Teresa Hearn George ('83)
After graduating from SHSU with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Teresa Hearn George was employed at the Orange Leader Newspaper as a city and crime reporter. From there, she went to Virginia after taking a job in television production and then moved to Nashville in 1988. She landed a job working at the Country Music Association writing for its magazine Close Up and doing public relations. That eventually led to jobs heading up their marketing, membership, communications, and creative services and serving as creative consultant for the CMA awards telecast. She also traveled internationally for them, as they have a London office and outposts in Australia and Amsterdam. In 2000, she started her own entertainment marketing company, Cornerstone Communications. Her first client was the Grand Ole Opry on their 75th anniversary special on CBS, hosted by Vince Gill and Dolly Parton. During that time, she secured corporate and promotional partners for the Academy of Country Music’s television properties and strategic initiatives, including Dr. Pepper, The Home Depot, Cover Girl, RAM, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, Miller/Coors, Neutrogena, Southwest Airlines, West Woodone, Justin, Wrangler, and more. She worked briefly on the marketing for a PBS children’s show and for the past six years she has worked with the Academy of Country Music on its awards show, handling new business, television, and brand development in Las Vegas each May. She now works for the Academy of Country Music in Nashville as senior vice president, brand integration and strategic partnerships. George lives with her husband, John Addison, and their two children, Grace and Jake, in Nashville.