Meet the Board
Jill Kettles, President (term ends May 2024)
Jill was raised by Mark Pucci, given a baptism by fire working with a steady stream of Americana, Alternative Country, Blues, Folk, Rock and Jazz artists. She learned early on to keep calling until they call you and yell at you for calling so much. She can keep up with anyone, peel everyone off the ceiling with or without a spatula for she tells it like it is. She is here to help you get more media attention, people at your shows and most of all, sell albums. Grew up in Northern VA, went to art school in Richmond, VA and hung out in Atlanta for 23 years, now based in Nashville, TN.
Matthew Sabatella, Vice President (term ends May 2024)
Matthew Sabatella connects people with music that is woven into the fabric of the United States. He is the founder and president of Ballad of America, Inc., a non-profit that preserves and celebrates music from America’s diverse cultural history through live events and online resources. As a singer, instrumentalist, recording artist, performer, speaker, and writer, he leverages the power of music to bring people together and help them better understand each other, the past, present, and future. Matthew performs both as a solo artist and as the leader of the Rambling String Band. He organizes the Roots & Sources workshops and showcases at the annual SERFA conferences, helping to ensure that traditional music maintains a presence in today’s folk community. He has served on SERFA's program and outreach committees, and was an Official Showcase artist in 2018.
Alice Hasen, Treasurer (term ends May 2024)
Alice Hasen is a professional fiddler based in Memphis. Alice has been called “one in a million” by Alan Rowoth of folkmusic.org, and “a monster talent” by Jim Hurst, acclaimed guitarist. In 2019, Alice released her debut album, "Violintro.” Alice frequently collaborates with other artists including piano legend Jason D. Williams, Tomiko Dixon (granddaughter of Willie Dixon) and Jim Hurst. Alice came to the South as a high school band director through Teach for America, and continues work as an activist and organizer. She assisted with running the 2018 and 2019 Ranger Bluegrass Festival in Senatobia, Mississippi.
Adrian Krygowski, Secretary (term ends May 2025)
Adrian Krygowski is one-half of the Folk Punk duo, Adrian+Meredith (FAI Official Artists: 2023, 2022, 2021). Adrian has been touring North America and Europe since 2008, with over 2000 shows and six records released. Adrian (+Meredith) will be recording and re-entering the European market in 2023 and 2024. To pay his cellphone bill, Adrian also builds websites and IT during the daylight hours, and is working on a Musician Schedule Management app on the side.
Joe Pszonek (term ends May 2025)
Joltin Joe Pszonek is a music industry veteran with over 35 years of experience. He was a sales executive for Capitol/EMI/Virgin and Disney Records. He created his show "Radio Nowhere" 10 years ago and currently hosts shows on Folk Music Notebook. He was a regular panelist for the NERFA On The Griddle workshop and also volunteers to mentor artists. Joe is a proud resident of Greenville, South Carolina.
Nicholas Edward Williams (term ends May 2025)
Host of the popular roots music history podcast American Songcatcher, Nicholas Edward Williams is a multi-instrumentalist and storyteller who is dedicated to "playing it forward" by preserving the songs and styles that have shaped our country: ragtime, Piedmont blues, traditional folk, old time and early country. Williams has spent the last 15 years touring around the US, the UK, Western Europe and Australia, blending the roots music spectrum in his own style. He's opened for Taj Mahal, The Wood Brothers, Dom Flemons, CAAMP, John Paul White, Town Mountain, John Craigie and Rachel Baiman, and has performed at festival stages on three continents. William's debut record As I Go Ramblin' Around made the International Folk Radio DJ Charts in 2019 with the #6 Top Album, #7 Top Song. His critically acclaimed sophomore release Folk Songs For Old Times' Sake unveiled in November of 2021 and has been heralded by the likes of Grammy-winning musician David Holt who said: "With tasteful guitar arrangements and a voice that draws you right in, Nicholas' recordings roll along like a mountain stream."
