Internet
Gregg Proniske began working at Southwest Strings in 1998. The distributor of stringed instruments is located in Tucson, Arizona, and specializes in contracts with school music programs around the country. Gregg started out on the phone taking orders and now wears many hats for the company...
Mike “Monte” Montefusco played both trumpet and piano as a kid before playing bass guitar professionally for several years. Like many touring musicians, Monte worked in a local music store while off the road, which ignited his passion for the music products industry. Beginning in 1996, Monte joined...
John McCarthy has been running a music studio and teaching guitar lessons since the 1990s. After a conversation with his sister, he realized if he recorded and distributed his lessons on video, he could reach many more people who wanted to learn to play guitar. His approach includes getting people...
David Hall is the sales and marketing Vice President for Pro Active Websites, a company founded by Bill Walzak. David’s passion for his job is evident in the smile and handshake you receive at every trade show. That passion started as a student player with hopes of becoming a band director. He...
Bill Walzak grew up in Chicago and found his way to the drums whenever he could. Trash cans and pots were often turned upside down and were Bill’s set! While playing in a band later he invented a cup holder to attach to music stands. In 1982, Bill made his first trip to the NAMM Show with his...
Michael Houser is the Chief Executive Officer for Cascio Interstate Music, which serves both as a brick and mortar store in New Berlin, Wisconsin as well as an internet store. The store was established by Frank Cascio, a professional accordion player, in 1951. Over the years the store has built an...
Ron Lorenz has enjoyed a long career in the music business beginning in the early 1960s. Ron worked in retail, as a road rep, owned his own music retail store, and was the founder of Rapco, a leading cable company. Ron played professionally once out of school, which served him well when he opened...
Jay Pilzer is the founder of New Hope Guitars and has been very active in the vintage guitar market for several decades. While earning his doctorate and teaching history, Jay became fascinated with guitars. As a musician he enjoyed playing them and as a history professor he enjoyed learning about...
Al Hager is the store manager for the Bloomington, Minnesota based Groth Music. As a professional bandleader and bass player, Al came to the store with a great understanding of musical instruments and business management. He has worked closely with the store’s owner, Nancy Groth-Kersten, to...
Ted Rasch was one of only a handful of music retailers who began using the Internet for commerce as early as 1996. He was asked many times in those early years to explain the Internet and how it could possibly fit into the music industry. One of the advantages in using the Internet in the early...