Incoming chair Pamela Carter ‘unflinchingly determined’ to lead organization through pandemic
Nashville, Tenn. (August 27, 2020) — The Nashville Symphony has announced the addition of 15 new members to its Board of Directors. Along with the election of these new directors, the Nashville Symphony’s Board also welcomes a new slate of officers, with Pamela Carter as Board Chair.
New Board Chair Pamela Carter possesses deep and varied professional experience that is connected by a common thread — service to others and the pursuit of excellence. Inspired by a childhood meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., she has sought throughout her career to advance people’s rights in ways that strengthened the community overall.
Carter was elected attorney general for the state of Indiana in 1992, making her the first woman and African American to hold that position in that state, as well as the first African American woman in the United States to be elected to that position. A former litigator, a securities law prosecutor and law partner, she later served as VP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Cummins Inc. In 2005, she became President of Cummins Filtration and finally President of Cummins Distribution Business, making her the first woman to run one of the four business units at Cummins.
Carter also serves on the boards of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, where she serves as Chair of the HR and Compensation Committee; Enbridge Inc., where she chairs the Governance Committee; and Broadridge Financial Solutions, where she serves as Chair of the Audit Committee.
In addition to Carter, the Nashville Symphony’s new slate of Board officers includes:
New directors joining the Nashville Symphony Board are:
Under Carter’s leadership, the Nashville Symphony’s Board is guiding the organization through one of the most dramatic moments in the orchestra’s nearly 75-year history, as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the institution to furlough all of its musicians and the majority of its administrative staff, and to postpone or cancel all scheduled programming through July 2021.
“The pandemic has created huge hardship and ongoing uncertainty,” Carter said. “But we have to remember the resilience, fortitude and steadfastness of the Nashville Symphony. In 1988, we declared bankruptcy and had to shut down completely, and we rose from the ashes. During the Great Recession in 2008, we experienced challenging times, and we rose from the ashes. In 2010, we had the great flood, and we rose from the ashes.
“As we are fighting to reemerge from this pandemic, we are fighting for the community we serve, and for the musicians and staff who have worked so tirelessly to fulfill our mission. Our patrons and donors have been with us through thick and thin, and our Board of Directors are committed to serving as reliable stewards of the community’s investment. As I think about our work ahead, I am daunted, but I’m also inspired and unflinchingly determined to protect and preserve the Nashville Symphony for years, decades and generations to come.”
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