OMHOF Board of Directors
Terry Currier (President)
Terry Currier, President of Music Millennium, Burnside Records and Burnside Distribution, is respected and revered locally and nationally for his unflagging support of the Pacific Northwest’s music industry and for innovation in the music retail industry. Terry took over Music Milllennium from founder Don McLeod in the ‘80s. Terry’s other ventures include Burnside Records, Burnside Distribution and Sideburn Records. Terry also serves on the board of CIMS.
Ezra Meredith (Secretary + Graphic Design/AV Presentation)
Ezra Meredith believes music is about more than making records—it’s about creating a place where people can come together. For more than 20 years, he has been doing exactly that through Deer Lodge, the unique Portland institution he founded in 2003.
After earning a degree in recording and engineering, Ezra began his career at Jackpot! Studios, working alongside Larry Crane and learning the craft of recording from the inside out. He went on to put that experience to work at Deer Lodge, which grew into far more than a recording studio. Over the years, it has become a record label, live performance space, gathering place, and one of Portland’s most distinctly personal music institutions.
As an engineer, producer, mixer, and musician, Ezra has recorded and worked with a wide range of local and national artists, including Fernando, Luther Russell, Lewi Longmire, Michael Dean Damron, Drunken Prayer, and many others. He later launched Deer Lodge Records, releasing music by Drunken Prayer, Hearts of Oak, Sarah Gwen, Countryside Ride, Meredith Brothers, and more.
But the records only tell part of the story.
What Ezra has built at Deer Lodge is a community. Its backyard performances have brought musicians and music lovers together for intimate spring and summer shows, while the garage—transformed into a lovingly recreated dive bar—has become a place where local and touring musicians can hang out, share stories, have a drink, and feel at home. On any given night, you might find Ezra spinning old-school country or psychedelic records, talking music with friends, or simply making sure everyone feels welcome.
That sense of community is at the heart of everything Ezra does. In an era when so much of music has become increasingly digital and disconnected, Deer Lodge feels wonderfully human—a place where records are made, bands play, stories are shared, and people actually get to know one another.
With more than two decades of recording experience and a long list of production and engineering credits, Ezra has become an important part of Portland’s musical fabric. Willamette Week recognized Deer Lodge as one of Portland’s “Best of Portland” in 2015, but its greatest achievement may be the community that has grown around it.
As Secretary and a member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame Board of Directors, Ezra brings that same spirit of creativity, craftsmanship, and community to the work of celebrating and preserving Oregon’s remarkable musical history.
Alex Steininger (Artist Relations + Publicity/Marketing)
For Alex Steininger, music has never just been a job, it’s been a way of life. For more than 30 years, he’s been writing about it, promoting it, working behind the scenes, and, most importantly, rooting for artists.
Alex’s journey began in 1995, writing about local and national bands for AOL’s ChipNet. When AOL shut the publication down two years later, Alex and his lifelong friend Ryan O’Neill decided to build something of their own. They launched In Music We Trust Magazine, an independent online music magazine at a time when the internet was still figuring out what it could become. The site quickly developed a devoted audience by covering everything from emerging local acts to established national artists, with a simple philosophy: if the music was good, it was worth listening to. Billboard took notice, recognizing In Music We Trust for championing the little guy.
From there, Alex found himself increasingly on the business side of the music world. He worked in marketing and label relations at N.A.I.L. Distribution and Burnside Distribution, helping independent artists and labels navigate the often complicated path from making records to getting them into people’s hands.
In 2003, he joined CD Baby as Vice President of Marketing & Business Relations. During his time there, he helped build relationships with Amazon, Ryko Distribution, Super D, and others, while working closely with artists, labels, retailers, and the rapidly emerging world of digital music. It was a front-row seat to one of the biggest transformations the music business had ever seen.
But Alex never really left the independent music world behind. In 2007, he returned his full attention to In Music We Trust, expanding it into a music company encompassing publicity, artist management, label services, marketing, distribution support, and consulting. Over the years, his work has helped artists find audiences and earn attention from Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, SPIN, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, MSNBC, FOX News, The Daily Show, Last Call with Carson Daly, and many others.
Through all of those chapters, the constant has been Alex’s belief in artists and his love for the music community. Whether he’s helping an emerging band get its first national press, working with an independent label, connecting people behind the scenes, or simply showing up to support a Portland artist, he’s always been interested in the same thing: helping good music find the people who need to hear it.
As a board member, Alex is proud to help celebrate, preserve, and support the extraordinary music history of Oregon.
Bill Frith (Treasurer)
Since graduating from Willamette University in 1991, his Property & Casualty insurance career with Safeco and Liberty Mutual has focused on marketing and sales throughout Oregon. In those travels came a broad sampling of Oregon’s rich musical offerings from the big stage to the tavern corner next to the restrooms. While his music industry experience involves some radio DJ work (every show ended with The Yardbirds’ “Train Kept a-Rollin’” and a free beer to the 7th caller), Bill came from a family musical legacy and enjoyed the benefits of school music programs (choir, clarinet) and private music lessons (piano) to fuel interest and appreciation across all musical genres. With three children growing up in today’s school system, he is experiencing first-hand the impact of budget cuts and a diminishing focus on the musical arts among our youth. Well, that’s just not good, which is why he involves himself with OMHOF’s mission to celebrate Oregon musical legacy and promote youth music awareness and education. He is also learning how to play the blues harp.
Robert Rentsch (Sponsorships)
Robert Rentsch is a Portland-based business leader, brand builder, and lifelong music lover with more than 25 years of experience in the beverage alcohol and consumer products industries. As owner of Vinmont Consulting LLC, Robert advises beverage companies on business strategy, marketing, commercialization, and brand development. His career has included executive leadership roles with Pyramid Brewing Co., Portland Brewing Co., Craft Brew Alliance, and Dobbes Family Estate/Wine by Joe, where he led teams, built brands, and helped shape the businesses and culture of Oregon’s renowned craft beverage community.
Deeply committed to Portland’s creative culture, Robert is also a founding board member of Weird Portland United, an organization dedicated to supporting the artists, creators, and risk-takers who make Portland unique. He brings that same passion for creativity, community, and the power of music to the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, where he is proud to help celebrate and preserve Oregon’s extraordinary musical heritage and the artists who have made an enduring impact far beyond the state.
Marcus Woods (Volunteer Coordinator)
Marcus Woods is an accomplished entrepreneur, artist manager, music producer, healthcare executive, and technology innovator with a deep commitment to community, culture, and the arts. Marcus brings not only a wealth of business leadership to the board, but also a passion for music and its power to uplift, inspire, and connect people.
Marcus is the Founder and CEO of Equilibrium AI Technologies, an artificial intelligence firm focused on cutting-edge solutions that bridge technology and human-centered care. He also owns and operates WOODS ADVANCED SENIOR LIVING LLC, a real estate development company, and serves as President of W&W Healthcare Consulting and Management Services, which provides strategic guidance to healthcare institutions across the country. He also founded and runs Woods Entertainment Group, a music production and artist development group.
A proud graduate of the University of Oregon with degrees in Sociology and Political Science, Marcus has long understood the vital role music plays in shaping social narratives and fostering community identity. He has been an active supporter of music education and youth programs, particularly those that increase access for underserved communities. His dedication to OMHOF’s mission reflects his belief in preserving Oregon’s musical heritage while creating space for the next generation of artists to thrive.
With a background rooted in service and innovation, Marcus is excited to help steward OMHOF’s future through thoughtful leadership, strategic vision, and a lifelong love of music.
Janeen Rundle (Director of Music Programs and Scholarships)
Janeen worked for Sony Music Entertainment for 14 years upon graduation from ASU in Business/Political Science. Her years with Sony Music involved marketing, sales, and promotion, based in Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Portland. In 2004, she entered the field of finance and is presently a Sr. Loan Officer at Eagle Home Mortgage. Always an avid arts advocate and diverse music appreciator, from a radio DJ in college, to Sony Music and onto organizing and assisting community fundraising concerts and galleries such as: Alberta Street Fair, Iron Artist-S.C.R.A.P. TBA, Tribute to America at the Roseland, ArtHop on Alberta St, as well as, S.C.R.A.P. Art Gallery: Co-curator/Proprietor/Music Coordinator / Board advisor (School and Community Reuse Action Project.) As a co-founder of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, she continues to coordinate Music Education opportunities through OMHOF workshops, assemblies and scholarships to our underserved schools/communities and college scholarship opportunities to those pursuing musical studies. Janeen also serves as International Youth Exchange Counselor-Southeast Portland Rotary.
J. Michael Kearsey (Technical Writing + In Memoriam)
J. Michael Kearsey began his professional music career in high school bands in Western Massachusetts, continued playing and expanding his genres adding Folk music and jazz to his American Rock’n’Roll interests as he obtained a History degree at Beloit College. He moved to Boston with college mates Jim and Tom Goodkind, forming Under Milkwood with pre-Cars vocalist, Ric Ocasek. Moving to Portland Oregon in 1972, he was a founding member of UPEPO, a Jazz/Latin/Rock group that performed all over the West Coast for 11 years. He produced the their sole LP, International Ties. In 1982 he formed the Rockin’ Razorbacks and produced the first of two LP’s, Rockin’ Razorbacks and More Love Less Attitude. In 1989 he joined the Brothers of the Baladi, playing bass, producing 8 of their 12 CD’s. He has also produced three CD’s for Howard Crosby (Bing’s nephew) as well as Blues and Jazz CD”s for Lee Blake, Reunion Jazz Quartet, The Millionaires and his own CD’s: Suite for the Columbia Gorge and Silverthaw. As a composer he has provided scores for five OPB programs including, Oregon Portraits I and Oregon Portraits II, OPB’s most successful fund raising programs to date. Offstage, Michael has been an active member of the Portland’s music community as the Vice President of the Portland Music Association, board member of the Portland FolkMusic Society, board member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and a 35-year member of NARAS. As a concert promoter he produced over 300 shows of contemporary Folk Music for his Berkshire Snow Productions that included Ani DiFranco, Greg Brown, John Gorka and Dougie MacLean. He has been a feature writer for the Oregonian, music editor of the Portland Scribe, columnist for Positively Entertainment and the Southeast Examiner and broadcaster on his KBOO weekly Jazz show, “Sound for Sore Ears,” which could be heard every Monday night for 11 years. He is currently working on a third personal CD, Between the Seasons.
