NAMM Board of Directors Vote New Chair, New Members to the Governing Body

Joel Menchey, Tom Sumner, Chris Martin, Chris White, and Joe Lamond

At Summer NAMM, the NAMM Board of Directors continued the organization’s legacy of service to the industry at-large with a vote and seamless transition of the Executive Committee.

Representing a balanced composition of retail and commercial members, the board vote sees Chris Martin, previously NAMM’s Vice Chair, move into the role as Chair of NAMM’s Board of Directors. Chris Martin is the sixth-generation owner and CEO of C.F. Martin & Co.^®, a leading manufacturer of acoustic guitars and strings, based in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

Upon assuming the Chair position, Martin remarked, “It has been an honor to serve as NAMM’s Vice Chair for the past two years, and I accept the role as Chair. I look forward to working with the Board of Directors and the NAMM team to continue NAMM’s mission to support and bolster the music products industry and to share the joy of making music with the world.”

As part of his first official duties, Martin welcomed Chris White, President of White House of Music, Inc. as Secretary of the board. White House of Music provides musical instrument rentals, sales, repairs, and lessons. It offers woodwinds, brass, orchestral strings, guitars, keyboards, drums and percussion, and acoustic and folk instruments across six locations in Wisconsin.

Outgoing Chair Robin Walenta was honored during the meeting and applauded for her eight years of service on the Executive Committee. Reflecting, Walenta offered, “It has been an incredible honor to represent my fellow NAMM members as Chair over the past two years. During my tenure, and in my career in the industry, I have learned that networking builds beneficial and productive communities; that educational opportunities provide vital catalysts for new and ongoing musical ventures; and that in today’s world, music advocacy is more important than ever. I look forward to this next chapter, and to continue to work on behalf of our industry and the many voices it represents.”

Further building upon the stability of the organization, Executive Committee members Joel Menchey, President of Menchey Music  and Tom Sumner, President of Yamaha Corporation of America, transitioned to their new roles. Menchey will serve as Vice Chair and Sumner, as Treasurer of the NAMM Board.

In other NAMM board-related news, on Friday evening, the NAMM Young Professionals welcomed Jeremy McQueary of W.H.Paige & Co. as President and Melissa Ceo of C.A. House Music as Secretary. Three other individuals were elected to terms on the NAMM YP board: Jack Dring of Buffet Crampton,  Laura Penrose of Maple Leaf Strings,  and Brandon Voorhees of  Buddy Roger’s Music.

To learn more about the NAMM Executive Committee, Board of Directors and the NAMM Young Professionals board, please visit www.namm.org/about