The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) has selected Pat Morris as its new executive director. Morris succeeds Paul Schiminger, who is retiring after nearly six years at the helm of the Nashville, Tennessee-based nonprofit professional music organization that connects, educates and empowers bluegrass professionals and enthusiasts, honoring tradition and encouraging innovation in the bluegrass community worldwide.
Morris brings two decades of association, international, and finance leadership experience to his new position – having served as the chief executive officer of ACA International, president & CEO of the Association for Corporate Growth, and the executive director of the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards. A former officer in the U.S. Marines, he also worked in the U.S. Senate and was selected for the Presidential Management Fellowship Program. Morris holds a B.S. degree from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia and an M.P.A. from the University of Kentucky.
Pat Morris
“Pat’s impeccable resume and love of bluegrass is the perfect combination for the next executive director of IBMA,” said Ben Surratt, the organization’s board chairperson and president. “I’m so happy to have Pat working alongside us for the benefit of bluegrass and the bluegrass community. Our association is in great hands.”
Noting that he feels “so honored” to be selected for this role, Morris said: “This position combines my passion for bluegrass and pursuit of excellence as an association leader. The future of bluegrass is bright, and I look forward to learning from IBMA staff, leaders, and members and drawing upon my own experience in applying best practices, leveraging creative ideas and technology, finding strategic partners, and turning opportunities into reality to help IBMA and the bluegrass industry.”
For his part, Schiminger believes The IBMA is fortunate to have Pat taking the helm with his extensive association leadership experience and passion for our music He expressed his hope that “everyone will welcome and support him in the same incredible way you did with me.”
When Schiminger joined the organization as its executive director in 2015, the IBMA was in a time of transition. He brought much-needed systemic change to many areas of the organization, according to Surratt. During the nearly six years that he oversaw the organization, the team’s many accomplishments included converting the IBMA to a 501(c)(3) organization; creating greater awareness for IBMA’s Trust Fund and Foundation for both potential recipients and donors; increasing awareness of, and programming for, greater diversity and inclusion in bluegrass music; continuing to work with the city of Raleigh, North Carolina to improve and build on IBMA World of Bluegrass, one of the industry’s major yearly events; improving IBMA’s visibility and communication through greater online reach, a new website, new e-newsletter, new membership portal, and more cohesive branding for all events during IBMA World of Bluegrass; quickly adapting to COVID-19 by creating an online resource page and streaming calendar for the bluegrass community, mobilizing the IBMA Trust Fund to help those in need during the crisis, and moving the full IBMA World of Bluegrass event onto a virtual platform for the first time, with over 120 sessions, meetings, and performances, according to an IBMA news release issued April 27.
“It was impossible to foresee the incredible experiences and friendships I have gained throughout this time,” said Schiminger in announcing his retirement plans last December. “I arrived embracing the challenges facing all of us to build upon the IBMA’s successes and make impactful progress to strengthen and move the association forward for even greater future success. I could not be more proud of the achievements we have all made together.”
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