ACM Enhancement Day
• The Academy of Country Music® announces four staff promotions and two new hires — Tom Torii has been upped to Executive Vice President, Finance & Operations; Jen Heaton is promoted to Director, Strategic Partnerships; Lanni Gagnon is promoted to Manager, Events and Carrie Tekautz has been promoted to Manager, Awards & Membership. Now, please welcome two new staff additions: Taylor Wolf joins as Coordinator, ACM Lifting Lives and Strategic Partnerships; and Danielle Bardier joins as Assistant, Events. All positions are based out the Academy’s headquarters in Encino, CA.
Torii oversees all aspects of the Academy’s finance, planning, analysis, operations and HR. He joined the Academy in 2017 from Anschutz Entertainment Group, where he served as VP of Finance and CFO of AEG Sports. He reports to Pete Fisher, CEO of the Academy of Country Music.
In her new role, Heaton will continue planning and executing the ACM and ACM Lifting Livespartners programs, identifying, cultivating and developing new sponsors across industries and developing a multi-year partnership strategy. She also reports to Pete Fisher. Lanni Gagnon will now be responsible for various logistical and operational elements of the ACM Awards and ACM Party for a Cause events — including event production, red carpet, food and beverage, transportation, signage, security, event décor and partnership fulfillment. She reports to Erick Long, SVP, Events.
As Manager, Awards & Membership, Carrie Tekautz will help maintain the membership database, recruit new ACM professional members and help coordinate the ACM Awards voting process. She reports to Nick Di Fruscia, VP, Awards & Membership. As the newly named Coordinator for both the ACM Lifting Lives and Strategic Partnerships departments, Taylor Wolf reports to Lyndsay Cruz, Executive Director, Lifting Lives and Jen Heaton.
Danielle Bardier joins the Academy of Country Music as Assistant, Events. While attending USC, Danielle Bardier interned for the ACM in the Events department and served as a production assistant following her 2017 graduation. She reports to Erick Long. Pictured, top row, (l-r): Torii, Heaton & Gagnon. Bottom, (l-r): Tekautz, Wolf and Bardier.
