Executive Director

Debbie Schwartz Linn spent most of her young life in California and worked with Sony Music in various capacities from 1994 through 2011, in both the New York and Nashville offices. She was senior director of strategic marketing and was responsible for developing branding, marketing plans and promotions for more than 20 artists, including Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen, Carrie Underwood, Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert, and Kellie Pickler, among others. Among the brand partnerships she coordinated were Kenny Chesney and JC Penney, Sara Evans and Libby’s, Maytag, and Johnson & Johnson; Jake Owen and Lucky Jeans; Miranda Lambert and Vanity Clothing, the Country Strong movie and soundtrack with Pepsi and Arby’s; as well as many others. She serves on the advisory board for the Pet Community Center. She and her husband, Stephen Linn, have twins Cam and Rachel who are beginning their second year of college at the University of Missouri in Columbia. GO MIZZOU TIGERS! The empty nesters will now turn their attention to their beloved (Covid) rescue beagle/hound mix, Jasper. Debbie’s hobbies include gardening and winning game of Texas Hold ‘Em.

Program & Finance Manager

Carley Cardella is a dynamic professional with experience in both the music industry and health system administration. She worked as an administrative and events specialist at the University of Virginia Health System (UVA) gaining valuable experience in event coordination, project management and operational support for surgeons. But thanks to Carley’s passion for music, Nashville called, and upon arrival she jumped straight into artist management. Previously serving as an executive assistant for a boutique artist management company, KP Entertainment, Carley developed expertise in strategic planning, client relations, business management and many other facets of the music industry. Carley’s role at Leadership Music allows her to hone her finance and program management skills, while uplifting the entertainment industry’s top decision makers as they embark on their new journeys as Leadership Music class members! In her free time Carley enjoys spending time with her husband, Joey, attending concerts and spoiling her new kitten, Zeppelin.

Communications & Events

Margy Holland brings over 25 years of experience in the music industry to her new role as Communications & Events Administrator at Leadership Music. She previously served as the Country Music Editor & Reporter for United Stations Media Networks for two decades, interviewing country music's top talent and providing coverage of all major related events for more than 125 radio stations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Before her long tenure at United Stations, Margy held the position of Director of Publicity at Nashville-based independent label Magnatone Records, as well as Senior Publicist at P.L.A. Media, where she honed her skills in strategic communication, artist representation, and media relations. Margy is also busy parenting two teenage children -- son, Baker, and daughter, Gabrielle.