ACM Promotes Three, Adds Two To Team

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Pictured (clockwise): Christina Bartko, Haley Montgomery, Steve Mekler, Karson Leighton and Jennifer Davis.

The Academy of Country Music (ACM) has elevated Haley Montgomery to Head of Artist Relations & Awards, Steve Mekler to Senior Director, Creative & Marketing and Jennifer Davis to Director, Live Events & Production. Additionally, Christina Bartko has joined as VP, Accounting & Finance and Karson Leighton has joined as Executive Assistant to CEO, CBO and Operations.

Originally from Baltimore, Bartko graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She started her career as an auditor, later earning her CPA license and eventually moved to Nashville to pursue a career in the music industry. Before coming to ACM, she held roles at Warner Music Group and Live Nation Entertainment. In her new role, Bartko will oversee all accounting and finance operations for both the Academy and ACM Lifting Lives. Her responsibilities will include managing financial strategy, budgeting and ensuring the organization’s fiscal health while aligning with its mission. Additionally, she will be in charge of financial reporting, audits and internal controls. Bartko can be reached here.

Montgomery joined ACM in 2020, most recently serving as Director of Industry Relations & Awards. Throughout her career, Montgomery has held various roles across the industry, including in brand partnerships, merchandise, brand development, touring and industry relations. She is also the founder of Family Alliance in Music, an organization that offers community and support to industry members who are parents, caregivers or planning to start a family in the future. In her new role, Montgomery will oversee ACM’s artist and industry relations, lead internal talent strategy, manage membership operations and supervise awards voting, processes and board governance. She can be reached here.

Before joining ACM in 2022 as Director of Brand Marketing & Partnerships, Mekler spent three years as Senior Digital Manager at the Country Music Hall of Fame, where he led creative marketing for owned properties and contributed to content strategies for multi-platform campaigns. He has also held roles at L3 Entertainment and BBR Music Group. In his new role, Mekler will oversee all marketing and creative initiatives, including the development of integrated marketing campaigns, creative direction, content development, strategy, production and more. He can be reached here.

Davis began her career in New York City at Buckley Hall Events, where she organized a variety of non-profit and corporate galas across the city. She then joined the special events team at Madison Square Garden, where she coordinated a range of events, including network television upfronts, the American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards, television and film shoots, NYU graduations and more at MSG venues. Before joining ACM as Manager of Events in 2022, she also led VIP & Fan Experience and Events for FirstBank Amphitheater’s inaugural concert season in Franklin. In her new role, Davis will oversee venue and event operations for the Academy of Country Music Awards, ACM Honors and ACM Lifting Lives events. Her responsibilities will include talent logistics, partnership fulfillment, red carpet management, budgets, AV and more. In her role as lead producer, she will manage event staff and handle vendor and partner relations. She can be reached here.

A native of Schoolcraft, Michigan, Leighton graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in May 2024. He previously interned as the Finance & Operations Intern at ACM during the Spring 2024 semester and later transitioned to assist the Membership and Industry Relations team in the Fall of 2024. In his new role, Leighton will serve as a liaison between the Academy’s CEO (Damon Whiteside), CBO (Gil Beverly), external relations and internal department heads. He will also help coordinate meetings for the board, officers, leadership and committees, manage the CEO’s calendar and handle additional administrative responsibilities. He can be reached here.

Madison Hahnen
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