About Us - Board of Directors
Please take a moment to become familiar with the leadership of the organization. These are the people you have chosen to continue improving and guiding the organization on your behalf.
Executive Committee
Barbara Wagner (Vice-President), Manager Bio
Mike McGinley (Treasurer), Automatic Gool Bio
Ron Books (Secretary), Cherokee Rose Band
Tim Chiappetta
Lance Shellman (President) is a Fox Valley native who resides in Appleton, WI. He got his start in the music industry as a writer for the Madison-based music paper Sites and Sounds.
Through his growing relationship as a journalist, Lance opened his booking agency, Anvil Productions, in 1996, which dealt mainly with Blues and Roots acts. Since then, he has added original and Cover Rock bands to his roster shortly thereafter.
In 2002, he merged with Randy Bowles of Fortune Talent Live to form Bananas Entertainment, a Fox Valley-based agency that books and manages bands as well as buys for various clubs and festivals on a local, regional and national level.
Barbara Wagner (WAMI Vice President) has been involved in the Milwaukee music scene since the days of the old Cornerstone Recording studio(1981). She has served as promoter for local artists (Claude Dorsey, The All-Star SuperBand) and was the USA rep. for The Dakotas, a 60's British Invasion band from the UK. In 2003, Barbara produced the first CD by local jazz legend Claude Dorsey. Since 2002, she's headed up the WAMI Youth Committee, producing the annual Youth Showcase events. Currently, she manages The Liam Ford Band. In addition to serving on the WAMI Board, she is also a member of the Jazz in the Park selection committee. To keep busy, Barbara enjoys stage photography, and her "day job", teaching handicapped kids.
Mike McGinley, Treasurer
Former bassist and backup singer for Automatic Gool, The Jacks, and The Whisper Press. Currently working a side-project/cd with the members of Milwaukee's Man Down (veteran musicians from other popular Wisconsin acts). Michael works his day job as Contract Advisor with a focus on Engineering and Power Transmission/Distribution for ATC, of Waukesha, WI. He has worked in Supply Chain and as a Six Sigma Black Belt for the past ten-years, and prior to that worked as a Plant Manager and Quality Systems Manager.
Michael has been involved in local organizations such as The Milwaukee Kickers and the Wisconsin Travel Board. He works with Launchpad, Wisconsin's Youth Program supporting aspiring musicians in Pop/Rock Music. Michael joined the board as Treasurer in 2006, and has been a member of WAMI since 2003. Michael's first-love in music is as a songwriter, producer and collaborator. His past bands played clubs and festivals all over the Midwest, and shared the stage with local and major label acts. From a musical standpoint, Michael is self-taught and takes that very same DIY approach to stimulating the music scene in Wisconsin, his home state.
Directors
Bruce Sullivan
Bruce Sullivan is a native of Milwaukee and currently resides in Muskego with his wife Lori and two children Samantha and Jared. Currently, he is the Entertainment and Events Director at Wisconsin State Fair Park. Bruce started at the Fair Park in 2006 and is responsible for programming the Main Stage, Cousins Subs Amphitheater, Activity Stage, Family Variety Stage, World Café Stage, Sports Zone, Daily Parade, Street Entertainers and of course the Racing Pigs. He is the Event Manager for the Harvest Fair event that happens the last weekend in September at Wisconsin State Fair Park.
His background includes serving as a Product/Marketing Manger for Milwaukee-based Narada Productions, a record label owned by EMI Music, from 1998 - 2006. He managed events and coordinated artist appearances and various festivals including Jazz in the Park, Jazz on the Vine, Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Kettle Moraine Jazz Festival, BoDeans Live on the Roof at the Pabst Theater, and countless retail and media promotional events while with the record label. Bruce had the pleasure of working with some great artists including the BoDeans, Kathy Mattea, Craig Chaquico, Tony Levin, Garrison Starr, Blind Boys of Alabama, Cracker and The Subdudes just to name a few.
Bruce has enjoyed over 20 years of radio broadcast experience, including his current part-time stint as an on-air personality with 93.3 FM WLDB Milwaukee. He also is the Showcase Committee Chair for the annual Wisconsin Association of Fairs Convention.
Gene "Gno" Covell has been entertaining in Southeastern Wisconsin for 30 years and considers himself an "Entertainer for all Ages". From 1996 -2008 he fronted the WAMI award winning cover group the Toys . He's since started a new group called New Dog Trick. You may also see him around town as emcee for Am1640 Radio Disney Road Shows.
Gene has his own production company GNO Productions LLC which manages "Kids are People Too" the rock n roll show for children of all ages. Songs of Yesteryear, featuring a heartfelt sing a long created for seniors and Speed of Sound DJ Services.
Serving as the emcee for the WAMI awards show in 2006, 2007 and 2008 Gene is excited to be on the board. When not on stage Gene enjoys his other musical passion, songwriting.
George Renner was a full or part time musician for eleven years then ran a live sound/band management company for six years. In 1987 he opened Renwood Recording Studio which continued until 1997 when he joined forces with Matt Mattoon building the three room facility Renwood Messenger Recording Studios in Kenosha. George has been a WAMI member since 1994 and heads the Kenosha/ Racine Chapter of WAMI.
renwoodmessenger@sbcglobal.net
http://www.renwoodmessenger.com
Professionally, Daniel Nathan works in direct mail fundraising for non-profit organizations. He has played music all his life, beginning classically with violin and flute lessons and later teaching himself how to sing and play guitar and harmonica. He graduated from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) in Houston and went on to receive a bachelor's in Engineering Mechanics from UW Madison. Daniel writes, records, and performs with his rock trio, The Daniel Nathan Band.
James Brocksmith performs and manages the Milwaukee based traditional bluegrass group, the Liberty Bluegrass Band. Musical background includes producing three music benefit festivals, 2 city/three band traveling Bluegrass Caravan and producing two albums. James volunteers by serving on the Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association Inc. Board of Directors. James also has volunteered serving on the 29th WAMI Show Committee.
James's band, the Liberty Bluegrass Band won the 2008 CD Roulette and 2009 Bluegrass Artist of the Year Award.
James@LibertyBluegrassBand.com
http://www.libertybluegrassband.com