Meet The Team
Kara DioGuardi
CEO & Founder
Kara DioGuardi is an 11 time Grammy-nominated songwriter, Co-CEO/Founder of Arthouse Entertainment Publishing & Records, and CEO/Founder of Briidge App, the first music platform that matches music creators based on their skillset, location and personality. Kara’s songs have appeared on more than 160 million records, for which she has received 23 BMI Awards, the 2007 BMI Songwriter of the Year Award, the 2009 NMPA Songwriter Icon Award, and the 2011 NAMM Music for Life Award. Kara performed as a judge on Seasons 8 and 9 of American Idol. She has also taught as a Herb Albert Visiting Scholar at Berklee College of Music for the past 8 years (and counting).
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A trailblazer for women in the male-dominated field of music publishing, DioGuardi founded Arthouse Entertainment two decades ago with her business partner, Stephen Finfer. The company evolved from publishing DioGuardi’s songwriting catalog into a home for long-term artist development in the songwriting/recording space, building careers for three-time Grammy-nominated artist/songwriter Ingrid Andress, GAYLE, Jason Derulo, and acclaimed songwriter/artist Jon Bellion (Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, Halsey, Maroon 5), to name a few.
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In addition to the aforementioned artists’ catalogs, Arthouse past and present copyrights include hits from Bruno Mars, Eminem, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Halsey, Rosé, Christina Aguilera, Chloe x Halle, Camila Cabello, Carrie Underwood, Jason Derulo, Katy Florida Georgia Line, Morgan Wallen, Charli XCX, Fletcher, Kesha, and many more.
Jeff Cohen
Board Member
Jeff Cohen is a distinguished, multi-award-winning songwriter, producer, and publisher based in Nashville and London. His compositions have collectively sold over 25 million albums, featured in more than 100 film and television placements, and appeared in over 10 million video games.
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Cohen's songwriting prowess is evident in chart-topping hits like "Crazy for This Girl" by Evan and Jaron, "Postcard from Paris" by The Band Perry, "Holy Water" by Big & Rich, and BBC Radio 2 A-list hits for The Shires, including "Thousand Hallelujahs," "Daddy's Little Girl," "Echo," and "I See Stars." His versatility has led to collaborations with a diverse array of artists, including Sugarland, Josh Groban, Macy Gray, Spin Doctors, Jake Bugg, Nick Lachey, Teitur, Mandy Moore, Laura Bell Bundy and Mickey Guyton and many more. Beyond the music charts, his work has enriched numerous television shows such as "The Simpsons,” "Dawson's Creek," "One Tree Hill," "Saturday Night Live," the theme for "Paw Patrol.” and many more. His compositions have also graced films like "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," "Stuart Little 2,” "The Princess Diaries” and more plus commercials for Samsung. Timex, ESPN, Dignity Health Care and more.
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Before fully immersing himself in songwriting, Cohen served as a music executive at BMI, where he played a pivotal role in the careers of talents like Jeff Buckley, Lisa Loeb, Joan Osborne, and Spin Doctors. He is also the founder and songwriter for the critically acclaimed band Pancho's Lament.
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In addition to his creative endeavors, Cohen is deeply involved in the songwriting community. He serves on the board of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and the Inspired Nation Foundation, founded by Kara DioGuardi and Sara Simonds. Cohen is also the co-founder of the Gotham Songwriters Festival, with all proceeds benefiting Opportunities For Youth Arts, reflecting his commitment to nurturing and advocating for young talent in the arts.
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Cohen's journey from a music executive to an award-winning songwriter underscores his enduring passion and significant influence in the music industry.
Michael Galvin
Board Member
Michael has been with CW Advisors since 2011. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the investment and wealth management business. As head of the firm's Family Office division, Michael's current responsibilities include advising families on all aspects of their financial life and driving the overall management, vision and strategy of the Family Office group.
Prior to CWA Michael held positions at SCS Financial and State Street Bank.
Sara Simonds
Board Member
Sara Simonds brings her strategic planning, finance, and non-profit board experience to Inspired Nation. Sara is passionate about supporting youth and giving back in meaningful ways to populations in need. Sara has served on several volunteer and elected boards and has worked with the United Nations Capital Development Fund to increase financial inclusion in the world’s least developed countries. Sara is currently focused on reducing the impacts of climate change through capital markets. Sara is a graduate of Harvard College and of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. She lives in Maine with her husband, Geoff, and two children, Emma and Jamie.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the Inspired Nation team. Inspired Nation has demonstrated that the arts can empower youth, build community, and be a conduit for supporting important charitable organizations. I am excited to help set the stage to highlight young artists and to give back.”