positions at CBS Television and King World Entertainment. She was also a literary agent in Los Angeles and New York.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
