NANCY CARDWELL NAMED INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IBMA

The Board of Directors of the International Bluegrass Music Association announced Monday, March 5 that it has appointed Nancy Cardwell as  Interim Executive Director. 

"The search for a permanent Executive Director continues," said Board Chairperson Stan Zdonik. "Given that planning for next year's event is heating up, the Board decided that it was important to have someone fill that role in the interim. Thus, the Board unanimously appointed Nancy Cardwell to the position of Interim Executive Director until a permanent replacement is found.  We are confident that she will do a great job."

"It's an honor to serve during this time of transition," Cardwell said. "I've been a part of the IBMA team for 17 years and I still believe strongly in the good we can accomplish as an industry and community, working together for the future of bluegrass music. When I played bass for the Wildwood Girls in the early '90s, I was the one who didn't mind taking the 4 a.m. shift driving the van....  Jill Crabtree (my co-worker for the past 11  years), the Board, a network of hardworking committees and I will be doing our utmost to move forward during the next few weeks while we plan World of Bluegrass 2012, consider site selection for the next three years of the conference and launch Bluegrass Nation--as we continue to examine the most effective ways to help new audiences discover bluegrass music. Much has been accomplished during the past 26 years, but there's so much more we can do if we band together and re-commit ourselves. It's an exciting time for bluegrass music and for IBMA."

Cardwell came onboard as Special Projects Director in 1994, writing publications for the trade association and serving as staff liaison for a number of committees that oversee professional development & webinars, Leadership Bluegrass, Special Awards, songwriter activities and The Foundation for Bluegrass Music's Bluegrass in the Schools program.  Cardwell co-produced the Discover Bluegrass: Exploring American Roots Music DVD in 2004 with Greg Cahill and Dr. Tom Kopp. She grew up in a family bluegrass band in the Missouri Ozarks and has worked as an English/Spanish teacher, a Field Executive for the Girl Scouts of the USA, a bass player and journalist. Cardwell was the recipient of the Charlie Lamb Excellence in Country Music Journalism Award in 2006, and her book on the songwriting of Dolly Parton was published by ABC-CLIO in 2011. Nancy has written for music and entertainment publications since 1980. She is a former member of the Board of Trustees for the International  Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Ky. and a graduate of Leadership Bluegrass (2000) and Leadership Music (2009).