discovering an untapped audience.
On the 50th anniversary of the Marching Royal Dukes marching band at James Madison University, longtime assistant director, Bill Posey, passed away.
He was incredibly loved by his former students and those around him, helping grow and lead one of the largest and well-known collegiate athletic bands in the United States.
I had the distinct privilege of being a member of that band throughout my college years.
As an alum who personally knew Bill, I soon returned to the Shenandoah Valley to craft a short film so that the community could celebrate his life and the impact he had on hundreds of us.
That mini film memoir (below) included a never-before-seen interview with Bill atop a soundtrack by JMU alum and composer, Evan Duffy.
The video went viral within the JMU community. Then, as a volunteer, I realized something…
The 5,000+ alumni of the Marching Royal Dukes wanted more.
So we created a 50th anniversary campaign...
First, we built excitement and recognition. We found an anonymous alumna to sponsor the creation of special 50 & Beyond patches for the band’s uniforms — a nod to the future — which were unveiled on the band’s uniforms at the Marching Royal Dukes’ 50th anniversary kickoff trip to The Vatican in Rome, Italy.
Up next, an apparel line to boost student scholarships.
The “Michelle” Jersey
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The Posey Scholarship Endowment.
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Limited-edition for 50th anniversary. Polyester digital sublimation print hockey-style jersey. Sold and fulfilled by Boathouse Sports in Philadelphia, PA. Finished in the U.S.A. of imported materials.
The Stevenson Jacket
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The MRD Alumni Chapter fund and the Posey Scholarship Endowment.
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Part of the premium MRD Alumni Classics line. Water resistant Supplex fabric, piping, knit collar and cuffs with embroidered (front), screen printed (back). Sold and fulfilled by Boathouse Sports in Philadelphia, PA. Finished in the U.S.A. of imported materials.
The Basic Sweatshirt and Tee, and The Journey Shorts
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The MRD Alumni Chapter fund.
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Part of the premium MRD Alumni Classics line. Screen printed (sweatshirt and shirt) and embroidered (shorts). Sold and fulfilled by Boathouse Sports in Philadelphia, PA. Finished in the U.S.A. of imported materials.
As momentum grew, we broke records for raising grassroots donations.
In a single day, our group raised $64,387 through individual donors for JMU Giving Day, beating out some of the most powerful donor constituencies at the University.
And now… our MRD Alumni team clamored for a new highly visual extension of jmumrd.org, and I led development of the JMU MRD Alumni website.
Here’s a peek…
In 2025, I led the production of the first-ever, limited-edition MRD ornament, selling out of the initial run of 250 and resulting in a $3,348 donation to JMU — boosting the Marlon Foster Scholarship Endowment past its $50K fundraising goal — enabling a yearly scholarship for a future music educator.
Then, we engaged..
450+ participants
at our annual 2025 MRD Alumni Band Weekend event, setting a record for the highest number of attendees in the event’s history, up from 173 guests before my volunteerism.
The median age of the annual event has markedly shifted to attract a younger audience since my service began on the leadership team, achieving one of the group’s long-term goals of reengaging alumni between the ages of 25-35 in addition to retaining alumni 35+.
Every alum has the chance to march at halftime with the actual band, rekindling a nostalgic and priceless connection that one has with the program.