THE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION EXPANDS TEAM WITH STRATEGIC PROMOTIONS AND NEW HIRES
The Country Music Association has announced strategic promotions and new additions, further enhancing the vital roles across multiple teams and departments.
In 2026, CMA has advanced several dedicated team members into expanded roles across the organization. Key promotions include:
- Emily Arvanitis has been promoted to Senior Event Producer, moving from her previous role as Event Producer. Arvanitis reports to Ryan Nelson, Senior Director, Event Operations.
- Kayleigh Bentley has been promoted to Senior Manager, Member Experience, previously serving as Member Experience Manager. Bentley reports to Kate Watson, Senior Director, Industry.
- Amanda Jilek has been promoted to Senior Manager, Creative & Content from her previous role as Creative & Content Manager. Jilek reports to Pamela Hothorn, Director, Content.
- Maddie Myers has been promoted to Senior Manager, Digital Marketing, moving from her previous role as Digital Marketing Manager. Myers reports to Catherine Frizzell, Vice President, Marketing.
- Nora Webb has been promoted to Business Affairs Manager, having previously served as Business Affairs Coordinator. Webb reports to Aaron Hartley, Senior Director, Business Affairs.
In addition to internal promotions, CMA has expanded its roster with the following new hires since the start of 2026:
- Samantha Alenius has been hired as Accounting Coordinator, having previously served as Administrative and Marketing Assistant at Ocean Way Nashville Recording Studio. Alenius reports to April Edman, Director, Accounting & Finance.
- Britney Buckwalter has been hired as Media Project Manager, having previously served in a temporary staff role within the content department. Buckwalter reports to Pamela Hothorn, Director, Content Production.
- Tarah Duarte has been hired as Senior Account Manager, Strategic Partnerships, previously holding the position of Senior Account Manager at FlyteVu. Duarte reports to Jenny Methling, Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships.
- Alec Staniul has been hired as Insights Analyst, having previously been employed as Project Consultant for the Williamsburg Area Transit Authority. Staniul reports to LeighAnn Rodd, Director, Insights.
- Craig Weaver has been hired as CRM Manager, having previously served as Associate R&D Developer for the Atlanta Braves Baseball Club. Weaver reports to Reuben Schwartz, Senior Manager, Business Intelligence.
About the Country Music Association
Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association is the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to recognize artists and industry professionals with Country Music’s highest honor. Music industry professionals and companies across the U.S. and around the globe are members of CMA. The organization serves as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advances the growth of Country Music around the world. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize outstanding achievement in the industry; CMA Fest, which benefits the CMA Foundation and music education and is taped for a three-hour network television special, “CMA Fest”; and “CMA Country Christmas.” All of CMA’s television properties air on ABC.
