Country Music Hall Of Fame Promotes Five To Senior Staff

/by

Pictured (L-R, Top Row): Johnny Cunningham, Kaley Daeger, Michael Gray. (L-R, Bottom Row) Ben Hall, Tori Tarvin.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has promoted Michael Gray, Ben Hall, Tori Tarvin, Johnny Cunningham and Kaley Daeger to senior director positions. Additionally, the museum’s Senior Vice Presidents, Nina Burghard and Lisa Purcell, have expanded their responsibilities in support of the institution’s technology, marketing and public relations efforts.

Gray has been named executive senior director of editorial and interpretation. In his new role, he heads the editorial team and directs major exhibitions, album releases, and other special initiatives. Since 2007, Gray has moderated Poets and Prophets, conducting career-spanning live interviews with over 40 notable songwriters. In 2021, the Metropolitan Historical Commission honored him with the Fletch Coke Award for his research and preservation work related to the rhythm & blues music scene in Nashville. Gray reports to Vice President of Museum Services Brenda Colladay.

Hall has been promoted to senior director of development. A 12-year museum veteran, Hall’s expanded role includes the oversight of fundraising initiatives and managing Country Music Hall of Fame member relations. Hall previously served as director of advancement, guiding a team responsible for accelerated fundraising through 2020, including record government funding through competitive grants; major support for BIG NIGHT (At the Museum), the most ambitious digital program in the museum’s history; and increased contributed revenue from individual donors and private foundations. Hall reports to Purcell, Senior Vice President of External Affairs.

Tarvin has been promoted to senior director of marketing, and will be responsible for marketing strategy, paid media, promotions and partnerships, digital distribution channel management, email marketing efforts, project management, and music and media licensing. During her museum tenure, she has expanded the digital footprint and online access to the museum’s rich archival content through integrated campaign management and performance-based analytics tracking, as well as launched innovative revenue streams for the museum’s e-commerce efforts. Tarvin reports to Senior Vice President of External Affairs Lisa Purcell.

Cunningham has been named Senior Director of Information and Technology Operations. In this new role, Cunningham leads the technology and innovation strategy for the museum, guides the organization’s team of systems engineers and analysts, and ensures the institution’s infrastructure and operational needs are met. Cunningham reports to Burghard, Senior Vice President of Financial Services and Operations.

Daeger has been promoted to Senior Director of Information and Technology Business Solutions. She got her start at the museum as a member of the guest relations team. Daeger then completed her masters and transitioned to the museum’s IT department. She and her team now guide the selection and implementation of institution-wide business applications and reporting systems. She also reports to Burghard.

Lorie Hollabaugh
Latest posts by Lorie Hollabaugh (see all)