Corporate
Founded as a piano moving service in 1983, Fort Bend Music Center has grown to become the largest piano sales, delivery, and repair business in Fort Bend and the surrounding areas. Under Rick’s leadership, it has become an authorized dealer for Yamaha pianos in Houston and has expanded to San Antonio. Thanks to his strong working relationships with music directors in schools throughout the greater Houston area, Rick has recently been able to establish Fort Bend Music Center as one of the most reliable band and orchestra instrument rental and repair shops in the city.
Rick’s entire family, including wife Terry, daughters Ashley and Lindsey, and son Justin work alongside him in the day-to-day operations of the company. The most satisfactory accomplishment of Rick’s career is to be able to say that he gets to go to work every day with his family and over 40 of the best co-workers that make up Fort Bend Music Center. Rick’s most favorite thing to do outside of work is spend time with his grandkids!
Terry began her career in 1983 as co-founder of Blue Streak Transport. In the beginning years, she was out on the trucks helping with piano delivery. As the company expanded, her duties moved into the office. Today, Terry is the Vice President and Service Department Manager, overseeing the moving and piano service departments as well as HR\Payroll Manager, taking care of their 40 plus employees. She has been married to Rick since 1983 and they have worked together every day in the business.
Outside of work, Terry enjoys gardening and spending lots of time with her grandbabies!
Ashley joined her parents at Fort Bend Music Center in January 2012 after graduating from the Bauer School of Business at the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. Ashley started out helping with the general back office duties, and is now the company’s Corporate Financial Officer. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, duck hunting with her husband and dad, reading and her pets! She recently married her best friend, Kurtis Hickle on October 28, 2023 and is looking forward to the future!
Justin Cochran joined his family’s business, Fort Bend Music Center, in 2014 after graduating from high school. Since joining, he has worked through various departments and has become knowledgeable in all areas of the business. In these numerous departments he has completed such tasks as working on band instruments, rebuilding pianos, and purchasing new instruments. After all he learned, he landed in his current position as Chief Operating Officer.
Personally, in his free time Justin enjoys spending time with his family and spending time outdoors. Justin married his high school sweetheart of 10 years in 2020. He and his wife Shelby welcomed their first child in 2022.
Lindsey joined the family business in April 2014. She was a swim instructor for many years until she decided to go to the University of Houston to pursue a degree in Sociology. She graduated, magna cum laude with a Bachelor in Science in Sociology in 2013. In 2015 she married her husband Chris, and they had their daughter, Carter, in 2018. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, water sports, and shopping.
Michael joined Fort Bend Music Center in July 2023. He brings twenty years of experience in both retail and wholesale sales and management. Most recently, Michael was a Piano Channel District Manager at Yamaha Corporation of America for eight years, spending time covering the Midwest and South-Central regions. In this role he won numerous awards, including being a two-time inductee into Yamaha’s President’s Club. Prior to Yamaha, Michael spent the first twelve years of his music career with Valley Keyboards & The Piano Gallery, with locations in McAllen and Corpus Christi, TX, where he was the VP of Sales & Marketing and Institutional Sales.
Michael is an accomplished euphonium player who studied music at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. It is at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi where he met his wife, Lisa Brumit, who also works for Fort Bend Music Center.
In his spare time, Michael loves to be in his garage woodshop building furniture and other projects. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and two dogs.
Lisa plays flute/piccolo primarily, but also played lead tenor and baritone sax in her college jazz band. Groups with whom she has performed include the Corpus Christi Youth Symphony, Corpus Christi Chamber Orchestra, Corpus Christi Municipal Band, Corpus Christi Wind Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, the Coastal Bend Flute Club, and the Air Force Band.
Lisa has had the privilege of performing with many well-known people, including Vicki Carr, “Blue Lou” Marini, Mike Tomaro, Jack Peterson, Frank Mantooth, Shane & Shane, and Travis Cottrell. Her musical accolades include All-District Band, Region Orchestra and Area; State Solo & Ensemble (4 years); performing at Epcot in Disney World; the Community College All-State Band (2 years); the Del Mar College Honor Wall; being a charter member of the Lambda Gamma chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota; and performing for George W. Bush on multiple occasions.
Lisa’s academic honors include the Dean’s List every semester of her undergraduate degree; induction into the Golden Key International Honour Society; and graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music degree with teacher certification. Lisa’s post-graduate honors include the Phi Theta Kappa International College Honor Society and graduating with a 4.0 GPA with a Master of Science degree in Counseling. Lisa was a Licensed Professional Counselor for ten years. Most recently, Lisa was invited to become a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
Lisa is very excited to be back in the music world. She is married and has two fur babies.
Stafford Location
Eric has been involved in music all his life. He began playing music at a very young age playing piano and drums in church. Eric was a musician for years and has also taught piano and percussion. Eric has had the pleasure of putting the joy of music in family’s homes, selling them pianos for over 40 years. He has met many wonderful people during his career and really does enjoy helping families with their piano selection. It is great to have a job that he really loves to do every day!!! He enjoys changing people’s lives by helping to put music in their lives and homes! Music is truly a gift!!!
Eric has been with Fort Bend Music Center since 2013.
Ling Jia holds two advanced degrees in Music: a Master of Music (MMus) in Opera from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow, UK, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music Education from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Chengdu, China.
With over 14 years of experience as a vocal instructor at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Ling has also been teaching piano since graduating from Chengdu College in 1992. In 2007, she furthered her studies in the UK, and in 2017, she relocated to the USA.
In California, Ling became a Yamaha-certified music teacher and taught at the Chino Hills Yamaha Music School in Los Angeles for three years. She moved to Houston in 2020 and began teaching voice and piano at Fort Bend Music Center in 2024.
In addition to her teaching roles, Ling serves as a Piano Sales Consultant at Fort Bend Music Center, where she is passionate about helping families discover their perfect piano.
Terrence has a long history of providing exceptional service and consultation to Houston area schools. He currently works with Houston ISD Band and Orchestra directors selling supply’s, new instruments, rentals, and repair service. His main instruments are trumpet, guitar and keyboards but also plays euphonium, French horn, trombone, and alto sax. He does home studio recording as a hobby and collects The Beatles memorabilia.
Jordan Woods is a passionate music enthusiast from Houston, Texas. In this role, he shares his love for music with educators, students, and customers to help them find the perfect instruments and equipment to suit their needs.
Jordan is also a dedicated student, majoring in Music with a minor in Sociology at Prairie View A&M University. His musical journey is highlighted by his leadership role as the section leader for the Tuba section of the renowned Prairie View A&M Marching Storm. This experience not only honed his musical skills but also developed his leadership and teamwork abilities.
Doug has been in the music industry since 1975 and has worked in Houston for several companies, including Parker Music and Holcomb Lindquist Music before joining Fort Bend Music Center as a piano mover in 1995. He has a lot of passion for music and brings a lot of knowledge to the FBMC team. In 2004 Doug helped start the guitar department where he still works today. He also teaches guitar for FBMC. Doug has been happily married for 25 years. He has been a gigging musician with the band, The Relics, for 20+ years!
Dan Hanson joined Fort Bend Music Center in June 2022. Dan has 34 years of experience as a band instrument repair technician. He is a woodwind specialist with extensive training under manufactures such as Straubinger Flutes and is a Vintage Saxophone overhaul specialist. Dan has made several improvements to the shop that have helped Fort Bend Music Center increase production and customer service satisfaction. He believes in quality repairs at a competitive price with focus on a timely completion to keep instruments in the hands of students.
Matt Mooney has been with Fort Bend Music Center for over twenty years when he started as a guitar teacher. He eventually decided to take a break from teaching and began apprenticing under Bill Barth as a brass instrument technician. Matt has since honed his craft and is now FBMC’s senior brass technician.
Matt Kibby joined Fort Bend Music Center in October 2022 as a woodwind and brass technician. “Kibby” started learning to repair band instruments at his father’s music store, Mission Music, in Southern California when he was in junior high school. After his father retired and left California, Matt worked for Horn Improvement and The Horn Shop in California. Matt has also worked for Mars Music, H&H Music and Marshall Music in Michigan until the Michigan winters sent him back down south to the Sugar Land area.
Shaina is a highly experienced professional in the field of music education, with many years of experience. Currently serving as a manager for Lessons in the Music Education Department since 2021, Shaina has a proven track record of excellence in various roles.
With 15+ years of a strong background in event management, marketing and creative design/direction, Shaina adapts at developing and implementing effective strategies to promote music education programs. She has a passion for music and a dedication to promoting its importance in education. Shaina is committed to providing high-quality music education experiences for students of all ages. Through expertise and a diverse skill set, Shaina continues to make a significant impact in the music education field.
Sam Mitha studied political science and economics at the University of Houston from 2014-2018. Before joining Fort Bend Music Center, Sam worked in event management where he coordinated logistics for a film and photography crew. He also spent time as a case analyst on personal injury and business litigation.
Most of Sam’s life has, and continues to, revolve around people. Whether it be managing events, personal training or martial arts, Sam strives for a deeper understanding of an individual through discovering their interests, incentives and motives.
Houston Location
Alex has been helping folks get music into their homes for over 55 years. It is fitting that Alex was born in Detroit (Motown) as his love for music spilled over into a job he has held all his life—helping people realize their dream of playing music. Alex has been with Fort Bend Music Center since 2013. Alex has been happily married for 53 years and has 7 children, and 16 grandkids. In Alex’s spare time he enjoys spending time with his family.
Will is a highly sought after live performer and veteran of the Texas music community with over 34 years of live performance experience. He is also an expert sound recording engineer and lighting designer.
Alongside his performing, Will has been helping families bring music into their homes for over 34 years. He has worked with many premier music companies including Guitar Center, Mars Music, and Thoroughbred Music. He has been with Fort Bend Music Center since 2014.
San Antonio Location
Austin Gonzales is a seasoned musician and dedicated store manager at Fort Bend Music Center’s San Antonio location. His musical journey began in kindergarten, where he discovered his passion for playing the piano. Austin further honed his musical skills through formal education, studying music at Northwest Vista College and Texas State University with a specialization in piano.
With a wealth of experience in the music industry, Austin has made significant contributions to the San Antonio music scene. He has held positions at prominent local music stores where he refined his expertise in customer service and product knowledge. Later, Austin shared his musical talents as a substitute piano teacher at SAMA, enriching the lives of budding musicians in the community.
Aside from his professional endeavors, Austin cherishes his role as a father. In his free time, he enjoys spending quality moments with his 8-year-old son. Austin’s commitment to music, combined with his managerial skills and love for family, make him a respected figure in the Fort Bend Music Center community.
Dalton’s musical journey began after watching the inspiring 2003 movie “School of Rock,” where he was captivated by seeing kids his age performing on stage. This ignited his passion for music, prompting him to pick up the guitar and later the bass, drums, and piano as well.
At 18, Dalton pursued vocal lessons and subsequently showcased his talent on a popular TV singing competition, advancing through multiple rounds before his journey ended. Undeterred, this experience fueled his ambition, catching the attention of Grammy-winning producers and writers in Los Angeles. There, he had the opportunity to record in legendary studios once frequented by icons like Michael Jackson and Tupac Shakur.
Recently relocating to San Antonio from Los Angeles, Dalton brings a wealth of experience from his time in the music industry, where he excelled in producing, songwriting, and collaborating with emerging artists. With his diverse background and unwavering passion for music, Dalton is dedicated to helping you find the perfect instrument to elevate your musical journey at Fort Bend Music Center.