CARLSBAD, Calif., Jan. 25,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NAMM (The National Association
of Music Merchants), the largest global not-for-profit music trade
organization, announced today at the 2025 Show during its annual
meeting of members, that eight newly elected board members will be
joining its Board of Directors.
These new members will serve a three-year term through
January 2028 and will provide
oversight and support of NAMM's vision, mission, and objectives.
NAMM's board of directors consists of 24 directors elected by the
NAMM membership, each serving three-year terms in slates of
eight.
"NAMM is eternally grateful to the talented coalition of
industry leaders that continue to volunteer their time to guide our
organization into the future," said John Mlynczak, NAMM
president and CEO.
A Snapshot of the New Board Members:
- Mayumi Allison - CEO, Hosa
Technology Inc.
Mayumi Allison is the CEO and
second-generation leader of Hosa Technology, Inc., a prominent
global provider of analog and digital connectivity solutions for
the music and professional audio industries, based in Buena Park, California. Mayumi holds an MBA
from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School and a B.A. in business
marketing, with a minor in Japanese from California State University, Fullerton. Hosa
Technology, Inc. has been a NAMM member since 1987.
- Betty Bennett - CEO and
Co-Founder, Apogee Electronics Corp.
Betty Bennett is the CEO and
co-founder of Apogee Electronics Corporation, a Santa Monica-based company renowned for its
innovative audio solutions for professionals and content creators
alike. Since founding Apogee in 1985, Betty has spearheaded the
development of industry-standard technologies, earning the company
19 TEC Awards and widespread acclaim. A passionate advocate for
sustainability, she has transformed Apogee into a certified green
business while supporting charitable initiatives and environmental
causes. As a leader in the audio industry, Betty champions
opportunities for women and drives Apogee's focus on cutting-edge
tools for Dolby ATMOS, Spatial Audio, and beyond. Apogee has been a
NAMM member since 2022.
- Jenna Day - Owner, Day Violins
LLC
Jenna Day is owner of Day Violins
LLC, located in Chantilly,
Virginia. Jenna is heavily involved with DC Council Members
as well as other advocacy work and she serves as leadership of
Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education. She holds degrees in family
life sciences, gerontology and Spanish from Brigham Young University and also in hospice and
grief counseling. Jenna enjoys being a hobby piano artist. Day
Violins LLC has been a NAMM member since 2014.
- Jeremiah Manriquez - President, CEO and Owner, Pecknel
Music Co., Inc.
Jeremiah Manriquez is president,
CEO and owner of Pecknel Music Company, Inc., based in Greenville, South Carolina. Pecknel Music
offers a wide range of services, from instrument lessons and
rentals to sheet music and repair services. Pecknel Music actively
supports music education in South
Carolina communities through service offerings, instrument
donations and financial contributions. Pecknel Music Co, Inc. has
been a NAMM member since 1962.
- Tim Pratt - President and
Owner, Dietze Music House
Tim Pratt is the president and
owner of Dietze Music. Dietze Music
has locations in Omaha,
Lincoln and Bellevue, Nebraska. The store in Lincoln opened in 1925 to provide musical
instruments and lessons for the locals and, to this day, continues
to serve the area's musicians. Tim has received several honors,
including the Lincoln Symphony Golden Baton Award, the Nebraska
Music Educators Outstanding Exhibitor Award, the Nebraska Music
Educators Distinguished Service Award and the NAMM Top 100 Best
Marketing Award. Dietze Music has
been a NAMM member since 1974.
- Thomas Ripsam - President and CEO, C.F. Martin & Co., Inc.
Thomas Ripsam is President and
CEO of C.F. Martin & Co., Inc. based in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, founded in 1833, and
has served in the position since 2021. Thomas is a guitar player
who's passionate about fretted instruments. He holds a Bachelor of
Arts in International Business Management from Reutlingen
University and a Master of Business Administration from
Columbia Business School. C.F. Martin
& Co., Inc. has been a NAMM member since 1947.
- Tom Tedesco - President and CEO, The Music People
Tom Tedesco is president and CEO
of The Music People, located in Berlin,
Connecticut. Tom started at The Music People in 2010 and has
served in many roles before being promoted to president and CEO in
2021. A native of Connecticut, Tom
received his B.S. degree in business administration and master's
degree in management from the University of
Connecticut. The Music People has been a NAMM member since
1979.
- Hans Thomann - CEO, Thomann Musikhaus
Hans Thomann is CEO of Thomann
Musikhaus, a retailer of musical instruments, studio, lighting and
pro audio equipment based in Burgebrach, Germany. Hans was originally trained as a
precision electronic engineer and brass instrument maker. Thomann
Musikhaus has received several distinct honors, including Deutscher
Handelspreis German Retail Award, Family Company Hall of Fame,
awarded by Handelsblatt, and Mail Order Business of the Year,
Germany. Thomann Musikhaus has
been a NAMM member since 1992. .
Tom Sumner, NAMM Chair, thanked
the outgoing Board members during the annual meeting of members and
lauded their ideas and expertise, which have benefited the
organization and its members as a whole. They are Roger Hart (TKL Products Corp), DeDe Heid (Heid Music Company), Elizabeth Heidt (Gibson), Adam
Levin (Chuck Levin's
Washington Music Center), Lana
Negrete (Santa Monica Music Center), Paul Tobias (Tobias
Music), Ray Williams (Music
Marketing) and Steve Zapf
(Conn-Selmer.)
For a full list of current NAMM Board of Directors and Executive
Committee members, please visit
https://www.namm.org/about/board-members
About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the
not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the
$19.5 billion music products industry
and promote the pleasures and benefits of making music. NAMM is
comprised of over 10,000 global member companies and individual
professionals representing a global workforce of over 475,000
employees. In addition to The NAMM Show and NAMM's member services,
The NAMM Foundation advances active participation in music-making
across the lifespan of learning. For more information about NAMM,
please visit www.namm.org.
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SOURCE NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants)