Sometimes a person becomes so intrinsically engrained in something, it’s hard to distinguish how it worked before or what it might be like after them. Such is the case with our own Justin Hiltner, who has been an essential part of the BGS team for the past 10 years, most recently serving as editorial director.
Whether you realize it or not, if you’ve been part of the BGS community at any point in the last decade, you’ve interacted with Justin’s talent. From reading one of his in-depth interviews or thousands of social media posts, to seeing him emcee special events and even occasionally guesting on the banjo at a BGS Jam, there’s a good chance your life has overlapped with Justin’s work in some way.
Justin concluded his editorial tenure with BGS on July 31, though he will continue to contribute writing and assisting with the team transition until the end of August before moving on to a new career path. In a special statement to BGS readers, Justin wrote:
“After nearly 10 years working with BGS, it’s more than bittersweet to have reached the end of my time with this amazing team and the start of something new. But I am so excited for what’s next and endlessly grateful to my BGS family for their support as I leave the company and begin a new adventure in music.
“Since my time with BGS began in 2016 we’ve cracked 100k, 300k, and now are quickly approaching 600k followers across platforms. We produced shows at Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, the Theatre at the Ace Hotel, and across the country and around the world. We founded a new vertical, Good Country, produced the first-ever diversity showcase in bluegrass history, and were recipients of the IBMA’s Distinguished Achievement Award, the organization’s second-highest honor. After nearly a decade, these and many more accomplishments, and hundreds and hundreds of bylines, I can say without hesitation I’m most proud of the people behind BGS. Ed, Amy, Craig, Shelby, and all of the incredible folks I’ve worked with during my time here are incomparable daily reminders of why bluegrass means so much to me – because of the people who love it, make it, and lift it up.
“I’m saddened to end my time at BGS, but I know this isn’t ‘goodbye.’ And I know I wouldn’t be who I am today, stepping into this new opportunity, without BGS and these fine folks.”
In his stead, former BGS editor Craig Shelburne returns to the editorial role, supported by creative director Shelby Williamson and co-founder/executive director Amy Reitnouer Jacobs, alongside other team members.
No doubt Justin will continue to make an impact on the bluegrass community and the world around him as he has done daily during his tenure here. We at BGS are proud to have been part of his story, and can’t wait to see what the next chapter might bring.
Lead image: (L-R) Ed Helms, Justin Hiltner, Bryan Sutton; Elli Lauren Photography
