For media inquiries, please contact Mike Lahrman at communications@operationhomefront.org or call (210) 202-1243.
SAN ANTONIO — Operation Homefront, which has been serving America’s military families® since 2002, announced today that Rod Essig has joined the nonprofit’s national board of directors. Essig is a music agent at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the world’s leading entertainment and sports agency, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, London, and Beijing.Essig co-heads the Nashville office and represents some of the world’s top musicians, including Heart, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Martina McBride, REO Speedwagon, Styx, and Tim McGraw, among others. He was also instrumental in building the Los Angeles-based operation into one of Music City’s most formidable agencies.
“I am absolutely thrilled to announce Rod is our newest member of the Operation Homefront board of directors,” said Brig. Gen. (ret.) John I. Pray Jr., president and CEO of Operation Homefront. “His vast experience and many major accomplishments as a respected leader within the entertainment industry will be incredibly valuable in helping us accomplish our mission to build strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive, not simply struggle to get by, in the communities – our communities – they have worked so hard to protect.”
Prior to joining CAA in 1993, Essig served as Vice President and co-owner of Minneapolis-based booking agency Variety Artists International. Essig has formerly served on the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority and as Chairman of the Academy of Country Music among many other groups. He currently serves on the board of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Lifting Lives, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, MusiCares, Tennessee Film Commission, and Tennessee Performing Arts Center Board. He is a 1997 graduate of Leadership Music and a 2016 graduate of Leadership Nashville.
“Universally recognized for his tireless support of our military and veteran communities, all are excited Rod has enthusiastically accepted our invitation to join our very talented team,” said MG (r) Lee Baxter, chairman of Operation Homefront’s board of directors. “With his active support, we strengthen our ability to help this very special and deserving group of our fellow citizens who have done so much to protect the freedoms we enjoy daily.”
“I am honored to have been asked to join such an amazing organization and be able to help them accomplish their important mission to help those who have done so much for all of us,” said Essig.
Essig is actively involved with a number of philanthropic organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, PENCIL Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank, and the T.J. Martell Foundation.
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About Operation Homefront: Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 92 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves America’s military families. For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org.