ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC® ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS FOR 2025-2026
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC® ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS FOR 2025-2026
NASHVILLE, TN (October 29, 2025) – The Academy of Country Music® announced today its officer roles and newly-elected Board of Directors for the Academy of Country Music for the 2025-2026 term. Officers include Chair Cris Lacy, President Jeff Krones, Vice-President Becky Gardenhire, Treasurer Carmen Romano, Sergeant-at-Arms Gayle Holcomb, Parliamentarian Duane Clark, and Secretary Haley Montgomery.
“Coming off the milestone 60th ACM Awards, this is a pivotal moment for the Academy as we continue to build a strong legacy while setting our sights firmly on the future,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “The Academy’s influence on Country Music is strong, and with the leadership of our dedicated Board, I’m confident that even greater innovation, reach, and impact are possible.”
This year qualifying professional categories were elected by the Academy’s membership. In addition to those elected, director-at-large positions have been appointed by the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Vice-President. Directors are elected from each category based on the number of members in that category. Each director serves a staggered two-year term.
Newly elected members of the Board of Directors include:
- Scot Calonge
- Dave Cohen
- Katie Dean
- Enzo DeVincenzo
- Bob Durkin
- Martha Earls
- Kerri Edwards
- Shannan Hatch
- Jackie Jones
- Ashley McBryde
- Annie Ortmeier
- TJ Osborne
- Carly Pearce
- Kevin Ream
- Troy Vollhoffer
- Jen Way
- Derek Wells
- Stephanie Wright
Newly appointed director-at-large members of the Board of Directors include:
- Jake Basden
- Ryan Beuschel
- Amy Bryan-Fosgate
- Jodi Dawes
- Rusty Gaston
- JoJamie Hahr
- Meghan Kehoe
- Sara Knabe
- Beth Laird
- Tom Lord
- Patrick Moore
- Ryan Redington
- Shannon Sanders
- Randi Tolbert
- Brian Wolf
- Erika Wollam Nicols
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025-2026
OFFICERS
Chair of the Board Cris Lacy, Warner Music Nashville
President Jeff Krones, CAA
Vice-President Becky Gardenhire, WME
Treasurer Carmen Romano, FBMM
Sergeant-at-Arms Gayle Holcomb, WME
Parliamentarian Duane Clark, FBMM
Secretary Haley Montgomery, Academy of Country Music
AFFILIATED
Scot Calonge, Richards & Southern
Ward Guenther, Whiskey Jam
Deana Ivey, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
Jackie Jones, RIAA
Chris Lisle, CCLD, LLC / Eccho Live
ARTIST/MUSICIAN/PRODUCER/ENGINEER
Dave Cohen
Ashley McBryde
TJ Osborne
Carly Pearce
Derek Wells
DIGITAL MARKETING/ DISTRIBUTION
Cameo Carlson, mTheory
Margaret Hart, Google/YouTube
MANAGER
Enzo DeVincenzo, 377 Management
Martha Earls, Neon Coast
Kerri Edwards, KP Entertainment
MEDIA/PUBLIC RELATIONS
Marcel Pariseau, True Public Relations
Kristie Sloan, The GreenRoom PR
MUSIC PUBLISHER/PRO
Cyndi Forman, UMPG
Shannan Hatch, SESAC
BJ Hill, Warner Chappel Music
RADIO
Charlie Cook
Mike Moore, Cumulus Media
RECORD COMPANY
Katie Dean, Leo33
Annie Ortmeier, Triple Tigers
Jennifer Way, EMPIRE Records
Stephanie Wright, MCA
SONGWRITER
Lee Thomas Miller
TALENT AGENT
Meredith Jones, CAA
Curt Motley, UTA
TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER
Bob Durkin, Southern Entertainment
Adam Weiser, AEG Presents
VENUE
Kevin Ream, Cheatham Street Warehouse
Troy Vollhoffer, Premier Global Production
VISUAL CONTENT
Chandra LaPlume, Sandbox Entertainment
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
Jake Basden, Sandbox Entertainment Ryan Beuschel, The Neal Agency Amy Bryan-Fosgate Matt Cottingham, Lewis Brisbois George Couri, Triple 8 Management Benson Curb, Curb | Word Entertainment Jodi Dawes, Big Machine Label Group Howie Edelman, Durango Artist Management Emily Falvey, Songwriter/SMACK Tim Foisset, Spotify Rusty Gaston, Sony Music Publishing Nashville JoJamie Hahr, BBR Music Group Jeremy Holley, Archetype Music | By Design Music Meghan Kehoe, Sony Music Nashville | Sara Knabe, Big Loud Beth Laird, Creative Nation Tom Lord, Red Light Management Shawn McSpadden, Range Media Partners Andy Moats, Pinnacle Bank Patrick Moore, Opry Entertainment Group Rod Phillips, iHeart Media Ryan Redington, Amazon Music Tim Roberts, Audacy Shannon Sanders, BMI Scott Scovill, Moo TV Sally Seitz, Apple Music Aaron Spalding, Live Nation Randi Tolbert, Q Prime Storme Warren, The Big 615 Candice Watkins, Capital Music Nashville Erika Wollam Nichols, The Bluebird Cafe Brian Wolf, Maverick |
PAST CHAIRS
Chuck Aly, Country Aircheck
Lori Badgett, City National Bank
Randy Bernard, RWB Management
Duane Clark, FBMM
Ebie McFarland, Essential Broadcast Media
Ken Tucker, Wheelhouse Records
Ben Vaughn, Warner Chappell
Ed Warm, Joe’s Live
EX OFFICIO PAST CHAIRS
Paul Barnabee, FBMM
Rod Essig, CAA
Mark Hartley
Darin Murphy, CAA
Butch Waugh, Studio2bee