Board of directors
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Ryan Miller | President
Ryan is an 18-year partner (employee) of Starbucks Coffee Company and serves as Division Development Manager leading a team of market development managers through strategy, business development, design, & construction of Starbucks’ licensed stores across the Western U.S..
Ryan began playing piano at age six after being inspired by Marvin Hamlisch at a tour stop in Ryan’s hometown. He then studied classical organ which lead to him to a diocesan music director position by age 16. Ryan pursued a double major at Seton Hill University in HR Management and Piano Performance with a secondary focus in Vocal Performance.
Ryan's previous board service includes roles with MassOpera,
Boston Gay Men’s Chorus, Springfield Civic Theatre,
Starbucks Women’s Impact Network, & Starbucks Pride Network.
Gerry Allen | Vice President
Gerry spent 30 years in managerial and executive positions for the world’s leading professional services firms including Ernst & Young, KPMG, and Deloitte before retiring and relocating to Las Vegas to rediscover his
true passion for music and the arts.
In his professional life, Gerry managed critical projects related to system implementation, mergers & acquisitions, and business transformation with budgets exceeding $100MM. He has managed over 100 staff simultaneously as part of this work. He holds a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology with a
minor in Health Systems.
Gerry has been a member of Las Vegas Men’s Chorus since 2022. Prior to his stint in corporate America, he was actively involved in community and college theatre, church choirs, and his high school show choir. Some of his favorite theatrical roles were Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Ellard in The Foreigner, Templeton the Rat in Charlotte’s Web, and the Padre Perez in
Man of La Mancha. He is thrilled to be involved in the arts again and
serving on the board of LVMC.
Jamie Richards | Treasurer
Jamie’s family moved to Las Vegas from Ottawa, Canada, in the mid-1960s when he was just a toddler. The son of performers, Jamie began ice skating lessons at the age of four and practically grew up in Commercial Center’s Ice Palace. He also sang as a boy soprano in his church choir.
Jamie’s professional debut was with the Paul Anka Choir at Caesars Palace and the Riviera. He then performed as a skater and dancer in many Las Vegas productions, including City Lites, Lido de Paris, and the Folies Bergere. Jamie danced in Frederic Apcar’s Fast Company in Lake Tahoe and skated for the Ice Capades, performing in the Emmy award-winning Carmen on Ice, filmed in Spain and Berlin.
In Las Vegas, Jamie served as a board member and executive director of Golden Rainbow’s annual benefit productions. He oversaw the full renovation of the original apartment buildings the organization provided to house those who needed assistance as they battled AIDS.
Jamie was a supervisor for MGM’s Grand Adventures Theme Park, where his proudest achievement was the “Roar Yes to Success” drug awareness program for Clark County elementary schools. For over 20 years, Jamie co-owned and operated the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, featuring Elvis and theatrical-style themed weddings. Today Jamie has happily come
full circle, now singing in the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus!
Timothy Wells | Secretary
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Timothy is extremely happy to be part of the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus as of 2022. “It is such a great honor to perform with people who give of their time and talents to share their love of music and arts to encourage and inspire the masses.”
Timothy began performing at an early age in elementary school and in church. In 1983, he began his 20-year military career as a Food Service Specialist, before being introduced to the military music field. Timothy attended the Army Element School of Music and graduated in 1990. In 1992, he became a Vocalist with the United States Army Field Band (also known as the Musical Ambassadors of the Army) and traveled the world performing on stages from corn fields to Carnegie Hall with the mission -“to keep the support of the Nation behind its military”. Also, Timothy has served in various churches and ministry positions through his life, from choir member to clergy, and is currently an ordained minister.
After retiring from the military, Timothy followed his passion into the field of Protective Services and attended the South Carolina Law Enforcement Academy, graduating in 2006 to become a Public Safety Officer. In 2008, Timothy relocated to Las Vegas and continued both his passions of music and public service. As a Private Patrolman with the State of Nevada, he has contributed to the successful operations of various security companies in the Las Vegas Valley and currently occupies a position with a prestigious private school. Timothy was elected to the Board of Directors in 2023 in order to assist in the next great chapters of our organization.
Lee New III | Member-At-Large
Lee is a passionate advocate for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and those struggling with addiction. His dedication to these causes stems from navigating the community and resources of his personal journey.
Lee moved to Las Vegas in 2018 and has been a member of the Las Vegas Men's Chorus since 2022. He was elected to the board in 2024.
For the past 6 years, Lee has been a driving force in bringing awareness to the public and fostering a sense of community and support for all.
Eduardo Ojeda-Passmore | Director
Eduardo’s journey from Mexico to the Nevada desert is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and education. After earning a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from the Universidad del Valle de Mexico and a Master's degree in Telecommunications and Software Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Eduardo embarked on a career that led him through bustling Chicago, historic Washington D.C., and sunny California before he finally settled in dazzling Las Vegas.
A Lead Solutions Architect by profession, Eduardo's technical expertise is matched only by his love for music and community. His dedication to both is evident in his role at Oracle Energy and Water, where he leads a team in creating innovative software solutions, and in his involvement with the
Las Vegas Men's Chorus.
Eduardo's passion for harmonizing voices extends beyond the
technical realm. He believes in the power of music to connect people,
bridge cultural gaps, and inspire positive change. His commitment to the
Las Vegas Men's Chorus is a testament to this belief, as he strives to create a community where everyone's voice is heard and valued.
Eduardo's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and a deep-seated love for music and community. He believes that passion and perseverance can lead to a fulfilling life, both personally and professionally.
Edwin Martinez | Director
Edwin began performing with the Las Vegas Men's Chorus in 2002 and loves being with this great group that enjoys entertaining audiences with beautiful music. He is a graduate of New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine and Athletic Training and a Bachelor of Arts in Education.
After graduating in 1988, he relocated to Las Vegas, NV and began working in the field of Public Services. Over the next 16 years, Edwin was employed as a Programmer with Desert Regional Center and as a Psychiatric Caseworker with Southern NV Adult Mental Health. He then accepted a position with the Clark County District Attorney's Office for Family Support as a Family Support Specialist II where he continued for 18 years.
Edwin is finishing up his career of more than 35 years as a Senior Eligibility Worker with Clark County Department of Social Services, where he provides assistance to displaced families. He is looking forward to
retiring in the summer of 2024.
Frederick Foster | Director
Originally from Kentucky, Frederick celebrates his 60th year working on stage and in television. In his hometown, he helped found the Lexington Shakespeare in the Park festival, which is still running, in its 40th season, and still free to the public.
He appeared in major roles in HAMLET, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, and JULIUS CAESAR, and the title roles in KING LEAR, and RICHARD III. In musical comedy, he has appeared in major roles in SHOW BOAT, OLIVER!, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and GYPSY, and in drama he has appeared in works by Ibsen, Chekhov, Inge, O'Casey, and Goldsmith. In television, he did on-camera and voice over work for PBS, The Learning Channel, Discovery, and Nickelodian.
Currently, he appears in his one-man shows featuring the works of Capote, Faulkner, Twain, and the poets of the 19th and 20th centuries. He is joyful and proud to be singing with the talented and accomplished artists of the Las Vegas Mens Chorus.
Geo Ojeda-Passmore | Director
Geo is a seasoned retail professional with over 30 years of experience
and has dedicated his career to sales and management excellence.
His impressive trajectory includes leadership roles at renowned retailers such as Brookstone, Bath and Body Works, and Kiehl's. During his tenure, Geo consistently achieved outstanding results, earning numerous sales awards and accolades for profitability and performance.
Seeking new challenges, Geo relocated to Southern California to further his retail career at South Coast Plaza, a premier shopping destination.
While working at both Brookstone and Kiehl's, he served on the
South Coast Plaza Board of Directors for over a decade,
contributing valuable insights and expertise.
In recent years, Geo has transitioned to the solar industry, where he leverages his sales acumen to promote sustainable energy solutions and address climate change concerns. Recently relocating to the Las Vegas area with his partner, he is eager to contribute his diverse skill set to the
LVMC Board of Directors.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Geo enjoys traveling with his partner and two beloved dogs, maintaining an active lifestyle with daily workouts, and exploring new culinary experiences.
Jim Villela | Director
Jim is originally from the small desert town of Blythe, California and moved to Southern Nevada with his family in 1984 when he was 14 years old.
He graduated from Western High School here in Las Vegas in 1988. He earned his B.A. Communications & Marketing from UNLV in 1997.
Jim has had an extensive career in media, marketing and advertising here in Las Vegas, which includes positions at KLAS-TV 8 News Now, DRGM Advertising and has been Account Executive with
Lamar Outdoor Advertising for 23 years.
Jim has been active in the community, serving on various professional associations and philanthropic organizations. He has been a member of the American Marketing Association-Las Vegas Chapter for 20 years and served as Chapter President in 2012-2013. He also served on the
board of directors of Golden Rainbow for ten years.
In his down time, Jim loves to travel, is a big movie fan, is an avid reader of books, follows politics and current events continuously and is an incurable extrovert who loves to meet new people and make new friends wherever he goes. He is looking forward to helping the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus gain greater recognition and connectivity in the Las Vegas community.
Marty Posner | Director
Marty has had a variety of careers. He was a high school biology teacher for 15 years in New York. Subsequently he has been a financial planner for Morgan Stanley and an environmental attorney until he retired
and moved to Nevada.
Theatrically, Marty has been in over 50 productions and numerous cabarets in New York, Connecticut, and Nevada. He is very excited to be part of the Las Vegas Mens Chorus and serve on the Board of Directors.
His LVMC passion is to grow the chorus both in number-of-members and financially.
Mikey Bond | Director
Mikey joined the Las Vegas Men's Chorus for their Spring 2022 concert.
He immediately fell in love with the organization: their acceptance of members of all types, everyone's passion for music, and the joy of singing.
Mikey loves to perform and will be the first to tell you he loves a stage. He's been a performer from a young age, playing in piano recitals and appearing small school productions. He played percussion with the Green Valley High School concert band and continued performing throughout college. To continue to develop as a singer, he's taking voice lessons through the College of Southern Nevada's music program.
He received his BFA in Game Development from SCAD and has been working in the Video Game Industry since 2015.
Randee Stewart | Director
Randee is originally from Cincinnati, OH. He joined the U.S. Army immediately after High School enlisting into the Army Band as a Euphonium Player. He served a full career and retired as a Sergeant First Class (E-7) after fulfilling many roles in the band field from retention to recruiting.
He was also a male vocalist during his career in the military.
Randee moved to Las Vegas in 2017. He is the proud father of two adult sons. He received his BFA in Musical Theatre with a focus in directing
from Miami University.
Randee has a passion for the performing arts in all facets. He is happy to be a part of the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus and enjoys being able to use his unique background and career to assist in bringing harmony to
LVMC members and the community.
Tom McPherson | Director
Tom grew up on the coast of the Carolinas with a passion for food, service, and hospitality. This passion for service led him to earn his B.S. Hotel & Restaurant Management from USC Columbia. From there, his culinary prowess took him across the east coast leading high-profile hospitality & food services including the U.S. House of Representatives and the Pentagon.
Tom is now a 12-year partner (employee) of Starbucks Coffee Company and serves as Senior Customer Success Manager, leading strategic technology implementation across 7,000 U.S. licensed stores.