STEVE LEUTGEB,
PRESIDENT

After retiring from my machinist career in June 2014, I was able to pursue my love of music to a much greater degree. I had grown up with interests in rock and jazz and found that both were based in the blues. I was able to go to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge in 2015, where I met many members and musicians from the MnBS. We had such a great time that I got more involved in MnBS events and was later asked to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors.

In my time on the Board I have helped to organize and work at all of our annual events. I have been a volunteer at the Road To Memphis competitions, the annual picnic, Lowertown Bluesfest, and various fundraising activities. I hope to meet more of our members and I will work to get even more people involved in the Minnesota Blues Society and to help them find the joy of the music and the friendships that come from being a member of the Minnesota Blues Society.

SUE BUJOLD,
VICE PRESIDENT

I am Sue Bujold and am proud to be an appointed member of the board. I have just retired after 35+ years as a middle school choir teacher. Even though I am a classically trained musician, I have always loved blues music. I hope to bring the organizational, project completion, and communication skills that I developed as an educator to the work of the board. I have experience with website design and maintenance and have always been an avid user of technology to make tasks more efficient. I have been involved with the Dee Miller Band for several years which has given me experience with “the behind the scene” blues world. I have volunteered for several events and am looking forward to be more involved with the Minnesota Blues Society.

DEB HILLS,
SECRETARY

My name is Deb Hills. It has been a joy to serve on the board since 2008. Last year, I took on the task of being secretary, which keeps me updated of everything that is going on. I look forward to continuing to serve as a director, secretary, volunteer, and member of various committees. I also do some graphic work for the society, which helps keep the Minnesota Blues Society visually present as well as promoting the fabulous musicians we work with. I enjoy volunteering at the events and meeting new people within the blues community. We have such a strong blues presence in the Twin Cities and it is my hope that we can spread out our mission of supporting the blues culture throughout the entire state on Minnesota.

RICHARD SCHAEFER,
TREASURER

My name is Richard Schaefer. I am presently serving as President of the MnBS Board of Directors. I have been a member of the Minnesota Blues Society since 2009, on the Board of Directors since 2011 and a Lifetime Member.

As a leading officer of the Society I have multiple opportunities to observe the daily challenges our organization encounters. While we have grown in membership the future choices that become necessary to define our direction need to be carefully charted. Securing our accounting system, expanding our web and social network reach, and defining strategic objectives are examples of projects that will help ensure the viability and sustainability of the Minnesota Blues Society. I would like the opportunity to promote these items, and more.

The Blues Society has multiple events throughout the year. From Blues for Kids, Road To Memphis, the Hall of Fame ceremony, periodic fundraisers, picnics and sponsored activities our membership has been supportive and growing during its first twelve years of existence. I have seen the leadership and hard work that makes this Society successful and I want to remain a part of its future.

The Hall of Fame committee has been especially rewarding as I have been able to meet, and speak with, some of the finest Blues artists in the State of Minnesota. Being able to recognize the work and passion that our Awardees have endeavored to achieve while they encourage and mentor the rising talent that keeps our region vibrant, has been very gratifying to our committee and members. Maintaining the prestige and integrity of the Hall of Fame will require an imaginative approach that recognizes the past, present and future.

For the past seven years I have traveled to Memphis to enjoy the Blues Foundation International Blues Competition while meeting blues fans both nationally and internationally. Recently I’ve gotten the opportunity to join the volunteers that provide the backbone of the IBC and hope to participate again this January.

I feel extremely fortunate to belong to this group. I have made many new friends, been given a chance to meet talented musicians, and observed the power of volunteerism when the blues community comes together for supporting our mutual causes. The success and growth of the Society is very important to me.

The mission statement of the Society reads in part "…to preserve, commemorate, educate, celebrate and promote the past, present and future of Blues music in Minnesota." I pledge to uphold this objective if given the opportunity.

JOHN BENNETT,
DIRECTOR

I have a wealth of banking experience and understand the meaning of providing value added service. I am known as a great “connector” who uses his large sphere of influence to match problems to solutions. In addition to helping businesses, I’ve worked closely with area nonprofit organizations. I’m dedicated to working with nonprofit directors and boards, I have strong skills in development services and fundraising. A few of my Professional Affiliations are St. Paul Port Authority, Board Chair; St. Paul Police Foundation, board member; Lowertown Blues and Funk Festival, Board Chair; Minnesota Blues Society member and the Andy and Bing Holiday concert. Various achievements are: King Boreas 68, St. Paul Winter Carnival, Louis Collette Award Winner-Fund Development and Community Service, Spurgeon Award Winner, Boy Scouts of America and Kentucky Colonel Award Winner for Community Service

My special interests include nature, guitar, conversational Spanish, volunteering and networking.

MARTY HENSCHEL,
DIRECTOR

I am honored to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Blues Society. I’ve been interested in the blues since the early 70’s when I used to lie awake late at night listening to radio stations such as WLS out of Chicago and hearing shows like “King Biscuit Flour Hour”. Got my first harmonica from an uncle when I was about 12 and played it on and off (mostly off) ever since. I volunteered at the Whole Coffeehouse at the U of M while a student and was blessed to hear such artists as Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcghee and Corky Siegel in such an intimate venue. I loved wandering the West Bank and bumping into guys like “Spider John Koerner” who was recently inducted into the Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame.

I’ve since worked about 40 years in the title insurance industry, most of it as a lawyer and business manager. During those years I served on various boards and committees, at local, state and national levels. I’ve intentionally taken a few years off of boards and committees since retiring a few years back, but am now ready to try to merge my acquired business acumen with my passion for blues music. I’m trying to improve my rudimentary skills on the harp and can be heard most Tuesdays at “Wilebski’s Greatest Jam on Earth”.

My priorities are to expand involvement in the Blues community to younger musicians and blues music fans. I’ll be active with the Volunteer Committee coordinating opportunities to volunteer at Minnesota Blues Society events. Please contact me if you have any interest in volunteering. If you don’t contact me, don’t be surprised if I contact you.

JOHN HOGG,
DIRECTOR

Hi there everybody! My name is John Hogg. I love the blues and I have been involved with the Minnesota Blues Society since 2016 and have taken on the Chairman duties of the Membership Committee, as a volunteer, which at that time was run by Jake Jacobson. I became a Lifetime Member October of 2016. It has been very rewarding to be able to manage the membership of the Society, which I expect to be able to continue doing for the foreseeable future. In our last Board of Directors meeting due to a vacancy that has occurred I volunteered to be a director to fill that vacancy until the end of that term. The board has accepted me for this directorship. I will continue to perform my role as Chairman of the Membership Committee. I look forward to working with the board and members of the Society.

LYNNE OLDRE-MORTENSON,
DIRECTOR

I have been an avid music fan from a very young age, as my parents always had music in our home. Dad loved the old style country, and mom loved Nat King Cole, etc. I dabbled in piano and chorus while in school, but never felt the drive to excel or perform myself.

As a fine artist most of my life, my adult career path eventually led me to graphic design. I worked for several newspapers, ad agencies, and finally as recruitment design specialist with Mayo Clinic until my retirement late in 2020.

Over the last 30 years I became increasingly involved with helping to promote live music in the southern Minnesota area. I met Doug Smith during this period, and was asked to contribute an article each month to his successful monthly Blues Bugle magazine. I became acquainted with John Hammer at this time, and when the Blues Bugle discontinued, John asked me to help him get his new venture Blue Monday Monthly off the ground.

Around this time the concept of Hambone Blues Jam was being developed as a one day music event in Austin, MN. This led to me being asked by a founder to volunteer my services as a graphic designer, and then assisting on the day of the event. Year two of Hambone I was asked to serve on the board of directors. By year six, the remaining two original organizers were ready to retire from the board, and asked me to take over as president.

We remained in the Austin/Albert Lea area and expanded the event to a 2-day festival until year seven. We subsequently moved the event to Rochester, reorganized as a non-profit, and changed the name to Hambone Music Festival. I remained president of the board for seven years, stepping back to the office of VP in the final years. I’m proud to say Hambone ran successfully for 15 consecutive years, with the help of a large group of amazing volunteers.

I am currently residing in Rochester, enjoying retirement a great deal, and looking forward to serving the music community in Minnesota through my involvement with the Minnesota Blues Society.