Don Priest
Founding Board Member and Chair
Don Priest is a professor emeritus from the Department of Media Communication
& Journalism at Fresno State, where he taught audio/video production and
photojournalism for 25 years and helped his students win numerous production
awards. In 2005 he was named the outstanding media professor in the CSU
system and in 2024 was inducted to the MCJ Department Hall of Fame
He also devoted a good portion of his career to the campus radio station, 90.7
KFSR, serving in every prominent role from on-air host to Blues Music Director to
General Manager. It was under his leadership that the station made the successful
transition from a campus only station to a 24×7, community-supported, non-
profit organization offering an eclectic range of music programing.
In addition, Don was a key player in the creation of CMAC (Community Media Access Collaborative) the non-profit organization that provides media training
and production equipment to community members seeking to tell their own stories.
Since his retirement in 2011, Don has resumed his life-long passion for playing music. He is currently the percussionist in the Irish band, Celtic Alchemy, and drummer with The Top Dollar Dudes, a county band that plays a weekly volunteer dance gig at a local Senior Center.
Don is also an accomplished writer/photographer whose work has appeared in both local and national publications.
Ray Settle
Founding Board Member and Treasurer
As Operations Manager at Maximus Media Inc., Ray Settle has played a key role in
delivering full-service production work—from recording and post-production to
commercial media and live event execution—helping shape the company’s reputation
as a trusted creative hub in Fresno. With decades of experience in media production
and a commitment to the arts community, Ray Settle stands out as both a creative
professional and a steward of Central California’s musical identity. His passion for
history and local culture has helped shape the Hall of Fame’s mission to recognize and
celebrate the area’s musical legacy.
Debi Ruud
Founding Board Member and Secretary
Debi Ruud earned her degree in music from Fresno State in 1998. Not only has Debi been teaching privately for 25 years, she has also been singing professionally in top 40, rock, jazz and R & B bands, numerous churches, recording projects, jingles, commercials and special events in the Central Valley for over 35 years.
She has been involved with the Good Company players and several other theater companies in Fresno. She has recorded four albums and is getting ready to release her fifth. She is known for her 5-year run of being one of the Valleys American Idol “vocal coach’s” on FOX 26.
Now serving two locations, Debi is the founder, owner of the Valleys largest privately owned music school of its’ kind, Fresno Music Academy & Arts. She also is the founder and director of Fresno’s only Rock-n-Roll Choir, Hearts in Fire, which has over 50 members and is in its 8th year of celebrating the joy of music!
Debi has many other creative endeavors including a weekly podcast called “Dancing with Skeletons” with her partner in crime, Liz Stoeckel, writing a book, practicing yoga, running and even a little tap dancing.
She is also an active member of the Cultural Arts Rotary club and sits on the board of the Valley Music Hall of Fame.
Fred Martinez
Board Member
The retired fire fighter with a burning passion for music, Fred has been involved in the local music scene since the 1980’s when he performed with various bands in classic local venues like The Wild Blue Yonder, The Star Palace and The Olympic Tavern.
After a brief stint in managing, Fred decided to take the plunge and open his own music venue. “Club Fred” opened on December 25, 1989 and was a successful music venue that prided itself in hosting an eclectic mix of talent, ranging from blues, reggae, folk, ethnic, rock, punk, psychobilly, and more.
John Alden
Board Member
John Alden has been a resident of Fresno for most of his life, has
worked as a professional photographer and graphic artist and, he ha
been a member of several Fresno boards and a member of several
local creative groups. Today he shares managing Fresno Music
Academy & Arts with his wife, Debi Ruud and has recently opened the
galley, Arts Annex Fresno located in the Tower District, overseeing the
growth and outreach to the community. He is also a musician and an
artist.
Elizabeth Stoeckel
Board Member
Elizabeth Stoeckel has lived in the Fresno/Clovis area for most of her life. She is a theatre performer, director, and teacher. She has performed in shows for several theatre companies in The Valley, including Good Company Players, Theatre J’Nerique, and Center Stage, Clovis. Some of her favorite roles include M’Lynn in “Steel Magnolias” (Center Stage), Truvy in “Steel Magnolias” for Good Company Players (GCP), Margot in “Dial M For Murder” (GCP), Chris Gorman in “Rumors” (GCP), Mrs. Parker in “A Christmas Story” (GCP), Mother in “Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and Ruth Condomine in “Blithe Spirit” (GCP). She’s also directed shows at GCP, Children’s Musical Theatre Works, and the Junior Company (GCP). Elizabeth works with kids with special needs and teaches Theatre in public schools around The Valley. The most important roles Elizabeth has had is being “Mom” to her kids, “Wife” to husband Tom, and “Nonna” to the light of her life; her grandson, Wilder.