In a letter sent to IBMA members via Email, Nancy Cardwell, Executive Director of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) announced her resignation effective at the end of this year.
Ms. Cardwell began her tenure with the association twenty years ago as a staff member and was selected as Interim Director and then ultimately officially hired permanently for the position in 2012 when Dan Hays resigned.
October 12, 2014
Dear members of IBMA:
After 20 years serving on the staff of the International Bluegrass Music Association, I made the decision last month to resign as executive director, effective Dec. 31, 2014.
When I agreed to take the interim ED position March 5, 2012—and later in August 2012 when I was asked to take on the fulltime position, I let the IBMA Board of Directors know I intended to stay three to five years, to help the organization get through what I perceived as a crucially important transitional process following the tenure of longtime director Dan Hays—who I credit with building the organization from the ground, with the help of many of you early members.
My goals were to work with current and new staff, the board, and our new partners in Raleigh to rebuild membership numbers; to increase attendance, value, and the overall vibe at World of Bluegrass events; and to start the process of re-building our finances. We’ve also updated our website and our entire online presence during the past two and a half years. And the IBMA Youth Council, Membership Recruitment Committee, Leadership Bluegrass, and the international “I” in IBMA are strong and moving forward.
Bluegrass music is about passing tunes from one generation to another, and it’s also about passing leadership roles along to the next person on the industry side. Twenty years is a long time to do anything, and I know 2015 is the right time for me to pass the torch to the next executive director of IBMA. The IBMA team and I have accomplished what we set out to do during the past three years, and I have a passionate, talented staff with over a year’s experience under their belts in place with Taylor Coughlin, Eddie Huffman and Joe Lurgio, working hard for the future of bluegrass music.
I’m not sure what I’ll be doing next, but I have a couple of interesting leads—both inside and outside the bluegrass music world. I’ll let you know the details as soon as I can, and I would truly appreciate your support as I move forward in another role.
I grew up in a bluegrass family band in the Missouri Ozarks—hitting the stage and radio airwaves for the first time at age seven, and I’ve been writing professionally about bluegrass music in magazines since I was in college. I’m not leaving the music. My dedication and personal support of bluegrass music and its international trade association will continue.
It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve IBMA for 20 years, and to get to know and appreciate so many of you. I’m proud of what the organization has accomplished so far, and I’m excited about the future of both IBMA and bluegrass music. I appreciate what I’ve learned from each of you, the music and the stories, and most of all, your friendship.
Sincerely,
Nancy Cardwell
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