Santa Clara, CA — As the final step of a year-long restructuring effort, Santa Clara Vanguard, a non-profit youth performing arts organization, has appointed Jeff Fiedler as its first chief executive officer. Vanguard board chairman Marc Hebert made the announcement this weekend at the conclusion of the organization's April rehearsal camp. Fiedler's appointment is the final piece of an organizational restructuring that began last summer as a complete review of Vanguard's governance model, bylaws, board makeup, financial plan and management team. In his role, he reports to Vanguard's board of directors, and directs an organization led by Jeff Pearson, Program Manager; Kathy Serksnis, Chief Operating Officer; and Sandra Adams, Bingo Manager.
"Santa Clara Vanguard holds a very dear place in the hearts of drum corps fans as an organization steeped in aura and rich tradition," said Hebert. "Until recently, our operations were perhaps overly traditional, and ready for modernization. I am very pleased with the steps we have now taken to make ourselves more agile and adaptive to today's highly-competitive climate."
Fiedler comes to Vanguard having retired from The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps at the end of 2007, after 17 years as corps director. "It is exciting and even somewhat humbling to accept this position with Santa Clara Vanguard, an organization I have admired and respected since I first saw the Corps perform in 1971. The organization's leadership is legendary, and has continuously given the activity a model for innovation, excellence and class. When I retired from The Cavaliers, I was looking to gain a position with a non-profit in an institutional advancement role. The CEO position with Vanguard is very much in that arena, and I look forward to working with the Board and team to advance the entire organization and to reach for its goals."
Added Hebert, "We are the only youth performance organization who can boast three top-five performing groups nationally—our Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps, Vanguard Cadets, and Winterguard. With the hiring of our first CEO, Jeff Fiedler, we are ready to take the next key steps—the update of our strategic mission, and the implementation of a strong marketing competence. Jeff brings an outstanding track record and marketing skill to his role that will accelerate our progress toward the next milestones—top-three national rankings for all three performing groups, plus a leadership role in music education in Silicon Valley."
Bio of Jeff Fiedler
Jeff Fiedler was the director of The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps of Rosemont, IL for 17 years, during which they won all of their seven DCI world championships. He retired from the Corps after the 2007 season, having been affiliated with The Cavaliers continuously since joining their cadet corps in 1973. After graduating from the corps in 1980 he remained on staff, and was eventually named assistant director in 1988, and corps director after the summer of 1990. He was elected to DCI's executive committee in 1993, and served as chairman of the DCI board from 2001-2007. Jeff earned a Journalism degree from Northwestern University, and worked for ABC's magazine publishing division before gaining his state of Illinois high school teaching credentials in Social Studies and English. In 1987 he joined the faculty at St. Francis de Sales High School in Chicago, where he taught for nine years and later directed the school's marketing and development office for ten years. He chaired the Chicago Archdiocese Marketing Association from 2003-2006.
