Palen Music Center appoints new president

Springfield-based Palen Music Center Inc., which has operated for more than six decades, has named a new president.

Reached this morning, Seth Swafford said he started in the role yesterday. With owner and CEO Brett Palen, Swafford helps to lead a company with 250 employees, 10 musical instrument retail locations and over 500 school-based partnerships.

"I have spent a large portion of my career in the retail consumer-packaged goods industry," Swafford said, noting he was in the technology space the past five years, working remote and commuting from Springfield to northwest Arkansas. "I'm excited to work for a Springfield company that's right here in our own backyard."

Palen Music Center Director of Marketing Alec Palen said the president role was previously held by Eric Matzat, who was hired as executive director of the Alliance of Independent Music Merchants, in which Palen Music is a member. Matzat was president of Palen Music for more than 19 years before taking on the position at the AIMM last year, according to his LinkedIn profile. 

A news release announcing Swafford's hire indicates he will oversee strategic growth and operational initiatives for the company. The release points to his career experience partnering with 19 Fortune 500 companies.

"His unique background combining (consumer-packaged goods) strategy and cutting-edge retail analytics, along with his proven leadership with major national brands, makes him the ideal person to lead us into our next chapter," Brett Palen said in the release.

Swafford's LinkedIn profile shows past experience at Nuqleous and Premium Retail Services, both in Bentonville, Arkansas. He’s married to Callie Carroll, a member of Springfield City Council and an officer at OMB Bank.