Ikutaro Kakehashi
Dave Rivard has thoroughly enjoyed his role at Roland Corporation as a sales rep. He has grown the role over the years and covered nearly every state, making connections, introducing new products to his retail customers and often outselling his teammates. Dave was there when many of the amazing...
Jeff Sazant began working with his brother, Sheldon, at Steve’s Music in 1967. The Canadian-based music store has played a significant role in the industry and gained a reputation for its innovative and creative staff. For example, it's thought that Jeff came up with the now-famous Top Ten Songs...
Rick Anderson was in a MBA program that required he write a research paper about a local business. This was his introduction to the Rodgers Instrument Corporation located in Hillsboro, Oregon, for which Rick was associated with (one way or another) over a period of 37 years. Rick, who became the...
Ned Augustenborg is a multiple Emmy Award winning producer and director in the categories of Entertainment, Documentary, News and Sports. He has worked on projects for ESPN, HBO, FOX Sports, MSNBC, CNN and the Canadian Sports Network. Being introduced to NAMM’s Museum of Making Music in 2001, Ned...
Lynda Smith started on the piano early in her life and was always fascinated by the instruments at her local record shop. Her love for classical music led her down the path of studying music education and music therapy. While teaching K-8 music classes and working at the same music store she grew...
Antoni Punti and Gabriel teamed up with Keith Mardak in 1972 to form Hal Leonard Spain. The company’s success was fueled by the home organ boom, which was an important milestone of growth for the music industry in Spain. Years before, Antoni was the first person to establish Hammond Organ Studios...
Manel Punti is the Managing Director of Music Distribution, a wholesale business in Spain that his father established in the 1960s. Manel grew up in the music industry as well as a musical family. His father played the piano and encouraged his children (and later his grandchildren) to play an...
Alan Greensall was working for Sound Technology when he helped broaden the reach of several brands into the British market. Among the brands were Taylor Guitars, Line 6 and G&L Guitars. This experience cemented Alan’s passion for developing brands in his country and by 2000 he established his...
Bob Olsen often said because he did not play a musical instrument yet had a successful career in the music products industry that he was “a vegetarian in the business of prime meat.” The fact is Bob became very passionate about the music companies he worked for, beginning with Hammond Organ and...
Jun-Ichi Miki joined the Roland Corporation in 1977 right after graduating from university. After working in research of sound synthesis and analysis for electronic musical instruments, in 1994 he joined the Board of Directors. In 2013, Jun-ichi was named Roland’s new CEO and his background in...