Meet Our Team

It Takes a Village

MJW Staff

Founder and Artisitic Director

Stephen M. Lee

Jazz is Stephen Lee’s calling, whether he’s playing it or teaching theory and performance to his students. He can attest to the transformative power of music — the arts were his siren song and the guiding light by which he moved through his own education process.

Coordinator of Education

Michael Scott

Michael has been with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra since 1976. Recently, he retired as an Associate Professor at Southwest Community College where he designed the online and hybrid music appreciation courses that are still in use today by the college. When not working with the Memphis Jazz Workshop or performing with the symphony, Michael can be found playing most of the woodwind instruments in many different chamber ensembles, jazz groups and many of the Broadway touring shows at the Orpheum Theater.

Program Coordinator

Rachel P. Johnson

Rachel has experience in non-profit, organizational management and day to day operations for music programs and organizations. She is a dedicated music educator, musician, and the founder and director of Memphis String Project and RP Johnson Consulting LLC which provides professional education consulting and program coordination for school districts and organizations across the country. Rachel is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a BA in Music and Culture and a BA in Psychology.

Board of Directors

Kenechia Carodine, Board Chair

Kenechia Carodine currently serves as the Board Chair of the Memphis Jazz Workshop, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching young lives through jazz education. She is an entrepreneur based in Memphis, Tennessee, the co-owner of Precise Concrete Works LLC, a company specializing in high-quality concrete services. In addition to her business ventures, her involvement with the workshop began when her children, McKinley and Martin participated as students. Martin showcased his trumpet skills in a student spotlight feature by JustMyMemphis.

Laurita Jackson, Vice Chair

Laurita Jackson currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Memphis Jazz Workshop Board, in her first term as a Board Member. She is deeply involved in the Memphis community, a board member for The Greater Memphis Chamber, St. Mary’s Episcopal School, and Girls Inc. (Vice-Chair). She is also a graduate of the Leadership Memphis Executive Class of 2013. She is the President and CEO of Enfinity Supply, bringing over 33 years of experience, with the last 15 years focused on wholesale distribution. Before founding Enfinity Supply, she was a Managing Partner at 1Source, where she specialized in distributing industrial, janitorial,
and office products. She has extensive experience working with customers across
government, commercial, and industrial markets. Laurita holds a B.S. in Electrical
Engineering from Howard University and an MBA from The University of Michigan.

Eric Clauson, Treasurer

Eric is the CEO and founder of Lexington Asset Management, a Memphis-based real estate investment and management company. Eric was previously the head of the equity derivative and hedge fund sales groups at Credit Suisse First Boston, Goldman Sachs and Salomon Brothers. Eric lived in Japan from 1988-2013 and is proficient in Japanese. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. with an MBA in 1987 and a BSBA in 1986. He is also currently a board member of Ballet Memphis and the Memphis Chamber Music Society.

William Townsend, Secretary

William Townsend is an active member of the Memphis community, currently serving as the Secretary of the Memphis Jazz Workshop Board, in his first term as a member of the Board. He plays a key role in supporting the organization’s mission to foster young talent in jazz music, taking the lead in fundraising and community awareness for the organization.

Martin Carodine

Martin Carodine is the Past President of the Memphis Jazz Workshop Board of Directors. A business leader who is actively involved in the arts community in Memphis, Tennessee, he serves as the key principal of Precise Concrete Works, L.L.C., a company specializing in concrete services. Martin is also associated with Precise Contracting, in Memphis, TN.

John Keith Perry, Esq.

Keith Perry is serving his third term on the Memphis Jazz Workshop Board, supporting the organization’s mission to nurture young musicians and future music educators. He is a Memphis-area attorney and partner at Perry Griffin, PC, specializing in criminal defense, personal injury, and civil rights litigation. He holds a B.A. from the University of Tennessee and a J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law.

Barbara Christensen

Barbara Christensen is an active, dedicated member of the Memphis Jazz Workshop Board, representing LeeJazz Omega in various arenas in the Memphis community. She has a diverse background, having studied at the University of Iowa, University of Colorado, and University of Rochester, and attended Kensington High School in Buffalo. Professionally, Barbara has worked with Creative Aging, an organization focused on enhancing the quality of life for older adults through creative expression.

Caron Byrd

Caron Byrd, JD, is serving her first term on the Memphis Jazz Workshop Board, contributing to the organization’s mission of supporting young jazz musicians and future music educators. As the Director of Housing and Patient Services at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee she oversees housing accommodations and support services for patients and their families. Prior to joining St. Jude, Caron served as the Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis, where she helped provide a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children.

Warren Wiley

Warren Wiley is serving his first term on the Memphis Jazz Workshop Board, supporting the organization’s mission of nurturing young jazz musicians and future music educators. As a financial professional based in Memphis, Tennessee, he is the Senior Vice President at Pinnacle Financial Partners with over 20 years of experience in the financial industry. In this role, he provides comprehensive financial services to clients, including investment management, financial planning, and banking solutions. Warren holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee and. He is dedicated to helping clients achieve their financial goals through personalized strategies and attentive service.

Partnerships

  • Visible Music College
  • American Federation of Musicians
  • Sunset Jazz at Court Square
  • Memphis Music Initiative (MMI)
  • Southwest Community College
  • City of Memphis Youth Services MPLOY program
  • Crosstown High School
  • Crosstown Arts