About Us

Elizabeth Cawein is a music advocate and strategist. She founded Signal Flow Public Relations, a boutique media firm dedicated to serving the Memphis music industry, in 2011. In 2015, she launched a not-for-profit initiative called Music Export Memphis, which leverages public and private support to function as an export office for Memphis music, creating opportunities for musicians and driving economic development through music and culture. In January of 2019 she joined strategic consultancy Sound Diplomacy to continue her work in music strategy and advocacy. Elizabeth is an adjunct professor of music urbanism at Rhodes College. In 2015 she was honored by the British Council at its inaugural Education UK Alumni Awards, celebrating outstanding U.S. alumni of British institutions. Elizabeth has moderated panels and presented showcases at Folk Alliance International, SXSW, A3C, AmericanaFest, Canadian Music Week and Music Cities Convention, and in 2019 she keynoted the inaugural Texas Sounds and Cities conference. She is dedicated to the belief that smart cities are music cities – her TED Talk on the subject has 1 million views and climbing.

Morgan Massey is a central Arkansas native who moved to Memphis, Tennessee to study Music Industry at The University of Memphis. She was raised a music lover and was constantly surrounded by music. Morgan was classically trained in Bassoon for 11 years and performed in visual arts groups in WGI & DCI. This experience allowed her to understand the pressure of being a touring performer. Her passion for music has driven her to dedicate herself to music makers and advocating for them. She gained experience organizing events and live entertainment through her position as co-president of Blue Tom Entertainment, the University's student-run record label. During her final year at the UofM, she became the Music Export Memphis Program Assistant. Morgan believes in Memphis and loves calling it her home. She hopes to help grow and support the Memphis Music Community in every way she can.

Chris is a Memphis native, U of M graduate, and marketing consultant specializing in festivals and live events. He’s always had a passion for music, but really started to get into the industry in 2012 while working at Memphis in May. He has held various roles in the local music industry and was most recently the Marketing Director at Mempho Fest. Chris is a big advocate for bringing more live music to Memphis and understands the impact it can have on the local economy and in bringing people together. He also serves on the Professionals Board at the Overton Park Shell. In his spare time he enjoys seeing live music (of course) and spending time with his family at Pickwick lake.

Leah’s rich heritage and passion for exploring brings a global perspective to the city she has called home since 2016 and proudly wears on her sleeve. Leah has successfully promoted Memphis to visitors across the globe while reminding locals of what they have in their own backyard. Leah activates and leads client brand extension opportunities under the DCA umbrella, from festivals and fundraisers to newly formed ventures.

Bryce Hendry is a member of the investment committee of Pittco Management, a single-family office established for the founder of AutoZone, J.R. “Pitt” Hyde, III. In this role, he has been involved in all aspects of investment selection and portfolio management for both personal and charitable portfolios of the Hyde family, with a significant focus on alternative assets, including direct private equity investments. Mr. Hendry holds a B.S. in Management from The University of Georgia and a certificate in Music Business. He is also a CFA charterholder.

A one-time owner of Young Avenue Sound Recording Studio, Cameron began his non-profit career in 2008 at the Memphis Music Foundation as the Director of the Music Resource Center. Since 2013, he has served in Development roles for Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, Edr (Now Greystar), and currently at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. He has also served as the Development Chair for the Overton Park Shell Board of Directors for the last 4 years. His passion is mission based fundraising with a special interest in growing the next generation of musical talent out of Memphis, TN and working to make Memphis a city of choice for musicians.

Diamond Young, a native Memphian, has spent a decade exploring life beyond the city while maintaining a deep commitment to its historical legacy. She is passionate about making a difference and has a track record of leadership and service.

Diamond is a graduate of Cordova High School, where she honed her leadership skills in student government, social organizations, and professional programs. She continued her leadership journey at Howard University in Washington, DC, studying Marketing in the School of Business. While at Howard, Diamond remained involved in various opportunities, gaining work experience in retail, live event production, and childcare.

After graduating in 2014, Diamond began her career in digital advertising sales at CoStar Group, working for the Apartments.com division in DC and later in Brooklyn, NY. Concurrently, she pursued her passion for event production, working with brands like YouTube, The Congressional Black Caucus, and Apple Music.

In 2020, Diamond returned to Memphis to make a significant impact after a decade away. She started in new business development and sales at several marketing firms before joining the Daily Memphian. Currently, Diamond serves as the Director of Marketing for the Greater Memphis Chamber, where she promotes the city's economic assets to attract new employers to the region.

Remaining dedicated to leadership development, Diamond is the President of the Howard University Alumni Club of Greater Memphis, a board member of Music Export Memphis, and a mentor for Setting the Standard Enterprises also known as STS. She is committed to using her talents to contribute to the prosperity of the city of Memphis.

Baylee Less serves as the Director of Development for Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab. Formerly, she's worked at Youth Villages, Temple Israel, and the Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation. Her lifelong passion for music and Memphis led her to serve on the Board of Directors for Music Export Memphis, working to build a more thriving and equitable arts sector for her community. She is also pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of Memphis, and during her free time, she enjoys reading lengthy historical fiction novels and cooking delicious vegan food.

IMAKEMADBEATS – born James Dukes – is a Memphis native, having grown up immersed in the city’s unmistakable sonic identity. But despite the definitive identity of the region, he often felt disconnected from what creative paths were supported there. After leaving his home to find infrastructure and creative synergy, he would eventually end up in Manhattan’s legendary Quad Studios, where he became a go-to ghost producer and found a new niche in scoring for film and television. He went on to provide music for many companies, including NBC, ABC, HBO, DC Shoes, Oxygen, and more. Inspired by the idea that music could speak without words – a theme that he would uphold years later with his debut instrumental EP Better Left Unsaid – he further developed the IMAKEMADBEATS persona and mask. This led him to work with the who’s-who of the indie underground scene in the ‘00s on wax, in the studio, and on stage, including Black Milk, Oh No, Talib Kweli, Solange Knowles, Ludacris, and more. Upon returning to Memphis years later, IMAKEMADBEATS discovered he was no longer the only odd man out in his home. “I found other people that felt like they had no representation creatively, and they too felt like they had to leave,” he says. “I realized that people will never know that others share their outlook if they feel suppressed and don’t speak on things that could possibly alienate them. Understanding that need was the start of Unapologetic.” In 2015, IMAKEMADBEATS founded Unapologetic, a company/label that would not only change the landscape of his career as a producer, but also would focus on shifting the culture of the community he was raised in. The idea was simple: create a forward-thinking & culture based organization that allowed creatives of all kinds to represent themselves and their ideas unapologetically. The multifaceted organization included music production/distribution, videography, merchandising, event coordination, and the Unapologetic World App, an app designed by IMAKEMADBEATS himself as a platform for Unapologetic’s content and it’s Uncover journalism series.

Anna Traverse has spent the last decade telling and sharing the stories of Memphis. She is editor-in-chief of Memphis Magazine and CEO of Contemporary Media, which publishes that magazine along with the Memphis Flyer, Memphis Parent, and others. She was raised in Midtown and graduated from St. Mary's. After college and grad school (Johns Hopkins, Harvard), twists of fate led her home, and she is grateful to have fallen back in love with Memphis, and of course, the city's heartbeat: music.

George Monger has had a distinguished career as a transformational leader in the arts and entertainment industry, from managing an international touring Opera singer to launching a music non-profit organization which he led for four years. In 2016, he served as Chief Operating Officer for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. George played a role in broadening the orchestra's reach to a more diverse demographic and contributed to developing the MSO/University of Memphis partnership framework. In 2017 he joined a start-up record label’s executive team to recapitalize the business and implement its strategic plan which included identifying and acquiring a music sync business and the acquisition of a series of distressed assets which served as the foundation to launch a their music distribution company.

As a leader in Donor Experience for ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Jack Torregrossa oversees the strategic planning and execution of ALSAC’s experience quality and insights aimed at increasing supporter commitment and retention.
Jack has 26 years of experience in operations, customer service, customer retention and relationship management. His diverse professional background includes product development, finance, franchise business development and operations, and marketing.
Prior to joining ALSAC in 2014, Jack spent 17 years at ServiceMaster with American Home Shield and AmeriSpec Home Inspection Service brands. Jack earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Memphis.

James Ramson, Vice President of the Treasury Management Payments Product Management Team at First Horizon Bank, blends an enthusiasm for product innovation, community service, leadership, and the arts into a symphony of impact in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Armed with more than a decade of experience in the banking industry, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Memphis, and an MBA specializing in Information Technology Management from Florida Institute of Technology, James skillfully crafts innovation-driven strategies to manage and create products to provide value to clients and the community alike.

From the tender age of eight, music has been the rhythm of James's life, beginning with piano and eventually expanding to include the trombone, bass guitar, and guitar. His performances, echoing through the churches and venues of Memphis, are a testament to his passion for music and his love for his city. In his own words, "I stay connected to my purpose by intentionally composing the score of my life... My priorities and goals are the melody that fuels the impact I can have on my community."

James Ramson's commitment transcends his professional career and musical interests. He presently serves on the United Way Cabinet at First Horizon Bank, where he promotes social transformation through strategic funding. Furthermore, James has previously held the role of Board Chair for the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professional Council, demonstrating his dedication to nurturing upcoming leaders by developing resources and programs. His volunteering extends to multiple organizations, where he helps guide Memphis's youth towards rewarding futures. Additionally, as a staunch advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the finance industry, James supports several organizations that aim to foster unity and understanding among individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Accolades, such as the Top 40 under 40 award by the Memphis Business Journal and First Horizon’s Emerging Leader Program Award, hint at James's influence on organizational culture and teamwork. Yet, beyond the work, when the stage lights dim, James finds his richest joy in spending time with his wife Destinee, their family, and friends, continuing to create a harmonious life in the city he cherishes - Memphis.