Hall of Fame

Bill Prout... Bio text coming soon!

Craig Rizzi... Bio text coming soon!

Karen Plourde is a distinguished color guard instructor and leader with over thirty years of experience in the marching arts. Throughout her career, Karen has mentored countless students across the Regional A, A, and Open Class levels. Known for her focus on foundational techniques and training, Karen’s students have consistently advanced to higher class guards, with several achieving World Class placements in recent years. In addition to her impactful teaching, Karen has played an ongoing role in the Michigan Color Guard Circuit, contributing her leadership skills as a member of the MCGC Board of Directors and within multiple committees. She has also supported the circuit’s growth through her involvement in the MCGC Mentorship Committee and advisory board. Her greatest strength lies in her unwavering commitment to the growth and well-being of the students in the circuit.

Michelle Langley-Hart truly embodies what it means to be a great performer, educator, judge, mentor, and friend. Starting out as a performer at a local dance studio, Plymouth-Canton High School Marching Band and Winter Guard, and the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, she went on to obtain a B.S. Degree in Dance from Eastern Michigan University. Michelle has instructed both scholastic and independent teams at the A, Open, and World Class levels, including Interplay Winter Guard. She has been judging movement since 1999 and also served as caption head for MCGC. As an adjudicator, it is widely known that her judging feedback is “for the students,” always giving respectful and knowledgeable information to all. Many of her past students now lead and instruct several successful MCGC programs. For Michelle, that is the most meaningful result of her contributions to this activity.

For more than 25 years in Michigan, numerous winter guards and marching band guards have been led by Bobby Hazelton. He has also served on the MCGC Board of Directors as Vice President of Color Guards. Bobby worked to expand the education of circuit members by organizing yearly hands-on clinics for marching members and instructors. His decades long tenure with Reeths-Puffer and other programs has created a legacy of creativity and excellence.

Mark Heather is a designer and instructor for numerous winter guard, indoor percussion, and marching bands, as well as a respected adjudicator in all areas of the marching arts. He has been a judging caption head in many areas, as well as serving in various positions on the MCGC Executive Board. He is always generous in sharing his professional experience, and looking at things from a judge’s perspective. His belief in people working together to create something magical, rather than focus on competition, often leads to his frequent saying: ”It’s flags in a gym.”

When looking at people who have significantly impacted the circuit, Dan King is a prime example. His dedication and expertise have influenced many things. In what may be one of the longest continuous associations with the Michigan Color Guard Circuit, Dan has coordinated the facilities and work force in what we all know as “the turf room” at championships. After helping with the selection of trailers to haul circuit equipment, Dan retrofitted them, built tarp carts, and has continued to maintain and store all of it. He then became the sound technician for all MCGC shows, and has also been involved for years in the purchase and maintenance of that equipment. His “real life” job also involved the installation and service of sound systems at our championship contest site. Dan was a member of the Bridgeport Seventh Star, has been an instructor or staff member for many groups, and has also served on MCGC Committees.

Reneé Cole has been a participant, instructor, director, support staff, and everything else that comes along with the marching activity. She has been an integral part of many high achieving groups for many years. Her dedication hasn’t stopped on the performance floor. Reneé has also has held board positions with the Michigan Color Guard Circuit for many years, served on many committees, and has also been a tabulator and Contest Director. The circuit cannot function without the selfless donation of one’s time, and Reneé exemplifies that understanding. Reneé attended Hill-McCloy High School in Montrose, MI, where she played trumpet and was a member of the winter guard. She marched with the Northern Aurora Drum and Bugle Corps, playing soprano bugle, and also marched in the color guard under the instruction of Alan Spaeth. She has instructed and/or directed numerous winter guards over the years, most notably WGI Finalists Interplay and East Independent. Reneé has served on the MCGC Board of Directors as WGI Representative, Treasurer, and Vice President. She has also served the Circuit as a Tabulator, Contest Director, member of the Championships Committee, Rules Committee, and Chair of the Budget Committee. She is married to Greg Cole, and they have two children.

As a co-director and designer, Jason Ihnat led East Side Fury to WGI Champion titles in Independent A and Independent Open Classes on the road to becoming a perennial WGI World Class Finalist. The performers who Jason taught over the years have turned into a new generation of instructors and directors. Jason has instructed many top-level groups, served as MCGC Percussion Representative, teaches at Eastern Michigan University, and is the director of the Detroit Lions Drumline.

From the early years of Indoor Percussion to the present, Ralph Biggs has continually guided many with his expertise on equipment, contest logistics, design, and instruction. As a co-director of East Side Fury, he led the group to WGI Championship titles in Independent A and Independent Open Classes, along with many appearances in Independent World Class Finals. Along with a sincere desire to see all groups succeed, Ralph Biggs continues to be a positive force in percussion programs throughout the state.

Alvin King has been with MCGC Percussion since the beginning. He served as MCGJA Caption Head for Percussion Effect and Percussion Performance for several years. Alvin was the Director of Grandville Percussion, the first successful drum line from Michigan to be competitive on a national level. They were undefeated, winning three WGI regionals before becoming a silver medalist at WGI Finals. He was the first Michigan instructor to be on the WGI Advisory Board. Alvin was a member of the Vic Firth Education Team, a clinician for Yamaha Percussion, and an adjudicator for other circuits throughout the nation. His background in drum corps and marching band is extensive. His open and obvious enjoyment of evaluating performers reaching for their highest level of performance has provided many magical moments for many students through the years.

Greg Cole has been an instructor, director, served on many committees and board positions, as well as being a former President of the Michigan Color Guard Circuit. Being a percussionist, he worked hard to understand what make color guards work, and to explore the similarities and differences between the two genres so that he could give students the education and the tools to be successful. Greg graduated from Owosso High School and went on to march snare and tenors in the Michigan State Spartan Marching Band. At the same time, he played snare in the Northern Aurora Drum and Bugle Corps under the instruction of Joe Kuerzi and Rich Hogan. Greg Cole entered the MCGC world as a battery instructor for the Arthur Hill drumline, where he helped them achieve three WGI World Championship medals in Percussion Independent A, including a Gold in 2001. Along with Steve Yoder, Rich Hogan, and Jamie Fitzpatrick, he was one of the founders of NorthCoast Academy, and helped them to their 2003 WGI World Championship Gold medal in Percussion Independent Open. He has also instructed numerous other units, and began judging in 2008. Greg Cole has influenced many students over the years to be successful in percussion, but more importantly in life. His legacy continues each year by the positive manner in which he encourages everyone. Greg is married to a Reneé Cole, and they have two children together.

As a founding member of the indoor percussion activity here in Michigan, James Rebbeck was the director of many successful groups including Clinton, Novi, Columbia Central, and South Lyon. He also worked with Eastside Fury, Farmington United, and Redline. To each of those organizations he brought a vast array of innovative ideas. Rebbeck also encouraged his students to develop incredible work ethics, and to show respect for others in the activity. His contributions are many, and continue to be a positive force in the percussion programs throughout the state.

Kari Lynn Clark graduated from Oxford High School. She served on staff with Little A’s Winter Guard from Troy, Michigan, and then continued to work with teams in Troy, Avondale, Brandon and Oxford High Schools. Kari has also worked with Evolution and Interplay Winter Guards, both successful independent programs competing at local and national levels. She has also been on staff with the color guard of Grand Blanc Schools, and took over the role of Color Guard Director in April of 2011. Ms. Clark has served the past two decades on various committees, tabulating and contest directing shows, and was a member of the Board of Directors for the Michigan Color Guard Circuit. She currently serves as the Registrar for Grand Blanc High School.

Blair Kuhn has been involved with the Michigan Color Guard Circuit since the early 1980’s as a performer, instructor, designer, unit director, judge, Board of Directors and committee member, and he is also a Past President of MCGC. His groups have performed well, advancing to finalist status at WGI Championships and continuing to earn high rankings in MCGC and MCBA competitions. Originally trained as a percussionist, Blair was one of the pioneers who bridged the gap between guard and percussion. His design and choreography expertise have made him a recognizable force in the visual aspects of indoor color guard and percussion. He continues to be an advocate for change and growth in the activity and our circuit.

Jamie Benigna has been involved with virtually every aspect of the marching arts as a performer, instructor, and administrator. As the “committee of one,” he coordinated the re-birth of the Individuals Competition. His own experience in that area gave him great insight into just how much courage it takes to perform, and then also insure that all participants are acknowledged for their efforts. He also continues in the position of Volunteer Coordinator for championships involving well over 200 people in 50 plus jobs with detailed job descriptions, handling an astronomical amount of communication and coordination with matrix-like efficiency. Benigna is a former Contest Coordinator and Contest Director for the circuit, has served on the Board as the MCGC Representative, and has served on the Championships committee, instructed, and directed several performing groups.

Starting with the Flint Northern High School Marching Band in the mid-seventies, and then the Flint Guardsmen and Saginaires Drum and Bugle Corps, and Royale Marque, Orlando Suttles spent most of his life in this activity. He was a member of Studio One in the 80’s, and taught there as well as Linden HS and many other highly successful programs. He later took over and brought new levels of excellence to the Michigan State University guard programs, including the highly successful State of Art Winter Guard. Orlando traveled as a judge to many areas of the country, making it through the WGI Judges Academy in just two short years, and judging championships at both the state and national levels. He was very active as a clinician, and gave freely of his time to help train many adjudicators and instructors. He impacted hundreds of students as an instructor, and thousands more as a judge. The ability to travel outside of one’s own boundaries can be met with challenges, but Orlando was able to confront them and broaden his own horizons to positively affect everyone around him.

The percussion caption of the Michigan Color Guard Circuit simply wouldn’t be what it is today without the contributions of Joe Kuerzi. Joe was instrumental in the beginning of the percussion activity in MCGC and served as the first percussion representative to the board where he remained active for several seasons in that role. As an instructor and director, many of his groups have become state champions and national finalists, always becoming better with his involvement. They have included Phantom Regiment, Northern Aurora, Americanos, Kiwanis Kavaliers, Novi, The Diddle Dogs, Southgate Anderson, East Side Fury, Ferndale, Arthur Hill, and North Farmington Concert Ensemble and the Farmington United Percussion Ensembles. Joseph Kuerzi is a living history of MCGC percussion. He has mentored many current instructors, designers, and participants, all of whom recognize his ability to open the door for countless people to become involved in our activity, and learn valuable life lessons along the way.

Kathy Guy has been involved with MCGC since 1991, starting out as a parent volunteer with Troy Athens Alias Winter Guard. In 1995, she helped her daughter Wendy organize the AKA middle school guard and the Little 'A's elementary school exhibition guard, and brought them into the circuit. With three daughters in the winter guard activity, Kathy remained an active member of the ALIAS/AKA parent group for 15 years. She began volunteering on the MCGC Merchandise Committee in 1994, and has been the chairperson from 1996 to the present day. Kathy continually enjoys the interaction with the MCGC staff, judges, directors, parents, and most importantly the marching members. Another one of her responsibilities has been maintaining and updating the circuit's photographic history for display at championships.

Dennis Guy has been involved with MCGC since 1991 as a volunteer with Troy Athens ALIAS Winter Guard. He was a founding member of the ALIAS Parent Group in 1992 and held several positions within the group for 15 years. Dennis was the show chairperson of the first nine MCGC competitions hosted by Troy Athens ALIAS and AKA. He was a member of the MCGC Board of Directors as a director at large, served for nine consecutive years from 1994 to 2002, and helped build the MCGC into the organization it is today. He worked diligently to promote the circuit, traveling across the state visiting numerous schools and helped to expand the circuit from about 25 units to more than 60 units during that time. He has also worked on the Championship Committee, the Scholarship Committee and the Merchandise Committee.

Derek Smith has been a member of the Michigan Color Guard Circuit for 25 years. He began his marching career in 1990 with Forté from Grand Rapids and marched there for six years. The following year, Derek began teaching Interplay, and became the Director in 2000. Interplay has competed at all three levels of competition from A to World Class, has been a Winter Guard International Finalist 18 times, and brought home a Gold Medal in Open Class is 2005 and a Silver Medal in A Class in 2008. While additionally working with Music For All, he has also instructed many drum corps, marching bands and winter guards across the country; and is a widely respected adjudicator and clinician in the Midwest. As a Chemistry and Forensic Science teacher in the Northview Public School District, he has had an exemplary career and continues to impact young people positively both in and outside of the classroom. He has the natural ability to teach in a way that is positive, constructive and most importantly, enjoyable. Derek is a credit to MCGC, and we are fortunate to experience his talents year in and year out.

Juno Orefice has been the Judge Coordinator for MCGC since 2002. He helped develop the judging side of the association from the ground floor and fostered the growth of judges as well as unit membership. Juno helped implement hands on clinics for students, judges training and judges journals. His attitude of “it’s for the students” has been maintained and professed over his many years of service. His philosophy and guidance to our circuit judges and units has helped MCGC maintain a national exposure. Under his tenure, we have judges who have become WGI affiliated and units that have achieved semi-finals, finals and class champions. Juno continues to work in the pageantry arts as a visual designer and an active judge for bands, guards and Drum Corps International.

Stephanie has been involved with the MCGC since 1988. She marched with Lakeview Chrysalis (88-91), Studio One (92-94) and Forté (95-96) winter guards. She has also taught several color guards around Michigan: Troy Athens “ALIAS”, Lakeview Moniker, Ypsilanti, Epiphany of Lakeland, Plymouth-Canton Open, and Interplay. Stephanie has been involved with the administrative side of the circuit since 2001, initially assisting with Championships Awards. Since then, her role evolved to meet the needs of the membership and administration by developing new communication tools and processes to aid in the management of our ever-growing circuit. Stephanie served on the Board of Directors as Contest Coordinator for two years and Secretary for one year. She also served on the Awards, Design, Rules, Badges and Championships committees.

Dan Love served as MCGC President and Contest Coordinator. His MCGC experience began in 1988 as a member of Lakeview Chrysalis and continued with Forté. Dan’s involvement has ranged from performer to instructor to unit director to board member to volunteer. Dan chaired the Rules Committee for many years, and he was instrumental in facilitating the first WGI Regional in Michigan at Troy Athens HS in 2006. Currently, he is a Contest Director, Tabulator, and a member of the Championship Committee.

Dean Christopher served MCGC as a Unit Director, staff member and designer of Trenton and Cassopolis. He served for years as a judge and as a trainer for new judges. Dean also served on the Executive Board and many committees. Along with this were many years of dedication to all of the pageantry arts including marching band and drum corps. Dean was also a dedicated musician and educator.

Mike Robinson has been involved with the MCGC since the mid-90's. He has instructed many units, served on the MCGC Board of Directors, and was a founder and director of Ancora Winterguards. Mike was incredibly conscientious as he performed the duties of MCGC Treasurer, and always brought a calm, level headed reasoning to board meetings. He asked the important questions that made all pause to see the situation from another side. More important than all the hours served as a board member, Mike has been a mentor, training others to be instructors and has freely given of his analytical skills including providing "judges tapes" to any unit that asked. Mike has given to many groups that needed consulting or an outside opinion, and has "saved the day" for many units with his cool, calculated commentary and encouragement.

Rich Hogan has been involved with MCGC since the beginning of the percussion classes as an instructor and judge. He attended the WGI Academy, and studied with several of the leading percussion judges. Rich has also taught several groups over the years including Huron Valley Percussion, Novi Percussion, NorthCoast Academy and Arthur Hill Percussion. In addition to all of these programs he has helped to develop, his most influential contribution to the MCGC is to the current competing percussion units and staff. He has had the privilege of instructing staff members of Great Lakes Percussion, Eastside Fury, NorthCoast Academy and many others. Rich has numerous students marching in many MCGC groups, and in drum corps including Cadets, Cavaliers, Glassmen, Crossmen, Bluecoats, Phantom Regiment, Santa Clara Vanguard and most of the other "Top 12" Drum Corps. This brings his contribution to the growth of the MCGC to an unparalleled level. Rich has greatly influenced the activity as a judge, instructor, and director, and so many have been able to take their groups higher thanks to his contributions.

Dave Watt has been involved with MCGC in some capacity since the early eighties. The list of units Dave has been involved with is too long to list. In the 1980's, there were The Bandettes, Forte’ and Lakeview Chrysalis. In 2004 alone, he was involved with fifteen MCGC groups. He concentrated on training “up and coming” instructors from his independent groups to become the next group of designers, technicians and judges within our circuit. When thinking of the West Michigan Winter Guard groups alone (Forte’, Crescendo, Reeths-Puffer and Interplay) over 45 names (as of 2004) came to mind immediately as instructors and designers in MCGC, as well as MCBA, BOA, WGI and DCI. Dave has not only contributed to the color guard world as an instructor, designer, mentor and friend, but he has also played a key role in the administration of MCGC and WGI. He has also played a significant part in the continuing education and growth of our circuit’s units, instructors and judges, spearheading MCGC’s 2003 mission to educate our instructors on design and technique principals and promote growth within our WGI classes.

Manjit Gill was very influential, serving as the MCGC Contest Director during a period of growth and development when the circuit doubled in size. She defined that position for many years to come. Manjit has been an instructor with many MCGC groups over the years including Bridgeport Seventh Star, Linden Wings, Bridgeport Rising Star, Linden A, Troy Athens Alias, and Waterford Mott Percussion. She has also served MCGC on the budget, rules, restructuring, 40th Anniversary committees, and as a class representative for Scholastic A Percussion. She has chaired the Championships Committee since 2004 and enjoys working with her friends and Hall of Fame members to make this event extra special for the current MCGC. Performance experience includes the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps, Saginaires Drum & Bugle Corps, and the Marching Chippewas. She works in arts administration at Pit and Balcony Theatre and is currently at the Oakland University Department of Music, Theatre & Dance.

Duane Comerford participated as a member of Michigan junior and senior drum and bugle corps at a time when Michigan had over 20 competing drum corps. Over the years, he became part of the instruction staff of several drum corps in Michigan, Iowa, and Canada. When high school bands in Michigan began to compete and adopt the drum corps approach to marching and visual presentation, Duane was asked to join the staff of several band programs either as a marching instructor, visual designer, color guard instructor, and/or consultant. He was a charter member of the Great Lakes Judges Association and a charter member of the Michigan Color Guard Circuit. After being out of the marching activity for some time, Mr. Comerford is now a charter member and vice president of the Great Lakes Drum Corps Alumni (GLDCA). The drum corps performs in parades around the state and they also play concerts after several of the parades. As he says about the marching arts activity, "I have had incredible opportunities in this activity. To meet and work with talented corps members, high school students, staff members of numerous drum corps and bands, judges, and clinicians. I have lasting friendships with people that I would never have met without being involved in drum corps, band, and guard. I am so impressed with the growth of the Michigan Color Guard Circuit in particular. The management of the circuit has done a great job in growing the circuit and the opportunities for the young people participating."

Marci Carlberg, along with Joey Orefice and Danny Baron, was responsible for putting out many outstanding groups from the 1980’s and 1990’s including St. Charles and Forté. Marci has been a vital part of the West Michigan winter guard scene ever since. Although she has never held an MCGC Board position, she has been an active part of the membership for many years. Marci currently supports MCGC as an equipment judge and clinician, as well as judging for many circuits in the Midwest. She has been an instructor with Interplay since 2003.

A national drill designer and consultant, Joey has worked with Drum Corps International Finalists Royal Brigade, The Brassmen, and Bayonne Bridgeman. He taught and designed Winter Guard International Finalists Stardusters, (NJ), St. Charles and Forte`. He works as program consultant with high school programs including Plymouth Canton, Blue Springs (MO) and John Horn (TX), and has written productions for several State Championship bands, along with Semi Finalist and Finalist Bands of America groups. Joey served as adjunct faculty for Grand Rapids Community College as assistant director for marching band. He is one of the founders of Michigan’s Scholastic Marching Bands where he continues to serve as Judge Coordinator, and is currently General Effect Caption Head for the Michigan Color Guard Circuit.

A nephew of Russ Jones, one of our founding fathers, Phil Jones has become “the music that fills the time between unit performances.” Before that, he was an instructor, and sponsored a color guard from Chelsea for many years. His support didn't stop there. Since 1987, Phil has spent hour after hour every weekend from January until April making sure the music starts when it is supposed to for each unit and that the levels are correct to make the soundtrack the best possible for all performers. Without Phil at the controls, the music our groups rely on to perform wouldn't happen with such professionalism.

Nephew of MCGC Founder Russ Jones, Dannie was a prominent drill writer for many groups, and brought the first WGI National Championship title to Michigan with Studio One in 1987. The group was a ten time state champion, and two time WGI World Class finalist. He served as MCGC Vice President, and worked to educate instructors on what judges expected out of competing units. Dannie, along with his wife Lubna, influenced a generation of instructors, designers, and judges.

Dan Divish was a GLJA judge for many years. He spent many hours in the stands adjudicating MCGC units. He was instrumental in organizing many parlor sessions for instructors and judges over the years. The three-tier system was enacted and Regional A Class was added. The activity was changing from being a marching activity to being more focused on body. He spent hours educating the judging community in Michigan about these new ideas and how WGI viewed them. Dan was at every GLJA event supporting the activity and very involved in setting up the MCGJA. Although Dan lived in Ohio, he spent many hours in Michigan striving to make MCGC a better place to participate.

Tom Weidner came to MCGC in 1982 when he and Steve Yoder resurrected the Bridgeport Seventh Star. He quickly became involved with the circuit and became President in 1983, and remained in that position for several years. His marching bands garnered many state championships, as well as Bands of America Regional Class Championships and National Finalist appearances. He continues writing music and drill for marching bands all over the nation. Tom continues to support MCGC and is one of the vital cogs in the wheel that keeps the MCGC Championships contest running smoothly.

Steve Yoder started with MCGC in 1977. Since 1979, he served on the Board of Directors in many positions, including President and Vice President. Steve was also a member of the MCGC Judges Associations (GLJA & MCGJA) since it’s inception. He served as not only a color guard judge, but also as a percussion judge. Steve was an instructor, designer or director for many of our circuit’s prominent groups including Bridgeport Seventh Star, East Side Connection, West Bloomfield, Flushing, Forte’, NorthCoast Academy Winter Guard, Garden City, Glassmen Winter Guard, Chesaning, CMU Metamorphosis, Arthur Hill Percussion and NorthCoast Academy Percussion.

Scott was born in Ohio, grew up in Flint, and has lived in Ann Arbor since 1990. He holds degrees from the University of Michigan-Flint and Marygrove College. After teaching in the Willow Run School District for 22 years, he became Teacher/Leader for the new Ypsilanti Community STEMM Academy. Scott has been honored with numerous awards including University of Michigan Chapter of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society Teacher of the Year in 2012 and Michigan Science Teachers Association (MSTA) High School Science Teacher of the Year in 1999-2000. Scott was introduced to the competitive arts in 1976 when he played trumpet in the Bentley HS Marching Band, and then played soprano bugle with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. Since then, he has taught and written drill for many state championship bands. His initiation into the winter guard scene was in 1982, where he was director of West Bloomfield Winter Guard. Scott directed and staged for many successful guards throughout the next 30 plus years including Montrose, Flushing, Linden Wings, Studio One, Ypsilanti Winter Guard and Drumline, and Huron Valley Alliance. His influence on MCGC did not end with the groups he directed and instructed; he served on the board of directors for over 20 years as President, Vice-President and Director-at-Large. His influence in the marching activity continues in ways he could have never envisioned; as his former students are now teaching, directing and judging units in almost every marching competitive arena.

John Robertson was the founding father of the MCGC, organizing it in 1975 (as the International Color Guard Circuit) and serving as President and Contest Director in the circuit's formative years. An accomplished French horn player in band and drum corps, John went on to write drill and instruct for various Michigan and Ontario drum corps, marching bands, and color guards before founding Providence Winter Guard in 1983. John organized Youth Encouragement Systems (Y.E.S. Club) as a fund-raising arm to help support Providence and (later) Studio One. He was also one of the nine charter members of the Great Lakes Judging Association (GLJA).

Sharon MacLean is probably the most familiar voice in MCGC. Sharon started in the circuit as an adult. She marched in drum corps as a child and her goal is always to "give back a bit" of what she was given. She has given much. Sharon has been the director or instructor of many groups for many years. Sharon was a contest director for MCGC for many years. Her voice announcing a show was a mainstay for several years. Sharon also served as President of MCGC.

Brian has taught many units in the MCGC since 1983. Some of those units are Bridgeport 7th Star, Rising Star, Flushing, and L'anse Creuse North. Brian served as the MCGC Treasurer several times in the early years of the circuit. He has always been there to make sure MCGC ran smoothly. He has also been a vital part of organizing and running MCGC Championships for many years, bringing the championships to Saginaw Valley State University in 1994. No matter where Brian is working that day, he is making sure that all the different aspects of MCGC Championships are running smoothly. Brian Liwak has served as MCGC President many times in the past two decades, has been continuously on the board, and is the MCGC Hall of Fame Chairperson.

Laura Goodman has been a part of the circuit since 1982. She has taught many units over the years including Bridgeport 7th Star", West Bloomfield, Lakeview, L'Anse Creuse North, Bentley, Spirit of Windsor, Silhouette, Nuance, Trenton, and Garden City. Laura was the MCGC Secretary from 1983 until 1995. She then served as President for two years. Laura has been the Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee. Since 1998, Laura has been the chairperson of the Championship Awards. In 2009, she accepted the position of MCGC Contest Coordinator and has continued to fulfill those duties to the present.

Lyn DiNard marched with the Royal Lancers, and then was an instructor and judge during the late 70’s through the mid 90’s. She was a charter member of the Great Lakes Judges Association, and served as treasurer from inception through 1994. Lyn worked earnestly to provide encouragement to marching members to be diligent and persevere in their drill interpretations. She has been a supporter of the marching activity for many years and was a standard on the GLJA judging panel for MCGC. It was a great privilege to review the numerous programs she had the opportunity to adjudicate.

Russ Jones began his life in this activity in 1948 with the Flint Skylarks Sr. Drum Corps. By 1958, he decided that there was a need to prepare kids for the Skylarks, so he started the Corvair Cadets for juniors with the help of fellow Skylarks Charlie Rice, Bob Cobb and brother Rudy Jones. As time went on, the demands of the junior corps forced him to retire from the senior group to concentrate on the demands of the younger kids. Under his guidance, the junior corps became the Guardsmen and rose to national prominence until they placed fifth in the country in Class A at the US Open in 1971 just before the era of DCI. As the corps struggled through the 1970's, Russ' creative talents led him to patent a spinning cymbal handle, several aluminum percussion carriers and eventually the first set of quint tenor drums sets in the country in the early 1980's. As the cost of the drum corps activity pushed the Flint corps out of existence in the early 1980's, Russ diverted his attention to the winter guard arena. In 1984 he brought in Orlando Suttles to begin the legendary Studio One. Always working in the background, Russ worked with MCGC founding father John Robertson to bring Y.E.S. Club into the sponsorship of Studio One. That connection continued until Russ' death in 1995. With his death came the end of Studio One, Y.E.S. Club, and that entire genre of youth activity in the Flint area. Only in recent years has the participation in the Flint area began to grow again.