Steve Rorie, Chairman and CEO of J.J. Babbitt Company, Inc., a global leader in the manufacture of high-quality saxophone and clarinet mouthpieces, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Trace Rorie as its new President and Chief Operating Officer. With a distinguished education and background in leadership and organizational development, coupled with extensive experience in the music industry and creative leadership as a whole, Trace Rorie brings a unique blend of talents to this role.
Trace Rorie comes to J.J. Babbitt Company, Inc. with a wealth of experience in guiding teams and organizations towards growth, success, and health. As a leadership and organizational development consultant, Trace has worked with a diverse range of teams and industries—from Fortune 500 organizations to non and not-for-profits—helping them to achieve their full potential. His strategic vision, coupled with a deep understanding of human and organizational dynamics, has resulted in remarkable transformations, momentum, and success for numerous teams and organizations.
In addition to his expertise in people and business development, Trace Rorie is himself an accomplished creative and musician. Having served as a writing and performing musician throughout hi life, his passion and talent for music gives him a unique understanding and appreciation for the mouthpieces that J.J. Babbitt manufactures, the incredible artists who play them, and the amazing music that they create. His hands-on knowledge of musical instruments will undoubtedly contribute to the company’s commitment to producing top-tier mouthpieces that musicians trust and love for many more years to come.
Trace Rorie also brings a creative flair to the role, having served as one of the lead creatives, and ultimately, the Executive Director at Granger Community Church in Granger, Indiana; noted as one of the fastest-growing and most innovative mega- churches in America throughout its history. This experience has allowed him to develop innovative approaches to problem-solving, team collaboration, idea generation, and delivering exceptional results; qualities that will be invaluable in his new position.
Commenting on his appointment, Trace Rorie expressed his enthusiasm: “I am truly honored and immensely excited to join the J.J. Babbitt Company and family. This company has a long history—over 100 years—of producing exceptional mouthpieces for exceptional artists, and I am committed to building on that legacy as we push toward a new era of excellence and innovation. I look forward to working closely with the talented team at J.J. Babbitt—a close knit, passionate team of craftsman and artisans—to drive excellence, innovation, and to continue delivering the best products to musicians worldwide for another 100 years and beyond!”
Chairman and principal owner Steve Rorie stated “I am confident that Trace’s leadership and diverse background will play a pivotal role in shaping the company’s future growth and success. His appointment reflects the company’s dedication to not just maintaining, but building and expanding upon its already remarkable reputation for excellence and innovation in the broader music industry. It also reflects our family’s commitment to private ownership and the ongoing objective of generational succession for our company, our team members, and the industry as a whole.
