Jesse Simon is the Founder and Executive Director of the Minnesota Hard Bop Collective, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Jesse began his jazz journey in Colorado, where his early professional experience at Denver's legendary El Chapultepec shaped his understanding of jazz mentorship. After graduating from Manhattan School of Music, where he performed with numerous jazz luminaries, he relocated to St. Paul, Minnesota. Drawing from both his performance background and life experiences, Jesse identified a critical gap between the band room and the band stand: the need for structured, supportive environments where students could connect with professionals in real life gigging situations. He founded the Minnesota Hard Bop Collective and launched its innovative Sit In Series, revolutionizing how emerging musicians integrate into the professional jazz community. Since establishing nonprofit status in 2021, Jesse has successfully raised over $150,000 in public grants, creating sustainable paid opportunities for his fellow working jazz musicians while building an innovative model for jazz education and community engagement.