CCMA welcomes new board chair and directors for 2025-2026

Toronto, ON (February 10, 2026) – The Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) Board of Directors is comprised of leaders from the Canadian music, entertainment, arts, and business sectors who are dedicated to the organization’s mission to educate, elevate, and celebrate the incredible talent and country music community found within Canada. Today, the CCMA is pleased to welcome a new Chair, Executive Committee, two re-elected members, and two newly appointed members to the 2025-2026 Board of Directors.

 

Having already been an active member of the Board for several years, Jenn Dalen will step into the role of Chair of the Board of Directors, replacing Jackie Dean who has held the position since 2020 and will remain on as a CCMA Board member. The Executive committee comprises the newly re-elected Julia Rambeau Smith fulfilling the role of Vice-Chair, with Kerry Martin acting as Treasurer and Madelaine Napoleone acting as Secretary. Also re-elected this year is Joelle Proulx, and newly appointed members include Mary An Blom and Adam Oppenheim.

 

“Stepping into this role is an opportunity to deepen the direct impact I’ve witnessed the CCMA have on artists’ careers and the growth of the genre, and to ensure the association continues to be a powerful, unifying voice for everyone in our community,” says Dalen. “I’m really looking forward to working closely with the dedicated CCMA staff and board to bring the association’s vision to life, and I’m confident that by working together, we can continue to elevate the entire industry.”

 

“We are thrilled to welcome Jenn Dalen as the newest Chair of the CCMA Board of Directors,” shares Amy Jeninga, President, CCMA. “Jenn brings a fresh perspective and a genuine passion for Canadian country music, and has already made a meaningful impact as a member of our Board. We look forward to her leadership as she continues to help shape the association with a clear vision of our future.”

 

 

 

New CCMA Board of Directors Chair

 

Jenn Dalen

 

A 15-year veteran of country radio, Jenn Dalen-Gordon has dedicated her career to shaping the sound of Canadian country radio. Today, she leads as the General Manager for Stingray’s BC Interior and as the National Brand & Content Leader, guiding the programming strategy for the company’s country stations nationwide.

 

Her leadership extends well beyond the airwaves. Jenn is deeply invested in the industry’s future, serving on the CCMA Board of Directors, current VP of the BCCMA Board, and having previously held the VP role at the ACMA (now CMAB). Through this work, she channels her passion for educating, mentoring, and providing constructive feedback to help artists thrive.

 

While she grew up in Calgary, Jenn now calls Kamloops home, alongside her husband and dog. When she’s not focused on radio or supporting Canadian music, you can find her on the ski slopes or local running trails.

 

 

 

Re-elected for a second term for the 2025-2026 CCMA Board of Directors are:

 

Joelle Proulx

 

Joelle Proulx is the co-founder of Agence Ranch – a management and artist services agency based in Quebec focusing on country music acts.

 

Launched in 2019, the agency manages Matt Lang, Brittany Kennell, Blue Ridge Band, Fred Dionne, Ken Presse, The Wild Palominos, Andie Therio and Reney Ray. Agence Ranch also handles publicity for Lasso Montréal, Festival Country Lorbtninière, Rodéo d’Ayer’s Cliff and the MDM Recordings artists in the province of Québec.

 

Joelle is a passionate and active ambassador for country music in the province and wishes to build more bridges with the rest of Canada. Her goal is to help Canadian artists develop in Quebec and find better opportunities for both francophone and anglophone Quebec artists to pursue their careers across Canada – especially emerging and independent artists who have limited resources to do so. She is a strong believer that teamwork makes the dream work and wants to keep building collaborations in the country community. Most of all, she is a huge country music fan and feels incredibly lucky to make it her 9 to 5, 7 days a week.

 

 

 

Julia Rambeau Smith

 

With over 15 years of multifaceted experience in the entertainment industry, Julia brings a unique vantage point to the CCMA Board of Directors, bridging the gap between major label communications and independent live operations.

 

Currently, Julia serves as the Chief of Staff for The MRG Group, collaborating with a diverse portfolio of over 20 business entities that include live promotion, venue operations, ticketing, media and travel. In this role, she remains a staunch advocate for the genre, collaborating with MRG Live to provide platforms for Canadian country acts at venues like Toronto’s CCMA Award-winning Rock ‘N’ Horse Saloon and Vancouver’s Yale Saloon.

 

Prior to joining MRG, Julia spent five years as a Publicist at Universal Music Canada. There, she managed a premier country roster including Little Big Town, Sam Hunt, Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, and Darius Rucker. Her tenure at Universal provided her with deep institutional knowledge of the CCMA Awards, having worked the event for half a decade alongside both domestic and international talent.

 

Julia is driven by a passion for the Canadian music ecosystem and is committed to offering a fresh perspective from the independent sector to help shape the future of the CCMA.

 

Residing in Toronto, Julia balances her professional pursuits with her role as a mother to Daphne (10) and Leo (8).

 

 

 

Newly appointed to the 2025-2026 CCMA Board of Directors are:

 

Mary An Blom

 

Mary An Blom recently celebrated her 32nd work anniversary at Sony Music Entertainment Canada. Growing up in Guelph, Ontario, music was a passion from an early age. She attained a Bachelor of Music (flute) and then shifted focus, earning a Master of Business Administration. Fate then brought her to Sony as a summer student. This led to a permanent position as an Analyst in Financial Planning & Analysis upon graduation. Her enthusiasm and curiosity propelled her into special projects in business development, market research, M&A, and strategic planning, ultimately leading to the establishment and leadership of the Canadian music industry’s first analytics team. These experiences allowed Mary An to gain comprehensive knowledge of the music business and collaborate extensively with colleagues across Sony Music. She is known for her ability to facilitate problem-solving and support creative individuals within a business context.

 

In her current role as VP of Business Strategy at Sony Music Canada, Mary An oversees the Analytics, Sales/Commercial Partnerships, and Supply Chain teams. She works closely with the President and CFO to develop and present the annual budget and business plan. Beyond her professional responsibilities, she has been a longtime fundraiser and past board member of the Canadian Music Therapy Fund. Additionally, she was an inaugural member of the City of Toronto’s Music Advisory Committee, where she co-authored the city’s first Music Strategy and co-chaired the committee from 2019-2022.

 

 

 

Adam Oppenheim

 

Adam Oppenheim is the Senior Vice President of the Oilers Entertainment Group.  He has proudly procured talent for iconic Canadian events and venues, including the Calgary Stampede, National Music Centre, King Eddy, and Grey Cup Festival, and has previously promoted concerts including Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, and George Strait.  To encourage the growth and development of the Provincial music industry, Adam previously served as the Vice-Chairman of the Alberta Music Industry Association Board of Directors.

 

Adam holds both a Juris Doctor from the University of Calgary Faculty of Law and a Master of Business Administration from the Haskayne School of Business.  He is a co-founder of annual fundraising event the Great Bar Band Battle, supporting access to justice organizations that provide free legal counsel to low income Calgary residents.  Since the inaugural event in 2016, the Great Bar Band Battle has raised in excess of $250,000.00 for Student Legal Assistance, Calgary Legal Guidance, and Pro Bono Law Alberta.

 

 

 

The 2025-2026 CCMA Board of Directors are:

 

Joel Baskin

 

Mary An Blom

 

Carmen Choney

 

Adam Oppenheim

 

Jenn Dalen (Chair)

 

Jackie Dean

 

Angelika Heim

 

Sharon Hinds

 

Lindsay Hyslop

 

Morgan James

 

Jeremy Johnson

 

Kerry Martin (Treasurer)

 

Madelaine Napoleone (Secretary)

 

Casadie Pederson

 

Joelle Proulx

 

Julia Rambeau Smith (Vice-Chair)

 

Anne Stirk

 

Charlotte Thompson