Guitar Center Director of Merchandising Kristy Porter Honored with She Rocks Award from The Women’s International Music Network

Sixth-annual awards held during the 2018 NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA

Westlake Village, CA – Guitar Center, the world’s largest instrument retailer, is proud to announce that Kristy Porter, Guitar Center Director of Merchandising, has been honored with the prestigious She Rocks Award from The Women’s International Music Network. The sixth-annual awards were held on Friday, January 26, 2018, at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA – concurrent with The NAMM Show 2018. The awards honor women in leadership within the music industry and pay tribute to their impressive accomplishments. Previous recipients include female industry leaders such as Colbie Caillat, Ronnie Spector and Sheila E. At the awards, Porter was introduced by Michael Amkreutz, Executive Vice President of Merchandising and E-Commerce at Guitar Center.

Porter joined Guitar Center in 2001 as an associate in the Oxnard, CA store and quickly grew within the ranks to the Assistant Store Manager. She learned everything about the gear she was selling and created an exceptional customer service experience for all. In 2005, an open position at the Guitar Center Corporate Offices piqued her interest. Her store work experience, along with being a passionate rock guitarist, provided her with the expertise to become the first female to have a Buyer role in the company’s history. She quickly excelled and was promoted to the Director of Merchandising in 2013, contributing to the success of one of the biggest sales categories for the company. She created GC’s Lifestyle department, which includes Apparel and Gifts, which is now a multimillion-dollar category.

Additionally, Porter serves as a Steering Committee member of GCNOW, Guitar Center’s Network of Women, which celebrates the achievements of women within the company and provides guidance and mentorship for other women to help their career advancements. Porter has always had the passion to