CEMB Pipeline Project Shares Findings

Pipeline student Margaret Shehan and her adviser Grand Ole Opry VP/GM Pete Fisher.

Belmont University’s Pipeline project shared its findings with the entertainment industry last evening at a reception held at Regions Bank (8/8). The Pipeline project, an initiative of the Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business (CEMB), was created as a think tank. Some of the school’s best and brightest students were chosen to participate and charged with developing cutting edge concepts and solutions aimed at helping the entertainment industry.

The nine Pipeline students are:
Chase Geiser, a sophomore Audio Engineering Technology and Philosophy double major.
Kevin Grosch, a senior Songwriting major
Eric Guroff, a junior Entrepreneurship major and Music Business, Production minor
Ross Hill, a junior Music Business and Entrepreneurship double major
Jessica Pangrazio, a sophomore Public Relations major and Music Business minor
Kyara Rafferty, a senior Music Business major and Mass Communications minor
Lisa Sekscinski, a sophomore Political Science major and Music Business minor
Margaret Shehan, a recently graduated Music Business major
Gia Vangieri, a recently graduated Entertainment Industry Studies major and English Writing minor

(L-R) Belmont Sr. Director CEMB Initiatives Sarah Cates; Regions Bank Sr. VP Entertainment & Sports Lisa Harless; and Regions Branch Officer Ann Brock.

CEMB Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Sarah Cates, who was responsible for helping to move Pipeline from concept to reality was one of several Belmont faculty on hand. “We believe that Belmont students can be at the heart of creative solutions for the entertainment industry,” Cates said. “We are excited to encourage the next generation of innovators.”

Also instrumental in the project’s success was Assistant Professor of Entertainment Industry Studies Sarita Stewart, who is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Mass Communication with a specialization in Entertainment Media and Statistics. Stewart was the project point person and worked closely with the students. Also in attendance at the event was Belmont University President Bob Fisher and CEMB Dean Wesley A. Bulla.

Industry mentors included Jay Frank, CMT; Pete Fisher, Opry; Tim Fink, SESAC; Beth Mason Laird, BMI; Barry Jeffrey, WME; Mark Montgomery; George Flanigen, Deaton Flanigen; Joe Galante; and Wendell Moore, The Capitol Group.

Photos: BossRoss