After starting my career as a Legal Assistant for law firms in Buffalo and Albany, New York, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia to further my education in music and entertainment management. It was there while I was going to school that I was hired as a Marketing and Promotions Assistant at Chrysalis Records, and then at Polydor Records.
I returned to Buffalo after graduating to head up the Artist Management Division for Entertainment Services International where I was an integral part of the careers of such artists as The Goo Goo Dolls and the other bands represented by Entertainment Services International.
I was then hired as the Southwest Regional Marketing and Promotion Director for Polydor Records, based in Houston, Texas.
After three and a half years in Houston, I was promoted to Midwest Regional Marketing and Promotion Director for Island Records, based in Detroit, Michigan, following the merger of Polydor Records, The PolyGram Label Group and Island Records.
During this time, I was involved in the development of the careers of such artists as U2, Elton John, Melissa Etheridge, the Cranberries, The Moody Blues, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, PM Dawn, the Stereo MC’s and many more.
Then when Richard Branson decided to start up V2 Records, I jumped at the opportunity to work with him. The knowledge and education I received during that start-up was exciting and invaluable. I learned that in order to be successful you need a purpose, a vision and a desire to give back.
I was then given the opportunity to work for Dreamworks Records as the labels first Midwest Regional Marketing Director, responsible for developing the careers of Nelly Furtado, Papa Roach, Buckcherry, Lifehouse, Alien Ant Farm, Powerman 5000, Jimmy Eat World and others.
Working with all of these new artists motivated me to incorporate new ways of marketing them to the consumer. And this is where implementing a strategic corporate sponsorship division started. Dreamworks Records gave me that opportunity to create and design this new division.
I have also held Marketing and Promotion Director Positions at Mercury Records and Virgin Records, working with such artists as KISS, Def Leppard, Shania Twain, 30 Seconds to Mars, The Rolling Stones, Lenny Kravitz, Gorillaz and many more.
After Virgin Records, I was the first person to hold the position of National Director of Strategic Partnerships for Sony Music Nashville. I had the privilege of working with such artists as Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Chris Young and Jake Owen.
To go along with all of my experience in the music industry, I have also worked in the experiential agency world for Jack Morton Worldwide on global digital music initiatives for General Motors and Clearwire Communications, and at The TVX Group working with John Mayer’s team on tour sponsorships.
My teaching career started when I was selected to be the Head of the Music and Entrepreneurship Department at the Detroit Institute of Music Education. To go along with running this department, I was also an Adjunct Professor teaching classes in The Domestic Music Industry, The International Music Industry, Artist Management, Music Publishing, Artist Income Streams, Music Marketing and Promotion and Music Business Entrepreneurship.
I am now applying all this experience and knowledge to working with our Artists to build their careers and their brands at K2 Artist Management.