2010
Joe Lamond, President and Chief Executive Officer of NAMM, the International Music Products Association
Joe Lamond is president and chief executive officer of NAMM, the International Music Products Association, the not-for-profit trade association representing the interests of nearly 9,000 Member music product retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors throughout the world.
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. Lamond launched and managed a number of innovative programs, including Sesame Street Music Works, a joint initiative with Sesame Workshop that focuses on music making among children; the development of the “Einstein Advocacy Kit,” an informational toolkit that brings exciting music/brain research to communities working to save local music programs; the expansion of the Weekend Warriors program, an idea developed by Lamond when he worked in retail, that brings baby boomers back to active music making; and Smithsonian Piano 300, a partnership with the National Museum of American History that celebrated the 300th anniversary of the piano with a two-year exhibit, two PBS specials and a retailer/manufacturer marketing plan.
A leading advocate for music in schools, Lamond was instrumental in drafting Congressional Resolution HR 266 in support of music education. The lasting partnerships he helped to create with several organizations, including Disney, Miramax, Procter & Gamble, Texaco, VH1 (Save the Music), The Grammy Foundation and Carnation, as well as many others, have helped to further NAMM’s mission and deliver the message that music plays a role in intelligence and wellness. Formerly the executive director of the American Music Conference, Lamond now serves as a Trustee of the organization.
2011
Mary Luehrsen, National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), Director of Public Affairs & Government Relations
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.
2011
Dana Messina, CEO, Steinway Musical Instruments
Mr. Messina has served as a director of the Company since 1993 and as Chief Executive Officer since 1996. He has been a principal of Kirkland Messina, Inc. since 1994. From 1990 to 1994, Mr. Messina was a Senior Vice President of an investment bank where he was responsible for all of its corporate finance and merchant banking activities. From 1987 to 1990, he was employed by an investment banking firm in its high yield bond department.
2011
John Stoner, CEO, Conn-Selmer Inc.
John M. Stoner is the president of Conn-Selmer, Inc., a division of Steinway Musical Instruments. Since joining the company in 2002, John has led Conn-Selmer in providing the finest brass, woodwind, percussion and string instruments for everyone from the finest professional players to beginning students and hobbyists.
With 27 years of experience in consumer hard goods, John has been in sales, marketing and general management roles, most recently as president of Ames True Temper. John was directly responsible for integrating Ames, a $250 million business and True Temper, a $125 million business that involved rationalization of manufacturing, sales, marketing and distribution.
As a parent, John has experienced the benefits of music education through his daughter’s school music program. Coupling this experience with his vast business knowledge has resulted in the growth of Conn-Selmer and a vision of every individual playing a musical instrument. In John’s own words, “if more people bought what we have to sell, the world would be a better place.”
