The Blues Foundation Elects First-Ever Female President and
Adds Seven New Board Members from the Business Community
Memphis, TN - September 8, 2009
The Blues Foundation, the non-profit organization dedicated to the past, present and future of blues music, has completed the annual election of its Board of Directors and its officers, electing nine individuals to lead and assist The Blues Foundation in establishing a permanent home in downtown Memphis. The plan for a permanent home proposes to centralize the Foundation's educational, audio-visual and retail opportunities, in addition to housing its staff and operations. The new board members elected will contribute their respective expertise in finance, marketing, consulting and development to the Foundation's efforts through 2012, and as Foundation members will continue to provide the worldwide Blues community with support, information and news.
The membership of the current Board voted to fill the nine available seats in this year's election, including seven new members: Phil Barkett, a Chicago area financial analyst, Steve Bryson, Chairman and CEO, Global Electronic Technology, Cypress, CA; Smart City Consulting, Memphis; Tom Jones, Stefan Levy, Big Cat Search, Barrington, IL; Craig Ray, Mississippi Development Authority, Jackson, MS; Eric Simonsen, AlixPartners LLC, Providence, RI; and Laurie Tucker, Senior Vice-President of Corporate Marketing, FedEx, Germantown, TN. The Board members re-elected two current members: Dorothy Moore, a Grammy-nominated performer, Florence, MS; and Kevin Kane, President and CEO, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau. All recently-elected members will begin three-year terms October 23 at the next Board meeting in Nashville, TN.
Following the Board election, the new Board selected the following Board members to leadership positions, who will serve for one year each: the Board's first female President Pat Morgan, artist manager for Pinetop Perkins and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, and Vice President Bill Wax, programmer and on-air host of Sirius XM Satellite Radio's B.B. King's Bluesville channel. Additional members of the Executive Committee are: Gary Anton, a Tallahassee, FL attorney and owner of Bradfordville Blues Club, Kevin Kane, and Gaynell Rogers, a Nevada City, CA marketing & publicity consultant. In addition, Clay Purdom, an attorney with the Memphis law firm of Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston, is the Treasurer.
The newly-elected members and officers join fellow Board members Barbara Blue, Betsie Brown, Thomas Cain, Jostein Forsberg, Zac Harmon, Jerry Mason, Karen McFarland, Thomas Ruf, Joey Sichting, Ricky Stevens, Cassie Taylor and C. Sade Turnipseed.
Newly-elected Board President Pat Morgan stated, "I am very excited to take on this new leadership role. I believe the Blues Foundation is now poised to take on new challenges, to continue to provide for our membership, and to further our mission of keeping the blues alive for generations to come."
Executive Director Jay Sieleman added "Adding people of this caliber from outside of the blues music community is critical to taking The Blues Foundation to the next level. But they were not just recruited; each is a Blues fan and was a Blues Foundation member before coming on the Board. I fully expect the next three years to be the best ever for The Blues Foundation and therefore, for blues music."
The Foundation is celebrating its 30th anniversary, having already seen this year their 25th anniversary of the International Blues Challenge and the largest, star-studded 30th anniversary of the Blues Music Awards. As the Foundation moves into its 31st year, several new programs will soon be announced to further assist blues musicians and those making their careers within the blues music community.
The following Board members will be concluding their Board service in September: Paul Benjamin, Dom Forcella, Bruce Iglauer, Fred Litwin, Patrick Reilly and Chris Sabie.
Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, The Blues Foundation is the hub of the Blues world. With 175 affiliated Blues societies and a membership that spans the globe, the Foundation's signature events - the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, International Blues Challenge and Keeping the Blues Awards - place it at the center of the Blues universe. The Blues Foundation is a non-profit organization, with a mission to preserve Blues history, celebrate Blues excellence, support Blues education and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. Throughout the year, the Foundation staff serves the worldwide Blues community with answers, contact information and news.
For more information about The Blues Foundation
Please contact
Jay Sieleman
Executive Director
The Blues Foundation
901-527-2583 ext. 12
jay@blues.org
or visit our website at http://www.blues.org/
Adds Seven New Board Members from the Business Community
Memphis, TN - September 8, 2009
The Blues Foundation, the non-profit organization dedicated to the past, present and future of blues music, has completed the annual election of its Board of Directors and its officers, electing nine individuals to lead and assist The Blues Foundation in establishing a permanent home in downtown Memphis. The plan for a permanent home proposes to centralize the Foundation's educational, audio-visual and retail opportunities, in addition to housing its staff and operations. The new board members elected will contribute their respective expertise in finance, marketing, consulting and development to the Foundation's efforts through 2012, and as Foundation members will continue to provide the worldwide Blues community with support, information and news.
The membership of the current Board voted to fill the nine available seats in this year's election, including seven new members: Phil Barkett, a Chicago area financial analyst, Steve Bryson, Chairman and CEO, Global Electronic Technology, Cypress, CA; Smart City Consulting, Memphis; Tom Jones, Stefan Levy, Big Cat Search, Barrington, IL; Craig Ray, Mississippi Development Authority, Jackson, MS; Eric Simonsen, AlixPartners LLC, Providence, RI; and Laurie Tucker, Senior Vice-President of Corporate Marketing, FedEx, Germantown, TN. The Board members re-elected two current members: Dorothy Moore, a Grammy-nominated performer, Florence, MS; and Kevin Kane, President and CEO, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau. All recently-elected members will begin three-year terms October 23 at the next Board meeting in Nashville, TN.
Following the Board election, the new Board selected the following Board members to leadership positions, who will serve for one year each: the Board's first female President Pat Morgan, artist manager for Pinetop Perkins and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, and Vice President Bill Wax, programmer and on-air host of Sirius XM Satellite Radio's B.B. King's Bluesville channel. Additional members of the Executive Committee are: Gary Anton, a Tallahassee, FL attorney and owner of Bradfordville Blues Club, Kevin Kane, and Gaynell Rogers, a Nevada City, CA marketing & publicity consultant. In addition, Clay Purdom, an attorney with the Memphis law firm of Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston, is the Treasurer.
The newly-elected members and officers join fellow Board members Barbara Blue, Betsie Brown, Thomas Cain, Jostein Forsberg, Zac Harmon, Jerry Mason, Karen McFarland, Thomas Ruf, Joey Sichting, Ricky Stevens, Cassie Taylor and C. Sade Turnipseed.
Newly-elected Board President Pat Morgan stated, "I am very excited to take on this new leadership role. I believe the Blues Foundation is now poised to take on new challenges, to continue to provide for our membership, and to further our mission of keeping the blues alive for generations to come."
Executive Director Jay Sieleman added "Adding people of this caliber from outside of the blues music community is critical to taking The Blues Foundation to the next level. But they were not just recruited; each is a Blues fan and was a Blues Foundation member before coming on the Board. I fully expect the next three years to be the best ever for The Blues Foundation and therefore, for blues music."
The Foundation is celebrating its 30th anniversary, having already seen this year their 25th anniversary of the International Blues Challenge and the largest, star-studded 30th anniversary of the Blues Music Awards. As the Foundation moves into its 31st year, several new programs will soon be announced to further assist blues musicians and those making their careers within the blues music community.
The following Board members will be concluding their Board service in September: Paul Benjamin, Dom Forcella, Bruce Iglauer, Fred Litwin, Patrick Reilly and Chris Sabie.
Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, The Blues Foundation is the hub of the Blues world. With 175 affiliated Blues societies and a membership that spans the globe, the Foundation's signature events - the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, International Blues Challenge and Keeping the Blues Awards - place it at the center of the Blues universe. The Blues Foundation is a non-profit organization, with a mission to preserve Blues history, celebrate Blues excellence, support Blues education and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. Throughout the year, the Foundation staff serves the worldwide Blues community with answers, contact information and news.
For more information about The Blues Foundation
Please contact
Jay Sieleman
Executive Director
The Blues Foundation
901-527-2583 ext. 12
jay@blues.org
or visit our website at http://www.blues.org/
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Jazz & Blues Florida
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