NAMM Announces 2007–2008 Executive Committee

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, today announced the election of its 2007–2008 Executive Committee. The election denotes a change in NAMM's volunteer leadership with Chip Averwater, chairman of Amro Music Stores, taking over for outgoing NAMM Chairman Dennis Houlihan.

The election results were as follows:

Chairman—Chip Averwater, Chairman of Amro Music Stores, Inc.
R.F. “Chip” Averwater is chairman of Amro Music Stores, Inc., a band and orchestra/keyboard/print music company headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. Averwater is a member of the American Music Conference, National Association of School Music Dealers, Keyboard Excellence Group, Music Industry Insights Group and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Prior to his election to the NAMM Executive Committee in July 2001, Averwater served two terms on the NAMM Board of Directors. Locally, he serves as president of Play It Again Memphis, a charity that provides musical instruments to disadvantaged youth.

Vice Chairman—Tom Schmitt, President and Chairman of Schmitt Music Co.
Tom Schmitt is president and chairman of Schmitt Music Company, a Minneapolis-based company that sells pianos, organs, band and orchestra instruments, music, accessories and lessons. Schmitt Music Company currently operates 16 stores in the Midwest. Schmitt is a member of the Alliance of the Independent Music Merchants, National Association of School Music Dealers, Retail Print Music Dealers Association, Keyboard Excellence Group and Omega Group and is the appointed NAMM Executive Committee liaison to the NAMM Foundation—AMC division.

Treasurer—Kevin Cranley, President of Willis Music Co.
Kevin Cranley is the president of Willis Music Company, a 108-year old retailer and publisher based in Florence, Ky. Cranley owns and operates eight music stores in Ohio and Kentucky. In addition to his work with NAMM, Cranley is a former board member of the Retail Print Music Association and a recent trustee of the American Classical Music Hall of Fame. He also belongs to the Northern Kentucky University College of Business Advisory Council, American Music Conference and the Music Teachers National Association. He currently serves as the NAMM Executive Committee liaison for the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music.

Secretary—Larry Morton, President of Hal Leonard Corporation
Larry Morton is president of Hal Leonard Corporation, the world’s largest print music publisher. Morton joined the company in 1990 and has served as president since 1999. He is currently on the board of directors of MakeMusic, Inc. and serves as the NAMM Executive Committee liaison for the NAMM Foundation—Research Division. He previously served on the board of Music Publishers' Association, Retail Print Music Dealers Association and NAMM, the international music products industry.

NAMM Representative—Joe Lamond, President and CEO
Joe Lamond is president and CEO of NAMM. Lamond joined NAMM in 1998 as director of market development, where he was responsible for implementing NAMM’s mission to create more music makers worldwide. As president/CEO, Lamond has assembled and now leads a team of individuals who have advanced NAMM’s mission and provided valuable benefits and services for the association’s more than 9,000 Members.

“The international music products industry owes a debt of gratitude to Dennis Houlihan, who has tirelessly served for the past 10 years on the NAMM Board and Executive Committee,” said Lamond. “As our industry’s first commercial chairman, Dennis demonstrated diplomacy, integrity and a deep sense of duty to the industry he loves.”