Board of Directors
Sheridan Gates / Co-Founder, Executive Director
Sheridan is a multi-faceted songwriter, performer, mentor and manager. Her passion for helping female artists find their worth and feel fulfilled in the music business is what fuels her business and everyday life. In addition to co-founding New Roots, she manages the careers of Rock/Country artist Jenny Teator, Americana artist Mary Bragg, and hit songwriter/artist H. Jack Williams (The Oak Ridge Boys, Gregg Allman, Montgomery Gentry, and Kevin Costner & Modern West). She recently began co-managing Historic RCA Studio A, currently occupied by Grammy-winning producer-in-residence Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Anderson East, Brandi Carlile, John Prine, Greta Van Fleet). She spent three years working with multi #1 hit songwriters Clay Mills & Marty Dodson on their business, SongTown, as well as helping launch their publishing company, VibeCity Music. Sheridan also serves on the board of Women in Music Nashville as the co-chair of events and is an active member of CMA. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Colin, and their fur baby, Deacon.
Mark Thress, MM, MA, is an accomplished classical and commercial musician, artist, performer, and scholar. His background includes 15+ years of experience on stage and in the studio, and approximately 100 hours in voice therapy clinics and operating room observation. Mark’s clients have had noteworthy success both nationally and internationally on National Tours, Broadway, Television, and Cruise Ships, with 5+ Billion digital streams, collaborations w/ Grammy-winning producers, opened for acts such as Taylor Swift, Paramore, Lady A, and Amy Grant. He received recognition as the 1st Place Male Vocalist in the NATS National competition and produced the nation’s "Best Male Collegiate A Cappella Album" (CARA). Mark previously taught several courses at Belmont and Lipscomb University in Nashville, and is recognized as a Distinguished Alumni by Ohio State University for his work as a mentor of young professionals in the music Industry. He is both a CMA and SOLID member - serving on the board as co-chair of the Music Market Committee.
Richard Casper is a United States Marine Veteran, Purple Heart recipient, songwriter, and Entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of We Should Write Sometime, a tech start up that helps songwriters connect globally, and CreatiVets, a non profit that empowers wounded veterans to heal through the arts and music. As a songwriter Richard has over 70 placements in Film and television and has had songs released with Justin Moore, Craig Morgan, Aaron Lewis, Vince Gill, Granger Smith, and more.
Richard was awarded with the CNN Hero award in 2022, named one of TIME Magazines Next Generation Leaders of 2017, and is the feature of TIME’s documentary Evidence of Things Unseen. For his work with veterans he was recognized by President George W. Bush in 2017 and The Bush Institute for his passion and work helping combat veterans. He was one of thirty-three scholars from around the country selected for The Bush Institute’s Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program.
Polly Ryerson / Secretary
Named Gaming Executive of the Year for 2009 by Casino Journal Magazine, Virginia McDowell has always performed at the top of her game. Among the top publicly traded gaming corporations, she served as the only female president and chief executive officer of a major gaming operating company from 2007 until her retirement from Isle of Capri Casinos in April 2016. Her achievements include combining over forty years of casino experience with strong business skills and a demonstrated ability to communicate at every level, and she has served as a frequent featured or keynote speaker, moderator or panelist at universities, civic organizations and charitable organizations and major industry conferences. Virginia served as the first female board member of the American Gaming Association and, in 2022, she was the first woman inducted into the Mississippi Gaming Hall of Fame; was the first woman honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the East Coast Gaming Congress, and was inducted into the American Gaming Association Gaming Hall of Fame.
Music industry veteran and Myers Music Media Founder and CEO Clay Myers has had a hand in helping launch and guide the careers of numerous country artists over the past 30+ years. Myers has experience in all facets of the music industry ranging from artist management, music publishing, creative booking agent, talent producer for a syndicated tv show and everything in between. He has worked for Maypop Music (owned by legendary country supergroup ALABAMA), Reba McEntire’s Starstruck Entertainment, serving as General Manager of a newly developed music publishing division, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Roy Orbison Music/Still Working Music as GM/VP, publishing company Big Tractor Music (Blake Shelton), publishing company MV2 Entertainment (established & launched), and is now assisting with the creative growth and development of publishers’ music catalogs, songwriters and developing artists.