Our Team
Meet the Team Driving the Mission
From preserving historic theatres to producing transformative education programs, our passionate team brings decades of experience in the arts, education, nonprofit leadership, and community development. Together, we are shaping the future of the performing arts in San Antonio and South Texas.
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Jaselyn Blanchard — Executive Director
Jason Barrera — Director of Advanced Education
Maddie Ellwood Speer — Program & Events Manager
Samantha Sample — Membership & Ticketing Manager
Christopher D. Littlefield — Resident Music Director
Missy Miller — Director of Showstoppers
Lainey Berkus — Community Partnerships Manager
Gina Eisenberg — PR Manager
Katie Kinder Debauche — Grants Manager
Jose Morales — Social Media & Content Creator
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Tom Delbello • Jackson J. Perrin • Aimee Raddicks • Kate Gleeshan • Julio Cataño • Richard Cerato • Lauren Cosio Kotkowski • Tim Hedgebeth • Ellen Sisley • Hannah Jenkins • Andre Roger Martin • Kahlee Moore • Jenny Lavery • Kellie Hodges • Tanesha Payne • Ryan Driscoll • Spencer Hansen
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Click Here to view current job openings.
Board of directors
Our Board provides visionary leadership and strategic oversight, ensuring The Majestic Empire Foundation fulfills its mission with excellence, equity, and integrity. Their diverse expertise and deep community roots guide our work at every level.
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• Kevin Parman, Board Chair
• Steve Johnson, Vice Chair
• Jerry Salinas, Treasurer
• Mary Belan Doggett, Secretary -
• Jocelyn L. Straus*, Founding Chairperson & Lifetime Director
• Charline McCombs*, Lifetime Director
• Laura Richmond*, Lifetime Directors -
Ruth Chang • Dacota Haselwood • Ashley Harris • Teri Hospers • Angela McClendon Johnson • Connie McNab • Linde Murphy • Thomas Nyman • Ashley Quintanilla • Clay Richmond • Lyn Selig • Nancy Strehlow • Angie Stone • Linda Tillery • Lewis Vetter
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Jay Higginson • Bonnie Reed
Joci Straus: A Legacy That Lives On
In 1988, Joci Straus—a visionary philanthropist and fierce advocate for the arts—led a campaign to save the Majestic Theatre from demolition. Within just 11 months, she raised over $4.5 million, restoring the theater and catalyzing a cultural renaissance in downtown San Antonio.
As the founder of The Majestic Empire Foundation (formerly Las Casas Foundation), Joci dedicated her life to preserving historic spaces and creating life-changing opportunities for young performers. Her legacy lives on through the Joci Awards, the largest and most comprehensive performing arts education and scholarship program in the country—having awarded over $2.3 million to 500+ students and reaching over 3,000 students and counting.
“Joci didn’t just save a theatre—she sparked a movement. One that continues to light the path for the next generation.”
