Leadership

About Us

"Man, if you outlive me,

just try to keep the blues alive."

Muddy Waters (1915 - 1983)

American Blues Singer, Guitarist, & Songwriter

Leadership of the non-profit Idaho Blues Society is provided by an all-volunteer Board of Directors who love the blues and share their time and talents to ensure the IBS fulfills its mission to spread knowledge and appreciation of blues music throughout the state.

The board’s key activities include strategizing and planning for long-term growth, developing our annual budget and monitoring expenditures to ensure they support our mission and comply with legal requirements, raising funds to carry out our blues music education programs for young people and live music performances for adults and youth and overseeing their implementation, and keeping our members informed about blues music opportunities in Idaho. Learn more about the board's duties in our Bylaws.

The board meets monthly. IBS members are welcome!

Meet the IBS Board Members

Billy Arnold

President



Billy Arnold, aka “Billy Blues,” is a retired clinical forensic psychologist and former tenured full professor of psychology at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Music has been a lifelong passion that has progressed from playing with Los Blues Guys in south Texas in the late 1970s to founding the eight-piece contemporary blues and blues-rock Billy Blues Band in Boise in 2017 He is a guitarist and vocalist with the band. As president of the Idaho Blues Society, he provides strategic leadership to the organization, serves as its ambassador and advocate in the community, and works closely with the board to ensure its mission to promote and preserve the blues is fulfilled. In addition, he schedules and produces live music shows.

Jay Longwell

Vice President



Jay is a nationally recognized expert and public speaker on tech product launches. As the founder and CEO of Stratus Marketing, he developed national and worldwide programs and defined marketing best practices for a diverse group and technology companies, including HP, IBM, Microsoft, and others. He is also a former adjunct professor of Marketing at Boise State University. As Vice President, he oversees IBS outreach activities and regularly produces live music events. Jay is also a well-known guitarist and is currently performing as the lead guitarist for the Boise-based rock and blues rock band, The Main Event.

Tres White

Secretary



Tres’ career includes 40+ years’ experience in computer programming and technology leadership in small and medium-sized businesses. As the IBS Secretary, Tres provides technical expertise and oversees dissemination of meeting minutes to the board. In addition, he orders and markets IBS merchandise and recruits and manages assignments of our team of IBS volunteers. A longtime member of the Eastern Idaho Jazz & Blues Society, Tres is an amateur electric guitarist and especially enjoys jazz, blues, and reggae.

Dave Light

Treasurer



Dave’s business career spans 40+ years as a C-level executive specializing in early stage and emerging growth companies in worldwide markets. Employing his leadership and strategic planning skills, he led a number of companies to growth and financial stability. He is an accomplished harmonic player, having started playing at the age of 4, and in 1991, founded the Bay-area Trials & Tribulations Blues Band, which he later reformed in Boise. A Certified Public Accountant and former president of the IBS, he is currently serving as Treasurer and is responsible for overseeing IBS finances, including budgeting, reporting, and ensuring the financial integrity of our organization.

Debbie Miller

Fundraising & Advancement



Debbie Miller has logged 30 years as a fundraiser for universities and nonprofits and has been an independent consultant for the past 10 years. As a nationally recognized expert, she provides a high level of technological skill and knowledge of cutting-edge practices in major gift fundraising, advancement services, and prospect development to the Board. She is working on developing and implementing a fundraising program for the IBS.

Rick DeAguiar

Jams & Events

Rick DeAguiar is retired from a career in real estate and is currently focused full-time on his music as a keys player with the popular Last Call classic rock band. His responsibilities with the Idaho Blues Society include organizing and managing the IBS monthly Blues Jams on the last Sunday of each month (except December) and assisting with producing and conducting live music events.

Volunteer Coordinators

IBS Volunteer Coordinators bring specific skills and expertise to our organization. Inspired by their love of the blues, they help ensure that key IBS programs and functions operate smoothly and efficiently.

Interested in Serving on the Board?

Not everyone needs to be a musician -- but everyone needs to "get the blues."

Serving on a blues music board of directors isn't about titles or polish -- it's about heart and respect for the music. Our board members have a real love for the blues, an understanding of where it comes from, and a commitment to keeping it alive and honest. For us, that means showing up, speaking up when it matters, and doing the work behind the scenes so the music can stay front and center.

To be effective, board members need to be able to listen as well as lead, respect musicians, and understand that blues us built on community, not ego. bring good judgment, common sense, and a willingness to roll up their sleeves -- whether that's helping raise funds, spreading the word, or making sure the organization stays solid and fair.