NASHVILLE, Tenn., September 30, 2014 – Lisa Davis Purcell is the newly appointed vice president of development for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.  In that role, she oversees the museum’s efforts to generate contributed income and support its mission to preserve the evolving history and traditions of country music and educate diverse audiences.

“Lisa is the perfect fit for us at this juncture in the museum’s rapid and sustained growth,” said Kyle Young, Museum Director. “She’s a mission-oriented executive and well integrated into both the non-profit and music industry sectors of Nashville. And, as a longtime member of the museum’s Honor Society, Lisa already has demonstrated her commitment to supporting our work.”

“The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum not only honors and preserves the history of country music, from its folk roots to the present day; it also provides local, national and global audiences with access to artists, artifacts and educational programs that celebrate the power of this uniquely American art form,” said Purcell.  “I am honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with the museum’s incredible team of professionals and with the generous volunteers and donors who dedicate their time, talent and treasure to sustain and advance the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s important work.”  

For the past seven years, Purcell served as vice president of external affairs for Hands On Nashville (HON).  In that role, she oversaw contributed income, corporate relations, special events, public relations and marketing teams for one of the largest volunteer resource centers of its kind.  HON is nationally recognized for establishing best practices in disaster preparedness and response. It mobilized over 150,000 volunteers in the wake of the May 2010 flood that devastated Middle Tennessee. 

Until the flood, Purcell also managed jazz recording artist Anna Wilson.  She served as co-executive producer for Wilson’s album, Countrypolitan Duets, which generated a #1 single on iTunes’ jazz chart.  She also placed Wilson’s “A House, a Home” as a Habitat for Humanity International theme song. 

Purcell previously worked in the program and administrative departments of diverse arts organizations, including the Frick Art & Historical Center, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Frist Center for the Visual Arts and the Tennessee Arts Commission. She has served as a grant review panelist for the National Endowment for the arts, and she has worked for music business charity T.J. Martell Foundation, to support medical research.

Purcell holds both undergraduate and master’s degreesin art history from West Virginia University and a certificate in executive leadership from Belmont University.

• Lisa Davis Purcell   /   615 416 2086   /   lpurcell@countrymusichalloffame.org

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The museum’s mission is the preservation of the history of country and related vernacular music rooted in southern culture. With the same educational mission, the foundation also operates CMF Records, the museum’s Frist Library and Archive, CMF Press, Historic RCA Studio B and Hatch Show Print®. More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is available at countrymusichalloffame.orgor by calling (615) 416-2001.

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