IBMA Presents Leadership Bluegrass Class Of 2014

Top (L-R): Sherrill Blackman, John Curtis Goad, Jamie Deering, Patrick McAvinue, Richard Bicknell. Second from top (L-R): Seamus Brady, Matt Merta, Matt Slocum, Rick Sparks, Cass Scripps, Daniel Perry, Anna Somerville, Ted Lehmann. Third from top (L-R): Nate Lee, Mark Dillon, Claire Ratliff, Lizard Thom Case, Pam Gadd, Taylor Coughlin, Chris Luquette. Bottom (L-R): Alane Anno, Ashlee Jean Trott, Vickie Vaughn, Amanda Smith, Pattie Hopkins. Photo: Erin Humann

The International Bluegrass Music Association announces the graduating class of Leadership Bluegrass 2014. Leadership Bluegrass is a three-day program focused on interactive learning and networking experiences that invite participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the bluegrass music industry, along with leadership development issues.

This year marks the program’s 15th year, with more than 350 alumni. BMI, and Bone McAllester Norton PLLC hosted this year’s class in Nashville, March 20 through 22. Trisha Tubbs served as the program’s facilitator.

“As an entrepreneur who serves the bluegrass community, I gained insights that will greatly enhance my team’s ability to serve effectively and collaboratively,” said LBG ’14 graduate Claire Ratliff, Laughing Penguin Productions. “It’s a welcoming place for every shade of blue!”

For information on the next Leadership Bluegrass class, contact Taylor Coughlin at (615) 256-3222 or taylor@ibma.org.

This year’s graduates are listed below:

Alane Anno, Alane Anno Photography (Hendersonville, TN)
Richard Bicknell, Bluegrass Music Association of Maine (Windham, ME)
Sherrill Blackman, sdb music group (Nashville, TN)
Seamus Brady, G7th Ltd (Peterborough, UK)
Lizard Thom Case, Bobby’s Idle Hour/ songwriter (Nashville, TN)
Taylor Coughlin, IBMA (Nashville, TN)
Jamie Deering, Deering Banjos (Spring Valley, CA)
Mark Dillon, University of North Carolina Greensboro (Randleman, NC)
Pam Gadd, songwriter & musician (Nashville, TN)
John Curtis Goad, East Tennessee State University/ Bluegrass Today (Rogersville, TN)
Pattie Hopkins, Kickin Grass (Winterville, NC)
Nate Lee, Chuck Lee Banjo Company/ Alan Munde Gazette (Nashville, TN)
Ted Lehmann, Ted Lehmann’s Bluegrass, Books & Brainstorms (Keene, NH)
Chris Luquette, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen (Alexandria, VA)
Patrick McAvinue, Audie Blaylock & Redline (Parkton, MD)
Matt Merta, songwriter/artist/manager/freelance writer (Dearborn, MI)
Daniel Perry, Belmont University (Nashville, TN), Student Monitor
Claire Ratliff, Laughing Penguin Publicity (Nashville, TN)
Cass B. Scripps, Agency for the Performing Arts/APA  (Nashville, TN)
Matthew Slocum, DC Bluegrass Union (Falls Church, VA)
Amanda Smith, Kenny & Amanda Smith (Lebanon, TN)
Anna Somerville, Northern Bluegrass Circle Music Society (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
Rick Sparks, Northern Nevada Bluegrass Association (Reno, NV)
Ashlee Jean Trott, Music City Roots/Bluegrass Underground (Nashville, TN)
Vickie Vaughn, The Vickie Vaughn Band (Nashville, TN)