Carmen Romano was born and raised in northern New Jersey. He graduated Bloomfield College with a B.S. in Accounting in 1985. Upon graduation he immediately began his accounting career with a mid-size firm in New Jersey.

Romano quickly realized that he had an interest in the entertainment industry and subsequently began working as a staff accountant for the firm Padell, Nadell, Fine and Weinberger Co. in 1987. He was promoted to Business Manager in 1993. In 1996, Romano became owner and President of Progressive Business Management. On January 1, 2005 Romano opened the New York office for Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy Inc., already a prominent Business Management firm in Tennessee, and became a shareholder of the company in 2010.

Romano is a member of the ACM, CMA and NARAS. His clients include Brantley Gilbert, Cam, Diplo, MGMT, Michael Franti and others. He enjoys hobbies such as running, boating and scuba diving. Romano currently resides in northern New Jersey with his wife Peggy and three children, Nicole, Gabriella and Michael.

Duane Clark has been an owner of FBMM for more than a decade, is an award-winning business manager and is a trusted adviser to his roster of clients, including top recording and touring artists. FBMM is composed of award-winning professionals who provide counsel and strategic support to entertainers and their teams. As President and COO, he is responsible for leading FBMM’s strategic plan implementation that will ensure the continuity of its clients’ financial management and security for years to come. 

Duane is a two-time winner of the Country Music Association’s Business Manager of the Year award, been named to Variety Magazine’s Business Managers Elite list, recognized as one of Billboard’s Country Power Players, and acknowledged as a leader in Nashville by MusicRow Magazine. 

He serves in the prior chairman’s circle of the Academy of Country Music and worked closely with the Academy in presenting their 50th Anniversary Awards show at AT&T Stadium. He currently serves as Treasurer for ACM Lifting Lives and financial advisor to Country Radio Broadcasters. He is a member of the Recording Academy and a charter member and alumnus of SOLID among other industry organizations. 

By all accounts, Gayle Holcomb is a force to behold. Her boundless energy and unshakeable confidence have served her well in her rise as an agent at WME. Those attributes also have bolstered the Academy of Country Music during her many years as a board member and four years as ACM chairman. Holcomb was instrumental in moving the ACM Awards show to Las Vegas and helping craft the long-term partnership between the Academy and dick clark productions. Holcomb was also a driving force behind the creation of ACM Lifting Lives, where she has served as chairman of the board and also established the ACM Lifting Lives Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund in memory of her mother. Holcomb has been the recipient of the ACM Crystal Milestone Award, the ACM Mae Boren Axton Service Award and the Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award for her service to the Academy and Lifting Lives.

Montgomery joined ACM in 2020, most recently serving as Director of Industry Relations & Awards. Throughout her career, Montgomery has held various roles across the industry, including in brand partnerships, merchandise, brand development, touring and industry relations. She is also the founder of Family Alliance in Music, an organization that offers community and support to industry members who are parents, caregivers or planning to start a family in the future. In her role, Montgomery oversees the ACM’s artist and industry relations, lead internal talent strategy, manage membership operations and supervise awards voting, processes and board governance.