ALLEN & HEATH USA SELECTS PLAGEMAN AS REGIONAL SALES MANAGER A llen & Heath USA and American Mu- sic and Sound have appointed Chad
Plageman as regional sales manager for the Central U.S. In this new role, Plage- man will oversee sales, support and train- ing initiatives across the region, further strengthening the company’s presence and customer engagement.
Taylor Guitars’ co-founder Bob Taylor.
Taylor Guitars Publishes New Scientific Research on African Ebony T aylor Guitars has revealed new scientific research showing that African ebony trees depend heavily on African forest elephants for survival. The peer-reviewed study, published in Science Advances, emerged from The Ebony Project, a conservation initiative launched by Taylor’s co-founder Bob Taylor in partnership with the Congo Basin Institute. The findings show that ebony trees, the source of the dark, durable wood used on nearly every Taylor guitar fingerboard, rely on elephants for seed dispersal. Without elephants, which have disappeared from two-thirds of their historical range, ebony seedlings fail to thrive. The discovery came after years of work in Cameroon, where Taylor first invested in restoring a local ebony mill. His collaboration with UCLA conservation biologist Dr. Tom Smith led to funding for The Ebony Project, which has since planted over 40,000 ebony trees and 20,000 fruit trees to support local communities. The project highlights how the survival of musical instruments is tied to broader ecosystem health. {taylorguitars.com} Casio America Announces Retirement of Stephen Schmidt C asio America has shared Stephen Schmidt, vice president of the company’s Electronic Musical Instruments (EMI) division, will retire on Sept. 30 after 19 years of service to Casio.
Chad Plageman
Plageman brings more than two decades of leadership experience in sales and business development, with a track record of driving revenue growth. Most recently, he served as vice president of sales at Full Compass Systems. “I’m thrilled to be joining an incredible organization and working alongside some of the best industry profes- sionals in the business,” Plageman said. “Allen and Heath’s products are the best in the market, and it’s an honor to represent them. I’m excited to get out in my territory to meet the great representatives and businesses that proudly sell our products.” “Chad’s deep industry knowledge and strong relation- ships make him a valuable addition to our team,” said Neil Potter, director of national sales for Allen & Heath USA. {allen-heath.com} PEARL NAMES HANNUM AS NEW DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION P earl Corporation has added marching percussion educator, Thom Hannum,
as director of education. Respected in the world of marching percussion, Hannum brings decades of experience, innovation and leadership to this new role. Known for his work with The Crossmen, The Cadets, Star of Indiana, Blast!, Carolina
During his nearly two-decade tenure, Schmidt played a key role in advancing Casio’s corporate creed of “Creativity and Contribu- tion,” offering people new ways to experience and enrich their lives. He began his career at Casio America as vice president of sales, sup- porting all major divisions, including watches, calculators, digital cameras, business projectors,
Thom Hannum
Crown and UMass, Hannum is a DCI and World Drum Corps Hall of Fame inductee and PAS Hall of Fame Inductee. In his new role, Hannum will spearhead initiatives that foster musical growth, community engagement and brand alignment. “To be named director of education at Pearl is a major milestone in my professional career — reflective of a 43-year association with Pearl as an artist and clinician,” Hannum said. “It is both flattering and humbling. Let’s get started!” “With over four decades of partnership, Thom’s transi- tion into the role of director of education marks not only a continuation — but an evolution — of our long-standing relationship,” said Glen Caruba, vice president of sales and marketing at Pearl Corporation. {pearldrum.com}
Stephen Schmidt
digital pianos and portable keyboards. In 2009, Schmidt assumed the role of vice president of the EMI Division, where he made an impact by overseeing the development and marketing of Casio’s musical instrument lines. “Stephen has been a vital part of Casio America’s success in the music industry,” said Yusuke Suzuki, president and CEO of Casio America, Inc. “His leadership and vision have helped shape our Elec- tronic Musical Instruments division, driving innovation, expanding our market reach and strengthening our reputation.” {casio.com}
22 I MUSIC INC. I OCTOBER 2025
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