CMA Board Honors Joe Galante, Sarah Trahern, and Bill Simmons

CMA Honors Its Own

The COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION (CMA) honored some of its own WEDNESDAY (10/17) during a Board reception at CMA headquarters in NASHVILLE. CMA Board President JODY WILLIAMS, whose day job is BMI VP/Creative, was presented with a ceremonial globe memento by CMA CEO SARAH TRAHEN. "It’s a lot more work, for sure, but it’s very gratifying to get really close to the leadership team and the CMA staff," commented WILLIAMS.

TRAHERN presented CMA Board Chairman BILL SIMMONS of the FITZGERALD HARTLEY COMPANY with a ceremonial gavel; SIMMONS, in turn, surprised TRAHEN with the CMA Chairman's Award, saying, "When I was trying to figure out who I would present this to, there was only person, you. The way you treat the Board, your staff, artists, you’re the best thing that ever happened to the CMA." TRAHERN accepted the award on behalf of her staff at CMA, commenting, "There are 53 other people in our building who work with me to carry out what your vision is and I couldn’t do it without them, so as I look around the room at the faces, thank you for all you do for us."

CMA FOUNDATION Chairman JOE GALANTE was also honored during a presentation by NASHVILLE METRO SCHOOLS teacher, and two-time CMA Music Teacher Of The Year recipient FRANKLIN WILLIS, who said, "I’m not sure you understand the impact that you have, not only on the city of NASHVILLE, but in other parts of the country for music education." GALANTE, accepting the honors replied, "I’ve been on the Board a long time and have been Chair of lots of committees, but the CMA FOUNDATION has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done with this organization."

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