Since 2001, Mary has been a senior executive with NAMM, the International Music Products Association overseeing the organization’s federal level policy development and government relations efforts around issues effecting access to music education and global commerce in the music industry. Mary is executive director of the NAMM Foundation, a supporting organization of NAMM that supports music research, philanthropic and public service programs. Among its activities, the Foundation is supporting a research initiative called the “Sounds of Learning” that will build a portfolio of music education research projects that will inform policy deliberations around the re-authorization the elementary and secondary education act (ESEA), the federal education legislation. Mary spearheaded the re-deployment of the Music Education Coalition under the banner of SupportMusic.com. The Coalition has grown to over 200 affiliated national and international organizations working to boost community-based music education advocacy efforts.

Mary was a professional flutist for 20 years. As a certified music educator, she taught elementary general music and band, and secondary instrumental music for 16 years, managed a professional symphony orchestra and, as an independent consultant, worked with corporate and nonprofit clients in the areas of strategic planning, fund raising, and trustee development. Prior to NAMM, she was the national Program Officer for the Texaco Foundation and led the company’s “Early Notes” early childhood music education effort.