Advisory Board

We are proud to announce the members of our newly formed Advisory Board. Comprised of a dynamic group of leaders, its members represent a broad range of roles in the music industry. The group will serve to advise and guide the WiMN, contributing times, ideas, and resources to aid its growth and outreach.

 Mindi Abair – Grammy-nominated saxophone player and singer/songwriter

Two-time GRAMMY nominee Mindi Abair has made her mark as one of the most recognizable saxophonists in the U.S. You may know her as the saxophonist on American Idol, or the only saxophonist to tour with rock legends Aerosmith since 1973. You may have seen her on stage with Bruce Springsteen for a historic night at the Beacon Theater, or tuned in as she joined Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra on the Late Show with David Letterman, sat in with The Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, caught her recent appearances at The Grand Ole Opry, or recognized her as Al Pacino’s sax player in the movie Danny Collins.

Her eight solo CDs have garnered ten #1 radio hits, seven top 5 spots and two #1 spots on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz album chart. Abair received a 2014 GRAMMY® nomination in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category for Summer Horns, a #1 recording with her friends Dave Koz, Gerald Albright and Richard Elliot, and more recently received a 2015 GRAMMY® nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for her solo CD Wild Heart featuring friends Gregg Allman, Joe Perry, Trombone Shorty, Booker T. Jones, Keb’ Mo’, and Max Weinberg.

She authored the book How To Play Madison Square Garden – A Guide to Stage Performance and serves as a National Trustee for The Recording Academy. The artists she’s toured with and/or recorded with are a testament to her talent: Aerosmith, Gregg Allman, Keb’ Mo’, Joe Perry, Bobby Rush, Lalah Hathaway, Duran Duran, Adam Sandler, Lee Ritenour, The Backstreet Boys, Booker T. Jones, Jimmy Webb, Mandy Moore, Max Weinberg, Bill Champlin, David Pack, Mocean Worker, The Ides of March, Rick Braun, Teena Marie, Bobby Lyle, Jonathan Butler, and Peter White.

Janet Billig Rich – Founder, Manage This Media

Janet started her journey in the world of musical entertainment in the rock clubs of NYC. Along the way she has worked as an artist manager, record company executive, music supervisor and theater producer. Initially at Caroline Records, first as a publicist, she then segued into A&R working with artists including the Smashing Pumpkins, Hole and White Zombie. She made the move to artist management partnering with Gold Mountain Entertainment where she was at ground zero of the tidal wave of alternative music in the 90’s managing all her favorite bands, including The Lemonheads, Hole, Nirvana, The Breeders, Walt Mink, Lisa Loeb and Dinosaur Jr.

After a brief detour to Atlantic Records, where she was one of the youngest senior executives, she launched Manage This! and has never looked back….She has partnered with amazing folks along the way and co-produced unscripted television for the E! Network, a multi-year groundbreaking Bluegrass tour based on the music from the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, a documentary on the reunion tour of the seminal band The Pixies entitled loudQUIETloud and a number theater projects involving a wide range of musical styles.

Among some of her most recent projects are the Tony-nominated Broadway musical Rock Of Ages, the kids-themed musical Camp Kappawanna and the musical theater/cabaret hybrid show For The Record: The Series. Additionally, other ventures include The Lisa Loeb Eyewear Collection with Lisa Loeb now featured at Costco, music supervision & clearance of numerous independent, documentary films (I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead and Step) and national TV commercials for brands such as The North Face and Muscle Milk.

Monique Boyer – Beauty Industry Consultant

Monique Boyer is a seasoned beauty industry executive, professional beauty expert, and strategic relationship leader with 33 years of experience at M·A·C Cosmetics, including 18 years leading Artist Relations supporting the global professional Makeup Artist and Recording Artist communities.

Throughout her career, Monique has built and cultivated influential relationships across the beauty, music, fashion, television, and entertainment industries. Her expertise and leadership have placed her at the center of some of the industry’s most significant cultural moments, directing makeup support for recognized Artists including Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Sia, Janet Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Steven Tyler, Kelly Clarkson, and The Cure among many others.

Her extensive experience in music encompasses artist and production support for major television programs, music festivals, and prestigious industry events, including the Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, MusiCares Person of the Year, ASCAP’s Women Behind the Music, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and SXSW. 

Monique is passionate about her work within the world of music and, equally, about honoring and championing the extraordinary women who have helped shape the industry. Since 2017, she has served as an Advisory Board Member for the Women’s International Music Network, supporting its mission to recognize, connect, and empower women across the music community.

Rob Christie – Republic Records Studio Director

Rob  Christie is a two-time Grammy Award winning Music Producer and the Founder – President of A&R for Robo Records (an independent production company & record label, distributed by Universal/Fontana, based in Los Angeles, CA). He currently manages the studio for Republic Records in Los Angeles. He is an L.A. native and graduate of Cal State Northridge, with a degree in Music. While he is a classically trained musician, he has a true passion and appreciation for all the recorded arts. Rob handled production and A&R at EMI-CAPITOL RECORDS in Hollywood for 15 years. He has produced front-line and catalog projects for The Beatles, The Frank Sinatra estate, The Beach Boys, Joss Stone, Tina Turner, Dave Koz, Richie Sambora (of Bon Jovi), the legendary Les Paul…and many more.

Rob is a former radio show host/producer for CBS radio in Los Angeles. He is currently living in Manhattan Beach, California, where he formed Robo Records & Waterfront Entertainment Group, LLC in 2008. Recently, Rob has produced Top-40 projects for country superstar Martina McBride, guitar superstar Orianthi…and catalog projects for The John Lennon estate, Ringo Starr, plus the acclaimed Dean Martin “Forever Cool” (featuring swinging new recordings with Kevin Spacey, Chris Botti, Joss Stone, Robbie Williams, Big Bad Voodooo Daddy and more). Rob is a member of NARAS and committee member for The Grammys.

Rob is the first Male recipient of a She Rocks Award…The Champion Award at NAMM 2016.

Lisa Foxx – On Air Personality, MYfm Los Angeles, iHeartRadio

Lisa  Foxx is an on-air radio personality who can be heard on 104.3 MYfm in Los Angeles and their sister station, Star 101.3 in San Francisco, on the iHeartRadio network. For the past 25 years, she’s been the voice of many top stations up and down the California coast, starting in college, and rising to fame in the 90’s in LA where she and Ryan Seacrest tore up the afternoon airwaves on Star 98.7. When not in the studio or freelancing in talent/booking and music supervising, Lisa can be found at one of the restaurants on Sunset Blvd in which she’s a partner, at a Dodgers or Kings game, exercising, doing charity work, and listening to a very eclectic mix of her favorite music, including Maroon 5, U2, Journey, 80’s hair bands, Hall & Oates, Katy Perry and many others.

Karrie Keyes – Monitor Engineer/Pearl Jam/Eddie Vedder and co-founder Soundgirls.org

Hailing  from Los Angeles, Karrie has spent the last 25 plus years as the monitor engineer for Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder. Karrie started out doing sound for punk bands in Los Angeles in 1986 under the tutelage of Dave Rat of Rat Sound, where she spent twenty years helping to establish the company. She was able to gain an immense amount of hands-on experience and technical knowledge at Rat, which eventually led to her becoming the monitor engineer for The Red Hot Chili Peppers from 1990-2000. She first met and started working with Pearl Jam who opened for RHCP on their 1991-1992 Blood Sugar Sex Magic Tour. She has worked with Sonic Youth, Fugazi, and Neil Young.

Tara Low – Founder, Editor in Chief at Guitar Girl Magazine

Tara  Low is the Founder and Editor in Chief of the popular female-oriented Guitar Girl Magazine. Tara started her journey back in 2009 when she launched her online retail music store known as Guitar It Up for Girls, which catered to young and adult women. Along with the retail focus, she had a blog that featured up-and-coming artists and all things happening with women in the music world. The success of that blog led to the development and roll-out of the digital and ultimate print magazine known today as Guitar Girl Magazine.

Tara has been featured on The Brassy Broad podcast, as well as having the honor of being the first female guest on Taylor Guitars’ podcast. She has also been featured by The Women’s International Music Network in their Front & Center column, as well as Musicians for Equal Opportunity for Women, Rockin’ Moms, Sweet Startups, Lady Boss Blogger, Fox News Atlanta, and VoyageATL. Tara has also been an avid supporter of organizations supporting the development of females in music. Her contributions have included a scholarship at MI for female guitarists, sponsoring students for Girls Rock Camps, and instrument gifting to charitable organizations.

Tara has been sought after for reviews and endorsements of the books out on music and personal development. These books include Leo Fender: The Quiet Giant Heard Around the World – Phyllis Fender and Dr. Randall Bell, Everyone Has a Book Inside Them – Ann Marie Sabbath, and The Man Who Carried Cash – Julie Chadwick, just to mention a few. She successfully raised four children and has always been heavily involved in music. During her school years, Tara played violin and cello and was an accomplished dancer who used to perform across the country. Her husband Ted, a business professional and guitar enthusiast helped to instill a passion for music into the lives of their children.

Nicole Poulos – Founder & Chief Storyteller, Sideways Media

Nicole Poulos is a marketing and communications executive with more than 20 years of experience helping artists, brands, and creative organizations build meaningful audiences and lasting cultural impact. As Founder and CEO of Sideways Inc., she has led campaigns for GRAMMY-winning artists, award-winning filmmakers, music technology companies, and nonprofit organizations, specializing in brand strategy, audience development, media relations, and storytelling.

Heather Dembert Rafter – Principal, RafterMarsh US

Heather  Dembert Rafter has been providing legal and business development services to the audio, music technology and digital media industry for over twenty-five years. As the principal counsel at RafterMarsh US, she leads the RM team in providing a wide variety of services to small and medium-sized companies. For fourteen years, she was the lead counsel for Digidesign, the audio division of Avid Technology.

Heather and RafterMarsh US supports pro bono a number of causes, including work for the American Bar Association, where Heather served as chair of the Section of Science and Technology Law and is serving, as an ABA presidential appointee, the Fund for Justice and Education. They also support entities focused on advancing women in music and sound, including Soundgirls.org, and by sponsoring the annual women’s luncheon at SF MusicTech Summit.

Divinity Roxx – Bassist and songwriter

Inspirational  and genuine, Divinity Roxx has made the leap from sidewoman for the one and only Beyonce, to frontwoman of her own genre-bursting, honest, and compelling musical journey. Her career as a bass-player skyrocketed after attending a bass camp led by the legendary Victor Wooten where she was invited to tour with him merely three months after the bass camp. After touring with Victor for 5 years, she auditioned for Beyoncé and was selected as a band member and assistant Musical Director. Divinity also acted as the Musical Director for K-Pop sensation 2NE1.

Despite these appearances with so many legendary and iconic figures, it is in her solo performance where Divinity shines the brightest. Her ability to simultaneously play bass guitar while fronting her own band captivates audiences around the world. Her 2016 release ImPossible received critical acclaim as the ultimate mashup of hip hop, rock and funk.

Paula Salvatore – VP/Client Relations and Marketing, Universal Music Group

Paula  Salvatore has been an anchor of excellence in the L.A. recording world for many years. As the former Senior Director and Manager of Capitol Studios for over 30 years, and currently the Vice President of Client Relations and Marketing at Universal Music Group, Paula has been an integral part of recordings for top line artists such as James Taylor and Tony Bennett and has worked alongside Grammy legend Al Schmitt with artists including Paul McCartney, Diana Krall, Natalie Cole, Barbra Streisand, Sinatra and others.

With the opening of the new Studio A in 1990, Paula helped establish Capitol Studios as a leading facility for Film & TV Scoring projects, with Capitol hosting renowned composers such as Dave Grusin, James Newton Howard, Michael Giacchino, and Tom Newman. The Studio A & B adjoining rooms are amongst the most unique and popular rooms for orchestra sessions, live shows and events and film locations. Hosting the pre-records and live broadcast of the annual Academy Awards have set the standard for excellence.

Paula established her management career working at Kendun Studios with the likes of Quincy Jones and George Benson, and numerous R & B legends. Moving to Sound City in the 80’s, she worked with artists such as Tom Petty, Pat Benatar Rick Springfield and Fleetwood Mac. During the rock era of this decade, she worked with both heavy metal and “hair” bands from Dio and Guns & Roses to Warrant and Poison.

Musician, producer and now director, Dave Grohl of the FooFighters and once drummer for Nirvana, released his critically acclaimed documentary, Sound City, in which Paula is featured. She also co-wrote and performed the end title theme, entitled “Sound City”. The studio business has been Paula’s life journey and she is held in the highest esteem amongst her colleagues. Many successful engineers have come up through the ranks under her guidance and Paula’s commitment and loyalty has earned her the respect of her renowned clientele.

Christine Taunton – Musician and Event Producer

Christine Taunton is the founder & Co-owner of Sweet Taunts Music, which provides backline rental services for local events and bands, such as Lighting, Audio Equipment, amp’s, Keyboards, and more.

She currently serves as a Music Industry Instructor for University of the Pacific Summer High School Institute Program.  Not only did she earn her BA Degree in Music, emphasis of Music MMGT at Pacific, she regularly performs and fronts her band called The Sweet Taunts.

In addition, she independently manages booking, marketing, social media, to local musicians, sound management, and coordinates special music related events for non-profit organizations, such as Women’s International Music Network (WiMN), FOH Production Manager for The She Rocks Awards, and more. She is the assistant manager of Mystic Moon Productions, a Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band, for which her job consists of all production activities, bookings, stage design, lighting, website, social media, and actively performing in the band, portraying Christine McVie.

Christine spent 10 years working in Sales, IT, Artist Relations for Gallien-Krueger, one of the world’s leading music products firms in bass amplification. She also coordinated the company’s efforts at each year’s Winter NAMM Show. The largest international music products trade show.

Brad Tolinski – Author and Editor

Brad  Tolinski is the Editorial Director of Special Projects for Centennial Publishing in New York City. Previously the editor-in-chief of Guitar World Magazine for 25 years, he is the author of Light & Shade: Conversations with Jimmy Page (Crown) and Play It Loud: An Epic History of the Style, Sound and Revolution of the Electric Guitar (Doubleday) with Alan DiPerna. In 2015 he and partner Laura B. Whitmore launched BackStory Events, a series of live-streamed interviews with iconic musicians delivered on sites like AOL.com, twitch.tv, Parade.com and others. In 2017 Brad produced the critically-acclaimed She Rocks, Vol 1 compliation for Favored Nations Entertainment, and is currently working on a follow up to that ground breaking collection of female guitarists. Brad has interviewed hundreds of musicians and continues to write feature articles for Guitar World and other publications on a regular basis.

De Ivett – CEO of 5D Spectrum

De  Ivett is the CEO of 5D Spectrum, where she’s collaborated with leading music brands like Live Nation, Schecter, Daisy Rock, and artists including Tool and Allee Willis. She created the Instrumental Giving App to support fire-impacted musicians and advises Altadena Musicians. A bassist and songwriter, De continues to create music while advocating for arts education.

Katie Daryl – Production Executive, Creative Content Strategist

Katie  Daryl is a creative content strategist and production executive who spent over 20 years at AXS TV, where she served as VP of Content Strategy & Programming. She developed acclaimed shows such as Vinyl Obsession, SPIN’s 100 Greatest Rockstars, and The Very Best of the 80s, working with artists like Bon Jovi, Robert Plant, and FINNEAS, and brands including Fender and SPIN. Katie began her career as a teen radio DJ, later producing for MTV, Clear Channel, and TMZ, and she now serves as Creative Director of Development for Cancer Can Rock. She is a 2025 She Rocks Awards honoree for her trailblazing work in music media.