2022 – 2023 NASMD Board of Directors

CJ Averwater is President of Amro Music Stores in Memphis, Tennessee. He represents the fourth generation at Amro, a company founded in 1921 by his great-grandfather, Mil. CJ began working at Amro during school breaks in 1992 and has since worked in every facet of the business, including credit and collections, accounting, repair, sales and management. He received a bachelor of arts in business and economics from Hendrix College and his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi. He has served as president of the NAMM Young Professionals group, and on the NAMM Presidents Council. CJ is a guitar and trumpet player. He and his wife, Heather, have two children.

Paul Finke is Vice President of Willis Music (est. 1899), a full-line retailer with five locations in Greater Cincinnati and Lexington, KY making major strides in the school music marketplace. He joined Willis 35 years ago as an order filler, then worked the retail floor, began buying nearly everything for the company and is now in charge of selling everything his team buys. Paul also oversees the piano and school service divisions. He loves the outdoors, riding his road bike, coaching baseball, being very active in his church and playing drums with a wel- known German band that tours regionally during Oktoberfest season. Paul and Debbie have been married 30 years and are devoted to raising their five children.

Tristann Rieck is the second generation owner of Brass Bell Music Store in Milwaukee, WI for over 30 years and recently celebrated the store’s 50th anniversary in 2021.

Outside of Brass Bell, Tristann shares her love of music by playing french horn in seven area community orchestras and bands throughout the year. Bird watching and indoor gardening has become a source of calm for her while navigating the challenges of the pandemic. Currently, her sunroom/home office now has over 50 different species of plants and it’s still growing! Tristann and her husband, Dr. Zack the veterinarian, have 3 cat babies – Pippin (their super shy, safari cat) and two adorable black kitty brothers, D’artangan and Braveheart.

The violin has been a part of Rick Thacker‘s life since he started private lessons at age three. He has played in many ensembles, most notably as concertmaster for the Advanced Ensemble at the Chicago School of Violin Making. Rick has also received teacher training in the Suzuki Method and has taught for nearly two decades. Rick is a certified luthier with a degree in Violin Making & Repair from the Chicago School of Violin Making. He has built several fine instruments, including the violin he gifted to his wife, Elizabeth, on their wedding day. Rick and Elizabeth own Plum Grove Music in Hebron, Indiana, and enjoy their five children, Kenneth, Adelyn, Michael, Caleb and Aubrey, age 7 and under!