IEBA NAMES PAM MATTHEWS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

PHOTO: (L-R) Pam Matthews, Candice Davis and Mallori Kirchenschlager

Mallori Kirchenschlager joins IEBA as Director of Events & Membership
More announcements coming soon from the trade organization

Entertainment industry veteran Pam Matthews has been appointed the Executive Director of IEBA (International Entertainment Buyers Association) effectively immediately. The announcement was made by the trade organization’s Board of Directors.

IEBA Chairman and President of Signature Entertainment Lori Otelsberg comments, “I believe Pam has the greatest vision and ability to continue building on IEBA’s success, while bringing new and creative ways to better our association, and building relationships within the industry to strengthen our reputation as the premier conference for live entertainment.”

Newly appointed Executive Director of IEBA Matthews states, “Opportunities like this don’t come along every day. To be of service to my industry, and to an organization with such a rich history and such a commitment to its members and the community at large, is an honor indeed. It is with genuine excitement that I begin this new adventure.”

Matthews has deep roots in the industry, having served in many capacities at numerous organizations. She cut her teeth at Mid South Concerts in Memphis, served as a tour accountant for some of the world’s top heavy metal bands before landing in Nashville as part of the Pace Concerts team that designed and operated Starwood Amphitheatre.

In 1988, after three seasons at 18,000+ capacity venue, Matthews accepted a position with The Judds and, twelve years later, departed the organization as Vice President and Treasurer of Wynonna, Inc. and J2K, Inc.

In 2000, Gaylord Entertainment selected Matthews to be General Manager of the historic Ryman Auditorium. During her seven year tenure at the Ryman, the theatre received its National Historic Landmark status and numerous awards including the venue’s first ever Pollstar Theatre of the Year, Academy of Country Music’s Venue of the Year, and IEBA Venue of the Year. In 2006, Billboard magazine ranked Matthews among its “Twenty Top Women in Music.”

Matthews joins IEBA staffer Candice Davis, Director of Strategic Alliances & Operations. 2013 marks Davis’s fifth IEBA Conference and third year as a full-time employee of the association. She plays a vital role in conference planning through strategic alliances. She is responsible for IEBA Interactive student programs and all aspects of business operations.

Additionally, Matthews, Davis and the IEBA Board welcome Mallori Kirchenschlager as IEBA’s new Director of Events & Membership. Kirchenschlager is a Belmont University graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Business and Accounting. She comes to IEBA with five years of experience at Creative Artists Agency, where she was mentored by Rob Light, Head of Music and Managing Partner in Los Angeles, and Marc Dennis in Nashville.

IEBA President and Co-owner of Chicago’s Joe’s Bar Ed Warm says, “We love Mallori’s approach; her ideas are fresh and creative. Her agency experience brings an important perspective. And having a staff member dedicated to the membership represents our dedication to IEBA’s mission statement and to the mutual success of our organization and the industry as a whole.”

The 43rd annual IEBA Conference will take place October 19-22, 2013 at the new Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville.

For further information on IEBA, please visit www.ieba.org or by calling 615-679-9601.

About IEBA:
International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) is a non-profit trade organization for live entertainment industry professionals. Founded in 1970, IEBA provides networking, showcasing and educational opportunities to strengthen relationships, foster growth and increase revenue for the live entertainment industry. IEBA showcases the best and brightest talent in all genres of music and all fields of entertainment. Representing over $1 billion in buying power, IEBA is an intimate organization that makes a huge impact.
The IEBA scholarship endowment fund provides scholarships to students enrolled in accredited entertainment business programs at select schools across the country. 
IEBA currently awards a total of eight scholarships at five institutions: Belmont University (Nashville, TN), Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, TN), Murray State University (Murray, KY), New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, NM), and John Brown University (Siloam Springs, AR).