Mike began his association with the Troopers in 1988 at age 17, marching with the Troopers for five seasons as a member of the horn line. During his time as a marching member, Mike received the Outstanding Member Award and the Director’s Award. He also served as Corps Commander during his age-out year in 1992. Mike was part of the Troopers' administration team from 1996 to 1998, and was given the Traute Gilbert Volunteer of the Year Award in 1997. He was appointed executive director of the Troopers in the fall of 2005. In 2015, Mike was elected to the Troopers Hall of Fame and received the Drum Corps International Volunteer of the Year Award. Mike currently serves as the Treasurer of the Wyoming All-State Marching Band Board of Directors.

 

Mike has a bachelor’s degree in Management from the University of Wyoming. He lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming with his wife Michelle, also a Troopers alum, and his two daughters. He is vice president and owner of Arrow Moving & Storage Co. Inc.

Michael was a member of the Troopers from 2000 through 2004 where he performed on soprano prior to being named Drum Major in 2003.

 

During the 2006/2007 season, Michael produced the award-winning documentary film "America's Core" showcasing the passionate return of the Troopers following their inactive year.

 

He returned in 2009, producing the follow up film, "Hell Bent for Victory" which chronicled the corps' epic return to DCI finals.

 

From 2009 to 2016, Michael worked in the television and film industry, earning multiple Telly awards and a regional Emmy Award.

 

In 2016, Michael, along with his family, moved to Casper, WY to take on the role as the Troopers Marketing Director. While in this role, he helped coordinate events like the 60th anniversary reunion with the alumni association, manage the Rocky Mountain Rivalry fundraising campaigns, and build community relationships with organizations like VIBES Fine and Performing Arts.

 

In 2019, in addition to his marketing responsibilities at the Troopers, Michael co-founded CineCorps, a nonprofit youth organization focused on film production education in Boise, Idaho. There, he successfully led Hollywood professionals, local teachers, and youth of the community in the execution of industry workshops and acting programs. Unfortunately, COVID-19 derailed the new organization eight months into its launch.

 

During the challenging year of 2020, Michael took on the technology efforts to completely digitize the entire Troopers operation, converting it into an online format, introducing new technologies to the organization, creating virtual performance opportunities, and establishing virtual platforms for our members and staff to continue the Troopers mission.

​

Michael became Corps Director in 2021, leading the organization through the pandemic, and back to the performance field. In 2022, Michael helped lead the Troopers back to the Top 12 for the first time in thirteen years and oversaw the largest audition turnout in Trooper history during the fall of 2022.

 

Michael lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife Elizabeth, and their two teenage daughters, Audrey and Livie. Together they have a dog, two cats, and a rabbit.

Nick has an extensive background in the marching arts as a performer, educator, and administrator. He marched six seasons of drum corps, including three years with the Spokane Thunder and three years with the Madison Scouts.

 

After his age-out season, Nick returned back to the Madison Scouts where he served in various administrative roles including Assistant Director. During this time, Nick also worked as a visual designer and instructor for multiple high school marching bands in San Diego, CA, and was the Assistant Director for Pulse Percussion.

Nick then went on to serve as the Development Director for Forward Performing Arts and the Madison Scouts. In his role, he focused on fundraising efforts, web development, and furthering connections in the Madison, WI area.

Most recently, Nick served as the Corps Director for the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps.

 

Nick is looking forward to serving the Troopers and further facilitating a great experience for all involved with the organization.

Hailey is a Kindergarten teacher by day, marching band enthusiast by night. She has always had a passion for the marching arts and has been a long time fan of drum corps. 

​

She grew up in Southern California where she participated in music programs from 5th grade all the way through her third year of college. 

​

She attended Chino High school where she played Tuba and was a part of the marching band and winter guard. While in college Hailey coached a local high school color guard team and participated in the college’s wind ensemble and concert band. 

​

She moved up to Southern Oregon where she finished her Bachelors and Masters in Education and began her teaching career. 

​

Being a long time fan of drum corps, but never marched in one, Hailey was determined to find a way to keep music a part of her life. On a whim, she saw a “volunteers needed” posting for the Troopers and decided to reach out. She was then welcomed into the Troopers family and got to experience working in a variety of avenues such as fitting and altering uniforms, sewing props, assisting the medical team, working on the food truck and more. After one memorable (and very exhausting) summer of volunteering with the Troopers for the 2021 season, she knew she wanted to be a part of it again. She was named as one of the "Volunteer of the year" award winners. When she was offered the position of Assistant Director in 2022, she happily accepted and is extremely excited to be a part of the Troopers family for the 2023 season!

Mat Krum is a seasoned veteran of the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, having been a member from 1988-1993 and serving as Drum Major for his last two seasons. After aging out of the corps, Mat continued to work with the Troopers, eventually being named Corps Director in 1996.

​

During his time as Corps Director, Mat helped guide the Troopers through some challenging financial years and played a key role in maintaining the corps' high level of excellence. In 2005, he stepped down as Corps Director and has been the Bingo/Business Manager ever since, making him the longest serving employee in Troopers history.

​

Mat's dedication and contributions to the Troopers have not gone unnoticed, as he was inducted into the Troopers Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding service to the corps. His leadership and guidance have been invaluable to the Troopers, and he continues to play a vital role in the success of the organization.

Samantha "Sam" Huston, she/her/hers, hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah, originally joined the Troopers as a trumpet player in 2013. After marching in 2014 and 2015, she continued through to attend college at the University of Utah, gaining a B.S. in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.

 

After graduating, she delved into the nonprofit and fundraising fields, gaining extensive experience in annual giving and frontline fundraising from organizations such as the Trust for the National Mall and the American University in Washington, D.C.

 

Still working as an assistant director for annual giving at American University, she will be gaining a Master of Science in Marketing from that same school, expanding on ways she can assist the Troopers. She is thrilled to provide fundraising expertise for the Troopers and support the corps in securing more funding and seeds for the future. 

Amy Roberts Clark comes to the Troopers by way of her love of drum corps, her experience in public relations/marketing and her interest in combining the two.

 

Roberts holds a BS in Communications focused on Public Relations and Journalism as well as a Master’s in Public Administration concentrated in Marketing for not-for-profits. She has 25+ years of PR, journalism, photography, publication production, event planning and campaign management experience. She produced 80+ issues of a national magazine, published her first book in 2021, and has had articles in the Los Angeles Times, the Austin American Statesman, the Houston Chronicle and more.

 

Amy’s favorite work has been event planning, fundraising, promotion and international travel coordination for the DeKalb High School Marching Barbs. Other non-profit marketing and public relations clients include the American Shetland Pony Club, the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal, DeKalb County 4-H Foundation, the Private Industry Council of Northern Illinois and others.

 

Amy’s love for the marching arts began as a member of a competitive high school marching band. Her love of public relations grew from the attention that band garnered in local, state and national media on their trip to the Tournament of Roses Parade. She encouraged her children to pursue marching music performance. Daughter Hannah is a 2021 DCI age out, whose 7 years marching included a year in the Troopers’ color guard.

 

A native of Illinois, Amy and her husband now live in Arvada, CO. Hannah is in college in Iowa where she is color guard coordinator for a local high school. Daughter Maddie studies at Colorado State University and pursues the family’s other interest, showing small equine at the national level.

 

When not following winter indoor, DCI and fall high school marching band, Amy enjoys horse shows, reading, crafting and spending time with family and friends.

Kari Gilbert is a seasoned veteran of the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, having been a member in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After aging out of the corps, Kari remained involved as the Colorguard Caption Head in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

​

Kari comes from a family that has been dedicated to the Troopers for several decades. Her siblings all marched in the corps, and her parents have been volunteers since the 1980s. Kari returned to the Troopers in 2021 to assist the office with the management of member paperwork. In addition to her work with the corps, Kari is also employed in the Natrona County School District and does catering on the side.

​

In 2022, Kari joined the Troopers on the road as the temporary food truck manager for a few weeks. Her years of experience and deep connection to the corps make her a valuable asset to the organization.

Scott Puryear is a well-respected and highly experienced member of the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps community. After aging out of the corps in 1992, Scott went on to found and direct a small drum corps called Legend of Texas. When that corps disbanded in 2001, Scott moved to Wyoming and began working with the Troopers.

​

Scott served as Corps Director from 2003-2004, and he ran Saber Stage Lines from 2005-2006. Since that time, he has owned and operated Wyoming Stage Lines, a charter bus company based in Casper, Wyoming. In 2021, Scott returned to the Troopers to help transport the corps from Casper College to local schools to rehearse. Impressed by Scott's skills and dedication, the Troopers asked him to hit the road that summer as the driver of the equipment truck on the DCI Celebration tour.

​

In 2022, Scott became the Director of Operations and Transportation Manager for the Troopers. His years of experience and dedication to the corps have made him an invaluable member of the organization, and he was inducted into the Troopers Hall of Fame in the summer of 2022 in recognition of his contributions.

Dana began as a parent volunteer for Troopers in 2012 when her son, AJ, joined the Troopers Contra Line until he aged out in 2015. In 2016 her daughter, Ally, joined the Troopers Color Guard. Dana was honored to be named volunteer of the year in 2018. In 2021, Dana was named Food Tuck Manager and helped to revolutionize the Troopers food program. Dana continues as our Culinary Director.
 

With the kids in college, Dana lives with her husband, Ray, in Valparaiso, Indiana where she has been a kindergarten teacher for 35 years. Dana is very thankful that Ray is so supportive of her spending her summers with the corps leaving him to hold down the fort.

​

Dana was inducted into the Troopers Hall of Fame in the summer of 2022.

​

For those interested in working and volunteering in our food program, please submit a volunteer form by CLICKING HERE.

When Tina’s daughter joined Troopers in 2013, this Color Guard Mom who had been on the High School Band Booster Board knew how important parent volunteers were to the success of any Band organization. For her, signing up to be a parent volunteer was an easy choice. Working on the food truck is where she began her Trooper Parent adventure. Quickly realizing that she had a sewing background the jump was made to Uniform fittings, alterations and of course the ever popular “Uniform Laundry Days” aka “Haze Mat Duty”. Once daughter Cristyn aged out in 2016 leaving the Trooper Family was never an option for the Boyd Family. Trooper Alum Cristyn and Mom joined the Trooper Administration Team in 2019 and are looking forward to another successful year in 2022.

Tina currently lives in Coppell, Texas with her husband Joe. Their oldest daughter, Calyn, lives in Oklahoma City who also supports the Corps whenever she can. Tina is a retired Flight Attendant and is grateful for all of the friends she made during her flying career as well as the Trooper Staff and Parents that now make up her new extended family.

Jen Kowalski is a long-time parent volunteer who started helping when her son, Jason, became a Trooper in 2011.  In 2012 she started what became The Troopers Parent and The Troopers Fan pages on Facebook as a more efficient way to share information. When Jason aged out in 2013 she decided she wasn’t finished yet and continued volunteering.  In 2017 she was named Troopers volunteer of the year and has become a help to new and vet parents alike helping in any capacity she may be needed in.   

​

In 2008 Jen graduated from San Antonio College with a degree in Music Business. In 2009 started working with Rat Pak Records as the VP of Administrations/Media Relations where she continues working today.  Currently, Jen is living in South Carolina after spending 10+ years in Texas and she is a native of Southern California.