PDX Jazz Staff

Chris guides the overall vision, strategic direction and operation of PDX Jazz.

Prior to joining PDX Jazz, Chris served as Managing Director of Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey, CA. His background includes development and oversight of business and operating plans for venues and new performing arts facilities including: AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, TX; and KeyArena, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall and Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center in Seattle, WA. Additionally, he directed regional marketing and publicity for Bill Graham Presents in the Pacific Northwest, and managed national promotion and marketing at Ticketmaster.

He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business Executive Leadership Program, completed studies at Stanford University Nonprofit Management Institute and holds a B.A. in Music and Business Administration from the University of North Texas.

Nicholas Salas-Harris guides the creative programming of the Biamp PDX Jazz Festival and PDX Jazz seasonal events. Starting his career as a promoter and radio host while in college, Harris has produced thousands of events across the West Coast, from Los Angeles to Seattle. His background in festivals includes the DC Jazz Festival, where he worked his way up from a first-year volunteer position to Producer and Talent Buyer during his final year with the organization. Nicholas co-founded the Soul’d Out Festival in Portland, OR and the New Orleans Jazz Fest by Night series, serving both events as Executive Producer. In 2017 he opened Jack London Revue in Portland, OR to help ensure that the city has the necessary platform for carrying on its long musical tradition in presenting live jazz.

Allison brings years of event booking, production, promotions and operations experience to PDX Jazz. She has been an enthusiastic volunteer for PDX Jazz Festival for several years and is thrilled to share her professional talents to the staff of PDX Jazz. A native Oregonian with a life-long love of live music and the arts, her background includes 12 years with McMenamins as a talent buyer, ticketing specialist and marketing manager. Prior to McMenamins, she was the program manager and house manager of the C.C.P.A. WOW Hall in Eugene, Oregon. In addition to her role with PDX Jazz, Allison contributes her talents to select events in the Pacific Northwest, Los Angeles and Hawaii.

Alex Donovan migrated to Oregon in 2006 and joined the PDX Jazz family shortly thereafter. His early production experience began at Marshall University’s WMUL FM radio station as a DJ and Jazz Producer. He also volunteered as a Stage Hand for Mountain Stage, a multiple-act, live music show recorded for NPR. In between finishing his BA in Communication, he studied audio engineering at the Recording Workshop in central Ohio. His time away from PDX Jazz is spent traveling all over North America for the day job, exploring Portland with family, playing the drums, and spinning records.

Shelby joined PDX Jazz after spending the last few years as a public educator in both music and general education. While finishing her Bachelors in Music and earning her Elementary Teaching Certificate from Gonzaga University, she wrote her senior thesis on the inherent relationship between the Civil Rights Movement and music, including jazz, spirituals and rhythm and blues. After graduating, she spent a year of service working for the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund in Berkeley, CA before moving back to the Pacific Northwest. In addition to being a teacher in Washington, she served on the Board for the Spokane Jazz Orchestra and sang for the St. John’s Cathedral Choir. Shelby holds an Oregon State Reciprocal Teacher’s Certificate, most recently teaching 5th grade in the Hillsboro School District. She currently serves as a Founding Member and Core Team Leader for the Westside Queer Resource Center Movement.