Kick Off Talent 2025 with Exclusive Insight on Talent Strategy from Nashville’s Music Industry Insiders

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Today, SHRM, the trusted authority on all things work, worker, and workplace, proudly announces an exclusive panel featuring top music industry insiders at the SHRM Talent 2025 Conference, taking place both in-person in Nashville and virtually. The panel will include Kylen Sharpe, Jenni Tackett, Shawn McSpadden, and country music artist Walker Montgomery, who will share insights from their experiences in Music City on discovering, developing, and sustaining world-class talent.

Meet the Panelists:

• Walker Montgomery has been recognized as an Artist to Watch by Country Now, Music Mayhem Magazine, Sounds Like Nashville, The Boot, and others. While following in his family's musical legacy, he has carved out his own path as a rising country star. He made his Grand Ole Opry debut last year and has garnered over 5.2 million Spotify streams with his debut hit, Simple Town. His latest release, I Love The Way You Love Me, has amassed over 30 million views on TikTok, highlighting his growing influence in the music industry.

• Kylen Sharpe is an agent in the Music department at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), representing top artists such as Tim McGraw, Billy Currington, Shaboozey, Niko Moon, and Tyler Braden. She also works with rising stars like Walker Montgomery, Clayton Mullen, and Reid Haughton. Passionate about mentorship, Sharpe serves as Vice Chair on the board of Monroe Harding, where she helps young people transition out of the foster care system into adulthood.

• Shawn McSpadden launched McSpadden Music Group alongside his father, Gary McSpadden, while attending Belmont University, developing and publishing artists and songwriters. The company evolved into McSpadden-Smith Music, which has worked with stars like Faith Hill, Vince Gill, SheDaisy, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Amy Grant. In 2023, McSpadden became Managing Partner at Range Media Partners in Nashville, a multi-faceted talent representation company spanning Film/TV, Music, Sports, and Influencers, with offices in Santa Monica, Nashville, New York, and London.

• Jenni Tackett began her career at Stiff Entertainment, working with Alison Krauss & Union Station during the O Brother, Where Art Thou? phenomenon. She later partnered with Shawn McSpadden in a management role at Greg Hill Entertainment, representing artists in both country and Christian music. Tackett then joined Red Light Management, overseeing the careers of Third Day (garnering multiple gold and platinum records, Grammy Awards, and Dove Awards), Kip Moore (who earned four No. 1 songs at country radio and double-platinum records), Switchfoot, and others.

Nick Schacht, Chief Commercial Officer at SHRM, will lead the discussion. With over three decades of experience in professional services, education, and corporate learning and development, Schacht brings a wealth of knowledge. His extensive career began as a U.S. Navy Supply Officer, on the headquarters staff of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, and grew into other roles such as President and COO of PetroSkills and CEO of Learning Tree International.

“This panel offers a unique opportunity to explore how the music industry’s approach to talent—nurturing creativity, resilience, and adaptability—can inspire HR and business leaders across industries,” said Nick Schacht, SHRM Chief Commercial Officer. “At SHRM Talent 2025, attendees will gain fresh perspectives on discovering and developing top talent, taking away strategies that can be applied directly to their organizations.”

This dynamic panel will deliver thought-provoking insights combined with live music performances, demonstrating how mentorship, skill-building, and perseverance can shape an effective talent strategy in any industry.

For more information, visit https://conferences.shrm.org/talent-conference.

About SHRM Talent 2025

SHRM Talent will be offered both virtually and in-person. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss various topics related to talent acquisition and retainment, including but not limited to: employee engagement, sourcing and recruiting, HR technology, inclusion & diversity, and leadership development.   

About SHRM

SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Discover more at SHRM.org.