ACM Lifting Lives Hires New Executive Director

ACM Lifting Lives has named a new Advisory Committee as well as announced the hiring of its new executive director, Lisa Huddleson.

This Advisory Committee is comprised of industry and non?industry leaders who serve to make recommendations and/or provide key information and materials to the formal ACM Board of Directors. Advisory Committee members serve one?year terms and are appointed by the ACM Lifting Lives officers. The new Advisory Committee includes:

•    Orly Adelson – dick clark productions
•    Erin Spahn Erenberg – Indiegogo
•    John Grady – Crush Management
•    Kerry Hansen – Big Enterprises
•    Steve Hauser – WME
•    Lorie Lytle – Community Volunteer
•    Eddie Montgomery – Montgomery Gentry
•    Kimberly Schlapman – Little Big Town
•    Leroy Shafer – Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
•    James Stroud – R&J Records

Huddleson comes to the Academy from her position as the director of strategic philanthropy for the Walt Disney Company. She previously served as the executive director of the Dell Foundation and Dell Giving in Austin, Texas. In her new role, Huddleson will oversee grant management and strategic partnerships for the charity, while furthering the mission of the organization by improving lives through the power of music. The position is based out of the Academy’s headquarters in Encino, California and reports to the ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors and Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy of Country Music.  She can be reached at lisa.huddleson@acmcountry.com.

Lifting Lives is also partnering with Little Big Town and spotlighting Hunter Hayes’ personal passion for ending child hunger at this year’s ACM Awards on Sunday, April 1. During the Awards, Little Big Town will perform “Here’s Hope,” an original song co-written by Hayes. Hayes will introduce the powerhouse quartet, who will be joined onstage by the Clark County Children’s Choir.

“Lifting Lives is dedicated to improving lives through the power of music. By partnering with ConAgra Foods, Little Big Town, Hunter Hayes and consumers, we want to use a song in the telecast to raise awareness about how we can all help eradicate child hunger in the United States,” said Huddleson.