Board & Staff
Jonathan Frahm, President
Jonathan Frahm enters his first year as TKMA President and his sixth year on the Board, previously serving as Secretary. He is also an author, poet, podcast host, and freelance music journalist, marketer, and promoter whose byline includes PopMatters and For Folk’s Sake. He is currently curating monthly TKMA First Sunday Brunches at Monterey Court and is the Committee Chair of the Headliner Selection Committee and the Stefan George Memorial Songwriting Competition, as well as the New Folk Outreach and Festival Photography Committees. He is the Booking Coordinator at Art State Arizona, working with hundreds of musicians, songwriters, dancers, and entertainers of all backgrounds and styles at festivals throughout Arizona. In his “spare time”, Jonathan is working on completing a new fantasy novel starring a talking walrus.
Eric Schaffer, Vice President
Eric Schaffer is a songwriter, singer, and guitarist who leads the band, Eric Schaffer and the Other Troublemakers. A long-standing friend of TKMA as a performer, emcee, and more, Eric continues to bring this combined experience to the Board alongside his decades of professional business development. Eric currently leads the Fundraiser Committee, developing TKMA fundraisers and community concerts year-round with venues like Monterey Court, SaddleBrooke, Club Congress, Green Valley CPAC, and more.
Erika Segura, Secretary
Erika Segura is serving her first term as TKMA Secretary and second year on the Board. She is a multidisciplinary artist, performer, and event coordinator with a deep commitment to community. A songwriter, muralist, poet, and designer, she has performed at the Tucson Folk Festival, 4th Avenue Street Fairs, and numerous civic events. Erika helped coordinate festival workshops in 2025 and 2026, and she regularly volunteers with Art State Arizona and Saguaro Hills. Her creative work spans music, murals, and storytelling. “I’m eager to give back through music and service—and help preserve this legacy for future generations,” she says.
Claud Blackburn, Treasurer
Claud Blackburn, a retired accountant, has served as TKMA Treasurer for the past ten years. He enjoys traveling to the Folk Alliance International conferences most years. When he isn’t keeping up-to-date records of TKMA finances, he is living his best life in Cottonwood with wife Tieann.
Greg Aiken, Member-at-Large
Greg Aiken enters his ninth year as a Board member. Following retirement from his role as Operations Director at Salpointe Catholic High School, Greg led the charge on ground operations for the Festival. He transitioned that role in 2026, but remains active with the performer selection committee, volunteer video reviews, and community outreach. He hosts Sunday Patio Sets on the third Sunday of each month at Monterey Court, bringing in talent from southern Arizona and Phoenix to perform.
Desiree Brown, Member-at-Large
Desiree has worked in software quality assurance and served in the U.S. Army, which shaped how she stays organized, takes ownership, and looks for ways to improve things. For over 10 years, she’s been actively involved in supporting community events in the greater Tucson area. In 2026, she became TKMA’s Co-Volunteer Coordinator, managing volunteers at fundraisers and playing a key role at the Festival. This is her first Board term.
Melissa Hall-Cohn, Member-at-Large
Melissa Hall-Cohn enters her fourth year on the Board. Her background as a former service center VP, leading teams of up to 600 people, managing budgets and succession plans, and implementing major process improvements, supports TKMA as it prepares for the future. She also applied her customer experience expertise to redesign the website based on user feedback and helps maintain it today. A retired Gold-level figure skating judge and SCCA competitor, she earned volunteer recognition for her service. Although she set her violin aside after high school, she loves music and occasionally sings mantras in yoga classes that emphasize accessible movement and breathwork.
Brian Hanner, Member-at-Large
Brian Hanner, a Texas native and Bachelor of Music, is now a Tucson-based drummer, percussionist, recording engineer, and music producer. He plays with Baba Marimba and is in his third season as Principal Percussionist with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. Brian co-owns Hanner House Records with his wife, Syndenn Sweet, offering an accessible, affordable studio space for local musicians. One of their latest projects is the children’s educational album, “I L-O-V-E This D-E-S-E-R-T,” made in collaboration with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Ron Pandy, Member-at-Large
Ron Pandy is a beloved singer & songwriter who has been an active part of TKMA since very first year. During the First Annual Tucson Folk Festival, he played along with his singing dog! Now, Ron continues his long-standing role as Board Member, helping to cultivate community events like our member social gatherings. He has also performed in the Tucson Folk Festival’s Family Show, and has a passion for working with young performers, elevating them to a live platform at the festival’s Wildflower Stage.
Pablo Rodriguez, Member-at-Large
Pablo Rodriguez is a lifelong musician, Tucson native, and Phoenix-based singer-songwriter. He leads Pablo & The Pour Decisions, handling marketing, social media, and the website. He regularly collaborates with promoters, venues, and other artists throughout Arizona. He coordinated TKMA’s first Phoenix fundraiser in 2026 and volunteered on the headliner stage crew at the Festival. Outside of music, he brings extensive leadership and nonprofit board experience. He’s deeply committed to community building, inclusive leadership, and
using music as a catalyst for connection. This is his first Board term.
Matt Rolland, Member-at-Large
Matt Rolland is President Emeritus and enters his seventh year on the Board. He is the bandleader and fiddler for Tucson-based bands RISO and Run Boy Run and is the Deputy Director at Art State Arizona. He is committed to cultivating the festival while respecting its roots and community-focused mission, intending on building a strong foundation for the Tucson Folk Festival’s next decade. Among his focuses as Board President is his commitment to building new business partnerships and sponsorship opportunities for TKMA through grantwriting and outreach.
Daniel Roth, Member-at-Large
Daniel Roth is an engineer, drummer, and community-minded problem solver who led ground operations for the 2026 Tucson Folk Festival. With over two decades at M3 Engineering, he brings deep experience in construction, logistics, and design—skills essential for managing festival infrastructure like staging, power, and street closures. He also performs with his wife in their band, Roth D’Lux. “I’m excited to help shape TKMA’s future by combining strategic planning with hands-on support,” he says. This is his second year on the Board.
Bylaws
The Tucson Folk Festival is produced by the Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association. The following bylaws govern the structure and operations of the Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association.
Committees and Staff
All Board Members sit on at least one project committee, working alongside many passionate volunteer staff to plan the annual Tucson Folk Festival and our year-round programming.
Learn more about our Committees and Festival Volunteer Staff.
Board Meetings
Board of Directors Meetings are held virtually the first Monday of every month from 7:30-9:00 p.m.
If you would like to attend the Meetings open to Members, Staff and Volunteers, please request to be added to the ZOOM distribution list by contacting the President, here.
You can contact the officers and/or board members using the contact form.
Interested in Joining the Board?
The Tucson Folk Festival is produced by a passionate group of volunteers and Board members that include a diverse group of professional backgrounds, all of whom have participated as performers, volunteers, committee members, and/or staff prior to joining the Board. Being a part of the team who produces the annual Tucson Folk Festival is a rewarding and meaningful experience. We’re always looking for new community members interested in service! The Board is currently made up of 9 members-at-large and 4 officers on three year terms. New board members are elected each summer at the annual member meeting, or to fill a vacancy. Applications are open to the public and due June 30 of each year.