NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants, announced eight newly elected directors who will join the organization’s Board of Directors in 2026, with each set to serve a three-year term running through January 2029. The announcement was made at the 2026 NAMM Show during the association’s annual meeting of members.
The new directors join a 24-member board elected by NAMM’s membership, with seats filled in slates of eight on staggered three-year cycles. The organization said the incoming class will help provide oversight and support for NAMM’s vision, mission, and objectives as it represents the global music products industry.
Antonio Ferranti, president of Proel North America, leads the U.S. and Canadian distribution business for Italian-made musical instruments, pro audio systems, and stage lighting. He has more than 25 years of industry experience across retail, wholesale distribution, music publishing, and mass market channels, and is also the founder of Los Angeles based consultancy The 99 Agency.
Chris Hutnick, president of Hatboro, Pennsylvania-based Lienau AV Associates, runs an independent manufacturers’ representative firm serving the pro audio, video, lighting, and MI retail markets across the Mid Atlantic, Metro, and Upstate New York, and New England regions. He holds a B.A. in the arts with high honors from Stockton College.
Jeff Bertrand, owner of San Diego-based Bertrand’s Music, has overseen the company’s growth into a local hub known for instruments, services, and support for music education. He earned a B.A. in business from the University of San Diego and is involved with AIMM, OMEGA, and IMMG.
John Stephans, CEO of the Avedis Zildjian Company, leads the world’s largest manufacturer of cymbals, drumsticks, and percussion mallets, and the company is described as the oldest family-run company in the United States. Zildjian operates from Norwell, Massachusetts, with offices in Newport, Maine, Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo, and sells products globally under the Zildjian, Vic Firth, and Balter brands.
Jonathon Breen, president of The Music Shoppe in Normal, Illinois, leads a business that began as a small family-run drum, guitar, and band instrument store and has expanded to include band and orchestra instruments, guitars, drums, digital instruments, and recording products. He studied electrical engineering and physics at the University of Illinois and maintains affiliations with groups including AIMM, Prism Group, NASMD, NAPBIRT, and Vistage.
Ryan Richman, vice president of Pomona, California-based Eastman Music Company, brings nearly 30 years of experience in performing, teaching, sales, and repair across the music industry. He has performed as a woodwind doubler and received the Utah Music Educator Service to Music Award.
Stacey Ryan, president of School of Rock, leads a performance-based music education organization with more than 70,000 students across 420-plus schools in 16 countries. She has held leadership roles at Huntington Learning Centers and The Goddard School, and founded FrontWomen.org to advance women in leadership.
Whitney McGuire McNicol, co-owner of Maxwell’s House of Music, has helped lead a 12,500 square foot music superstore serving Southern Indiana and the Louisville, Kentucky metro area for more than four decades. A University of Louisville accounting graduate, she also serves on the board of the affiliated charitable foundation, The Max Music Well, and performs as a drummer in the all-female band Go Girl.
During the annual meeting, NAMM Chair Chris White, president and CEO of White House of Music, recognized outgoing directors for their contributions and credited their ideas and expertise with benefiting the organization and its members. The departing board members are Lance Day of D’Addario & Company, Josh Faust of Faust Harrison Pianos, Francois Kloc of Buffet Crampon USA, Kim Koch of Saied Music Co., Stacy Montgomery Clark of SABIAN Ltd., and Bryan Ottens of Peter E. Schmitt Co.
KEY QUOTE:
“We are thrilled to welcome this new class to our Board of Directors. NAMM is indebted to the talented coalition of industry leaders that choose to volunteer their time to guide our global organization into the future.”
John Mlynczak, NAMM President and CEO
