NAMM Restructures to Better Serve Members and Music Products Industry

NAMM, the International Music Products Association, today announced comprehensive staff changes after careful review of its mission, strategic objectives and goals. The reorganization is part of the association’s quest to continually improve service to its Members and the music products industry.

Details of the reorganization include:

• Pat Martin, NAMM’s director of events, was promoted to the newly created position of chief operating officer (COO), responsible for supervising NAMM’s day-to-day operations including the creation of a new Member Contact Center.
• NAMM’s Member Contact Center will debut October 4, giving NAMM Members a “one-stop shop” for all of the association’s services and programs, more personalized service and faster response times. Melanie Ripley from NAMM’s Membership department will serve as this new department’s manager. Jazz Watts, NAMM’s long-time receptionist, will also join Ripley in this new group.
• Eric Ebel, formerly NAMM’s trade show senior account representative, has accepted the position of director of market development. Ebel will be responsible for an annual budget of approximately $5 million that NAMM will reinvest back into the industry in the form of programs, activities and initiatives to create more active music makers.
• Susan James has joined the market development department as the new public affairs and government relations manager. James will support Mary Luehrsen and her ongoing work to give the music products industry a strong voice on Capitol Hill. James previously worked with Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).
• Sandra Kilpatrick Jordan, formerly of Sesame Workshop, will join the NAMM staff in Carlsbad as manager of programs and strategic partnerships, expanding on her previous consulting position with NAMM for securing new relationships for the Music Education Coalition and SupportMusic.com.
• Ken Wilson, NAMM’s research analyst and former CEO of Musician’s Institute, has been promoted to director of professional development, responsible for NAMM University and books and products. Wilson will also continue to oversee NAMM’s statistical services.

“NAMM exists solely to serve our Members, so they can serve society by providing the instruments and products to make music,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. “We accomplish this by hiring and retaining the best staff in the world who share the industry’s passion for music and the desire to make a real difference with their careers and their lives. These staff changes will help us achieve our goal of continuous improvement and our mission of leading the industry and creating more music makers worldwide.”