School of Rock is the world's largest and most trusted multi-location music school with tens of thousands of musicians going through our classes, workshops, camps and performance programs every day. Our leadership team members combine business savvy, a passion for music and a drive to help children succeed.
PRESIDENT & CEO
Prior to School of Rock, Price served as President of Edible Arrangements, which integrates an online business and 1,300 franchised stores worldwide. Before that, he was SVP, Chief Marketing Officer at CVS Health. Price has also held executive roles at Wawa Food Markets and H-E-B Grocery. In addition to serving as a director of Walker & Company, Price is a member of the Alumni Board at Harvard Business School, where he earned his MBA. He graduated with a BS in Applied Economics from Cornell University, was a visiting professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, and was a Henry Crown Fellow and Richard Braddock Scholar at the Aspen Institute.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
John comes to School of Rock with extensive experience building and leading high performing finance teams in a range of industries. Prior to joining School of Rock, John was the Vice President of Finance at Sentient Jet, a leading private aviation company, where he was responsible for the Accounting and Finance function. Before that, John was the Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at the W.B. Mason Company, where he built the function. He has also held key financial positions at Olympus, Boston Scientific and several additional established companies. John received his B.A. in Finance from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and his MBA from the F.W. Olin School of Business at Babson College, where he graduated with honors on both occasions.
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Tony Padulo leads our franchise sales and real estate efforts in USA and Internationally. Prior to joining us, Padulo served as an Executive Vice President of Global Development for BrightStar Care, the premier in-home care provider of medical and non-medical services. Before joining BrightStar Care, Padulo served as Vice President of Franchise Development for Goddard Systems, Inc., the largest childcare franchisor in the United States, and Vice President of Franchise Sales and Development for AAMCO Transmissions Inc., one of the leading companies in the automotive aftermarket industry.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING
Elliot Baldini bought a $5 guitar at a rummage sale when he was 7, and he’s been hooked on music ever since. As School of Rock’s chief marketing executive, Baldini oversees a comprehensive brand support system as well as helping to craft local level marketing support for individual schools. He also works with the Franchise Development Team to identify potential owners. Before joining School of Rock in 2015, Baldini worked in marketing strategy at a variety of companies, including Guitar Center and Sears. His background also includes a specialty in eCommerce and brand development.
VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Prior to School of Rock, she was a Director of Human Resources at CVS Health. With over 20 years in HR in various industries such as telecommunications and retail, Mary has also had hands-on experience running retail operations. She knows what it’s like being on the front lines running a business.
VICE PRESIDENT OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT
Sam Dresser grew up in a musical household and has always had a passion for music. While pursuing his music degree in Jazz Studies at DePaul University in Chicago, he began working at Apple retail stores. After completing his degree, he spent almost 10 years at Apple focusing on customer experience, management and training. Dresser has been able to bring all of his passions together at School of Rock. He has held a few different positions since joining School of Rock corporate in 2013, from overseeing technology and the help desk team to now ensuring that all of our training programs, knowledge resources, and support systems are world-class.
VICE PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT
Even if you don’t know his face, you’ve probably heard Justin Nihiser’s music. The Berklee College of Music graduate’s compositions can currently be heard on hundreds of shows and dozens of networks globally, and his music was also used in the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics and an international ad campaign for Chevrolet in 2013. His responsibilities as VP of Franchise Operations include managing the team of franchise business consultants that supports our franchisees. Nihiser grew up in Ohio, dreaming of the day when he’d be able to make music a part of his job. He was tapped to open a School of Rock in 2007, and he hasn’t looked back since.
VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
Even in middle school, Stacey Ryan much preferred The Beatles to New Kids On The Block. Later, she spent more than a decade of her career in childhood education franchises. Her enthusiasm for music and childhood education made School of Rock an easy choice. While with Huntington Learning Centers, Ryan grew her center into the top performer in the nation, and at Goddard preschools she went on to define quality, raise standards and drive results by implementing operations to support and grow the top and bottom lines. She brings those same high standards to bear as our VP of Operations.
School of Rock boasts more than 30,000 students and over 200 locations worldwide. We attribute our success to unwavering focus on our mission: we are a growing and passionate community dedicated to enriching lives through performance-based music education. Our amazing franchisees across the world are our partners in this mission. Through franchising, you have the opportunity to become a pillar within your community, shape the next generation of musicians, and run a successful and profitable business.
Own a School of Rock
Every year our students head to Milwaukee, WI to play the Summerfest music festival.
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