Whiteside's appointment to the Academy comes after 23 years in the music and entertainment industries, most recently serving 6 years at the Country Music Association where he began as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships prior to being elevated to the role of Chief Marketing Officer.

In his time at CMA, Whiteside was responsible for overseeing the development of multi-million-dollar marketing and media campaigns for CMA's three annual television properties and strengthening the partnership with CMA's exclusive broadcast partner ABC Television Network and The Walt Disney Company. Additionally, Whiteside dedicated efforts to identify and build strategic partnerships with multi-platform media partners, digital companies, and Fortune 500 brands. Notable accomplishments include increased ratings for the monumental 53rd annual CMA Awards in November 2019, his leadership role in the year-long campaign for "The 50th Annual CMA Awards" and the groundbreaking "Forever Country" single and music video campaign; serving as the lead Country strategist for the release of the Ken Burns Country Music documentary; award-winning creative campaigns positioning CMA Awards as the leader in music awards shows; the launch of CMA Brand Marketing Summits in New York, Toronto and London; dramatic growth across CMA digital platforms; the launch of CMA's content creation efforts; integrated media partnerships with top digital/DSPs, radio, and cable television partners; re-branding of CMA Music Festival and Fan Fair X; 40% increase in annual sponsorship revenue; supporting the CMA Board of Directors' expansion of international efforts; overall re-tooling of CMA Marketing, Research, Communications and Strategic Partnerships teams to better serve the needs of the Country Music industry.

Whiteside's diverse, multi-media career began in 1996 at The Walt Disney Company. There he was regarded as a marketing and partnerships innovator with a strong reputation for generating marketing value, incremental revenue, and longevity of music, film, TV, and live entertainment franchises. He was responsible for award-winning marketing, creative productions, live events, and digital partnership programs during his tenure with numerous Disney-owned companies including Disney Music Group, The Walt Disney Studios, Disney Channel, and Disney Consumer Products. Some of his notable accomplishments include leading multi-platform marketing and partnership campaigns that achieved more than 100 No. 1 films, TV series, album releases and concert tours. This success was driven by Whiteside's ability to work in partnership with artists, labels, producers and talent representatives in Country, Pop, Adult Contemporary, R&B, Jazz, and New Age to deliver best-in-class marketing and creative productions for countless superstar-level artists and was instrumental in launching the music careers of some of today's most successful artists. In addition, he developed brand and retail strategies for the world's largest film and TV franchises, including Hannah Montana, High School Musical, Cars, Toy Story, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mickey Mouse, Disney Princess and more, each generating more than $3 billion in retail sales. He secured over $100MM annually in media value through brand partnerships and broadcast marketing efforts with top networks including ABC, ABC Family, CMT, MTV, VH-1, Disney Channel, ESPN, HGTV, GAC, PBS, VH1, and many more. In the business and corporate development arena, Whiteside engineered innovative product development and strategic partnership programs that drove Walt Disney Records annual revenues by more than 500 percent to gain a #1 independent record company ranking by Billboard. He also served on Disney's Corporate Brand Management and Synergy Executive Committees, which identified and set strategy for the top franchise and marketing priorities across the Company. There he represented the three Disney Music Group labels which included Walt Disney Records, Hollywood Records, and Lyric Street Records in integration of artists into Disney-wide initiatives.

In 2011, Whiteside formed Nomad Entertainment Group in Hollywood, CA, where he represented multi-genre music artists, producers and songwriters, and developed marketing and digital campaigns, brand strategy, and partnerships for entertainment brand clients.

Whiteside's professional affiliations have included Leadership Music, NARAS, Music Business Association, Digital LA, CMO Club, LA Office, American Marketing Association and Promotion Marketing Association. His current Board positions include the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, Nashville Cares and the TJ Martell Foundation. In 2013 he completed the Executive Program at the renowned UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Gil Beverly steps into the Academy after spending more than four years with the Tennessee Titans, serving as Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer. In his role with the Titans, Beverly led the organization to four successive years of record revenues across corporate partnerships and ticket sales while revitalizing the Titans brand through lifestyle marketing and activations tied to music, fashion, art, and fitness along with groundbreaking advertising and social media campaigns. Beverly also served as executive project lead for the preliminary stages of the new Titans stadium plan. Prior to joining the Titans organization, Beverly served as Vice President of Partnership Solutions at Learfield Sports in Plano, Texas, after a 13-year stint at ESPN, where he oversaw the go-to-market strategy for multimedia sales and sponsorships for the launch of the College Football Playoff as Vice President of College Sports Marketing. A native of Evanston, Illinois, Beverly graduated from the undergraduate division of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania before securing his MBA at the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon.

In his role as Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, Beverly will supervise and manage the Academy’s business operations and manage all revenue streams, play a key role in shaping the Academy’s growth strategy by identifying and evaluating business opportunities, and will work with the CEO to oversee and manage staff, all while supporting the Academy’s mission of connecting the industry, artists, and fans.

A native of Baltimore, MD, Bartko graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She began her career as an auditor, before earning her CPA license and moving to Nashville to work in the music industry. Prior to joining the Academy, she most recently held positions at Warner Music Group and Live Nation Entertainment. In her role as VP, Accounting & Finance, Bartko will oversee all accounting and finance functions for the Academy and ACM Lifting Lives. This includes financial strategy, and budgeting to ensure the organization’s fiscal health and mission alignment. Bartko will also manage financial reporting, audits, and internal controls. She reports to Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy.

Montgomery joined the Academy in 2020, where she most recently served as Director, Industry Relations & Awards. Montgomery previously held a variety of roles across the industry including brand partnerships, merchandise, brand development, touring, and industry relations. She is one of the founders of the Family Alliance in Music, which provides community and support to members of the industry who currently have families, serve as caretakers, or plan on building a family in the future.

In her role as Head of Artist Relations & Awards, she will oversee the Academy’s artist and industry relations, spearhead internal talent strategy, supervise Academy membership operations, Awards voting and processes, board & governance procedures and more. Montgomery reports to Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy.

Prior to joining the Academy in 2022 as Director, Brand Marketing & Partnerships, Mekler spent three years serving as Senior Digital Manager at the Country Music Hall of Fame, where he oversaw creative marketing for owned properties and assisted with content strategies for multiplatform marketing campaigns. Previously, he also held positions at L3 Entertainment and BBR Music Group. In his role as Senior Director, he will oversee all Marketing and Creative initiatives, including the development of integrated marketing campaigns, creative direction, content development, strategy, production, and more. Mekler reports to Gil Beverly, EVP & CBO of the Academy.

A Seattle native with a background in TV News where he won multiple Emmy Awards, Jesse Knutson joined the Academy in January 2022 as Manager, Publicity & Media Relations and led the Academy’s publicity efforts for major live event tentpoles, including the innovative 57th and 58th ACM Awards on Prime Video, the first major awards show to livestream exclusively, and the 15th ACM Honors show, as well as Academy and ACM Lifting Lives organizational and programmatic initiatives. Jesse previously served as a TV reporter at Nashville’s NewsChannel 5 (WTVF), Seattle’s KING 5, and Harrisburg, PA’s WHP-TV, and served as a producer at Los Angeles’ KNBC.

In his role as Director, Knutson will continue to lead publicity and media relations efforts for the Academy of Country Music. Those responsibilities include publicity, promotional campaigns and strategies for raising awareness and coverage of the ACM Awards, Academy initiatives, programs and events, and ACM Lifting Lives philanthropic work. Knutson will draft press materials and work closely with the ACM marketing and events teams on logistics of red carpets and liaising with photographers and media, as well as organizational and programmatic priorities for the Academy. Knutson reports to Rory Levine, Vice President, Marketing and Digital Strategy & Engagement.

A Rhode Island native, Brum-Taylor moved to Nashville more than ten years ago to begin his career in promotions and marketing at the iHeartRadio Nashville cluster. Following his stint in radio, he worked as Social Media Manager for the Grand Ole Opry, where he was responsible for building out the Opry’s social media and digital presence. Most recently, Brum-Taylor served as Digital Marketing Director at Big Machine Label Group for seven years. During his time at BMLG, he led a team that planned and executed strategic, digital marketing initiatives for artists including Taylor Swift, Thomas Rhett, Carly Pearce, and Sheryl Crow, among others.

In his role as Director, Digital Marketing, Brum-Taylor leads all digital and social media efforts for the Academy. This includes working alongside the marketing team to create relevant and compelling content for the Academy’s social platforms, engaging with fans, artists, and the industry through the Academy’s platforms, and working to grow the reach of the Academy in the ever-changing digital world. Brum-Taylor reports to Rory Levine, Vice President, Marketing and Digital Strategy & Engagement.

Davis began her career in New York City at Buckley Hall Events, where she planned various non-profit and corporate galas throughout NYC. She then went on to join the special events team at Madison Square Garden, coordinating a portfolio of network television upfronts, the American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards, television and film Shoots, NYU graduations, and more at MSG venues. Prior to joining the Academy as Manager, Events, in 2022, she also led VIP & Fan Experience and Events for FirstBank Amphitheater’s inaugural concert season in Franklin, TN.

In her role as Director, Davis will oversee venue and event operations for the Academy of Country Music Awards, ACM Honors, and ACM Lifting Lives events, including talent logistics, partnership fulfillment, red carpet, budgets, AV and more. As lead producer, she will manage event staff as well as vendor and partner relations. She reports to Ben Carter, VP of Live Events & Production.

With nearly a decade of experience in the music industry, Cothran most recently served as Account Executive at Brooklyn-based publicity firm, Shore Fire Media, where she spent more than two years handling day-to-day PR initiatives for a wide variety of clients that ranged from musical artists to brands and influencers. Prior to Shore Fire Media, she spent two years as a publicist at Nashville boutique PR firm Sweet Talk Publicity and previously held the role of Digital Producer at iHeartMedia/Premiere Networks for four years. A Music City native, Cothran graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN, with a bachelor's degree in Music Business.

In her role as Senior Manager, Communications & Strategic Initiatives, Cothran will handle publicity and PR for the Academy's organizational initiatives, key programs and courses, ACM Lifting Lives, brand partnerships and sponsorships as well as executive leadership. She will actively assist with communications campaigns supporting major tentpoles, live events, awards shows and other projects as needed. Cothran reports to Jesse Knutson, Director, Publicity & Media Relations.

Born in Kokomo, Indiana and raised in both Shelby Township, Michigan and Allentown, Pennsylvania, Libby Gardner joined the Academy full-time in 2019 as Coordinator, Creative & Content and was promoted to Manager, Content & Editorial in 2021. Gardner attended Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication, where she received a bachelor's degree in Television, Radio, and Film. During her time at Syracuse, Gardner interned at the Academy with the Creative & Content team and continued working for the Academy as a freelance field producer following her graduation in 2018. Gardner is currently a member of SOLID’s Education Committee, a Music For Seniors Board Member, and the Events Co-Chair of the Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA).

In her role as Senior Manager, Gardner oversees the day-to-day management of the Academy’s owned media portfolio, including the Academy's web properties, branded social channels, short-form digital content, photo archives, and email newsletters. She also serves as editor of acclaimed quarterly membership magazine ACM Tempo, as well as writes and oversees the script for the industry-favorite ACM Honors show. Gardner reports to Rory Levine, Vice President, Marketing and Digital Strategy & Engagement.

Originally from Brentwood, Tennessee, Taylor Wolf attended Pepperdine University in California where she earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology. She joined ACM Lifting Lives in February 2019 as Coordinator of ACM Lifting Lives after working in the healthcare industry. Wolf was promoted to Manager of ACM Lifting Lives in 2020 and is currently serving her fourth term as Secretary of the ACM Lifting Lives Board.

In her role as Senior Manager, Wolf will continue to work in tandem with ACM Lifting Lives Executive Director Lyndsay Cruz and the ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors to drive forward the mission of the organization. Wolf’s scope includes programmatic work such as ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp, strategic fundraising efforts, and beneficiary, partner, and industry relations. Wolf reports to Lyndsay Cruz.

Raised in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Brittany Uhniat attended college at Belmont University and began her career in the music industry at Words and Music, under Big Deal Music, as a publishing administration coordinator. Before joining the Academy, she served as a creative coordinator at Resin8 Music, where she was responsible for handling artist relations, social media, and graphic content creation. Uhniat is an alumna of SOLID and served on the board of directors as the social co-chair in 2019.

In her role as Manager, Uhniat assists in scheduling and managing video shoots and other content productions. She also assists with the day-to-day management of the Academy’s content platforms, including websites, quarterly membership magazine ACM TEMPO, and more. Uhniat reports to Steve Mekler, Director of Creative & Content Production.

Kortney Toney joined the Academy as Manager, Programming & Community Engagement in 2023. Toney has worked in the music industry in Nashville for more than a decade, with focuses in marketing, communications, and the cross-culturalism spaces. Toney has previously worked at Opry Entertainment Group, Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and Weller Media Agency, among other companies. She serves as a Governor of the Recording Academy’s Nashville Chapter, has been named to the Unmanageable Board of Directors, is the former President of the Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA), volunteers as a MusiCares Ambassador, is an alumna of the GRAMMY NEXT program, serves on the TedX Women’s Steering Committee, is a former CMA DEI committee member, and an alumna of the inaugural Women’s Leadership Academy. Prior to joining the Academy of Country Music, Toney served as a member of the inaugural ACM LEVel Up cohort, where she was instrumental in the launch of the OnRamp Program, a partnership between the Academy and the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC). Toney is originally from Huntsville, Alabama, and graduated from Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in Entertainment Music Industry and a minor in Film and Media.

In her role, Toney will support the Academy’s key diversity initiative programs including OnRamp, LEVel Up, and the DEI Task Force, as well as future efforts towards welcoming audiences to Country Music that transcend demographics and geography. Toney will engage the Nashville music community with ACM events and activities and identify pathways into Country Music. Toney reports to Tommy Moore, Chief of Staff, Vice President, Artist & Industry Relations.

Alexis Bingham joined the Academy in 2021 as Assistant, Events. Originally from Watkins Glen, New York, Bingham graduated from Ithaca College in December 2020, where she studied Communication, Management and Design. She was hired by the Academy as an Events intern and worked the 56th ACM Awards, 14th ACM Honors, and ACM Party for a Cause events before joining the staff full-time in October 2021.

In her role as Coordinator, Bingham will support red carpet planning, credentialing for ACM events, organizing and implementing health and safety protocols, and planning and executing the quarterly Academy Board meetings. She will work closely on budgets, décor, signage, transportation, food and beverage, partnership fulfillment, and talent details. Bingham reports to Ben Carter, VP of Live Events & Production.

Born and raised in Garden City, New York, Maggie Feyrer moved to Nashville in 2017 to attend Vanderbilt University, where she majored in Organizational Development and held internships at Live Nation Entertainment, Music City Media and Essential Broadcast Media. Prior to her time at the Academy, Maggie worked at iHeart Media as a Digital Solutions Coordinator, where she managed strategic partnerships across iHeart Media’s digital catalogue, and Please & Thank You/Fog City Presents as a Partnerships & Activations Manager. In her role as Coordinator, Feyrer will aid in managing and activating partnerships for the Academy, maintaining relationships with key strategic partners, communicating sponsorship needs internally, and securing new respective ACM brand partners. She reports to Gil Beverly, EVP & Chief Business Officer.

Born and raised in Schoolcraft, MI, Leighton graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN, in May 2024. He previously served as the Finance & Operations Intern at the Academy during the Spring 2024 semester, eventually transitioning to assist the Membership and Industry Relations team in the Fall 2024.

In his role as Executive Assistant to CEO, CBO and Operations, Leighton will liaise between the Academy’s CEO (Damon Whiteside), CBO (Gil Beverly), external relations, and internal department heads, while working to coordinate board, officer, leadership, and committee meetings, manage the CEO’s calendar, and more.

Hailing from Greenville, SC, Boyd interned with the Academy throughout 2023. During that time, she worked with both ACM Lifting Lives and the Academy’s live event operations team to assist in the planning and execution of key events, including the 14th annual ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp and the 2023 ACM Lifting Lives Topgolf Tee-Off and Rock On fundraiser. She graduated from Clemson University in Clemson, SC, with a bachelor’s degree in Management. In her role as Assistant, Boyd will support the ACM Lifting Lives team with administrative duties, live events and fundraising efforts. She reports to Taylor Wolf, Senior Manager, ACM Lifting Lives.

Born and raised in the Hudson Valley, Loughran graduated from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY in May of 2023 with dual B.A in Public Relations and Advertising, and her masters in Integrated Marketing Communications in May of 2024. She moved to Nashville in January 2024 to join the Academy as Artist & Industry Relations Intern. In her role as Assistant, Loughran will assist in industry communications and relations, membership, and more. She reports to Haley Montgomery, Director, Industry Relations & Awards.