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2024 Administration
Rich Strang
Director
Returning for his 10th season with the Reading Buccaneers, Rich Strang is returning for his second season as the Corps Director. Rich marched tuba at the Reading Buccaneers in 2009, 2016, and 2017 on tuba. He served as the Webmaster in 2017, the Business Manager in 2018-2022, and the director from 2023-now. Rich taught as a Visual and Music Technician at Central Bucks West from 2015-2018. He teaches Hatboro Horsham’s Marching Band as a Visual Technician and Caption Head from 2019-now. Rich also taught Hatboro Horsham’s indoor program as a Visual Technician in 2020. Rich works as an IT Director and and teaches High School Marching Band.
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Matt Elizardo
Business Manager
Matt is excited to serve the Buccaneers as Business Manager for this inaugural season as a DCI All-Age corps. He is an alumnus of the Buccaneers marching four seasons on Tuba and previously serving as quartermaster. Outside of the Buccaneers, Matt works as an Engineer developing critical technologies for Emergency and Public Utility vehicles, while also maintaining a schedule as a mentor at his Alma Mater (University of Delaware) and drill writer/ visual technician at multiple schools across the Mid-Atlantic region.
Lois Tierno
Support Staff Coordinatior
Lois Tierno joined the Reading Buccaneers in 1985. She was a part of the guard in 1985 and 1986. Since then, she has served on the Executive Board as Secretary, Treasurer, and Support Staff. Lois has been a part of the Marching Arts since she was 13 years old. She marched with the Archer Eplin Musketeers from 1980-1984. She marched indoor guard from the age of 13-21 years old. Additionally, Lois taught fife and drum corps for Chaplin Dale Fife and Drum Corps. Lois’s favorite part of drum corps is the members and getting to know the members.
Mike Lark
Quartermaster
Starting his first year as Quartermaster, Michael Lark has been a long time member of the Buccaneers starting 26 years ago. Michael was a member of the Tuba Line from 1998-2005 and then again in 2009. After taking some time off to raise his family and continue his Military career, Michael returned to the Buccaneers as a mellophone player. In 2022 and 2023, Michael got to live a life long dream of sharing the field with his son Steven. This year marks the start of his 12th season on the field as a Buccaneer and ends his 22 year career in the United States Army. He is excited to serve as the Quartermaster going into the first ever DCI All Age Season.
Tiago Forin
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisor
Tiago Forin is returning to the Reading Buccaneers for his sixth season. He previously marched high brass in the Crossmen from 2000-03 and the Glassmen 2004-05. He is an alumnus of Florida State University and Purdue University where he specialized in civil engineering and engineering education. Tiago Forin is serving as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisor for the Buccaneers this season. Previously he was the project manager for the NSF RED grant awarded to Rowan University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering that focused on improving the DEI climate of the department. Tiago is currently a lecturer in the Experiential Engineering Education Department in the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering.
Megan Fox
Membership Manager
Returning for her 7th season with the Reading Buccaneers and her second year as Membership Manager, Megan Fox is ready to get back in action with her family in blue. Megan began her drum corps career with the Reading Buccaneers in 2016 on baritone. She has been a Buccaneer from 2016- 2019, and returned once again in 2022-2023. Megan also plans to return to marching for the 2024 season. Outside of drum corps, she served as a Visual Technician for Boyertown Area Senior High School for 7 years, and as a Visual and Music Technician at Pottstown High School for 2 years. Megan currently teaches 3rd grade in the Reading School District. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Kutztown University, and her Master of Science in Education in Instructional Technology from Wilkes University.
Michelle & Kristi Strang
Merchandise Managers
Returning once again to the merchandise stand, Kristi and Michelle Strang are excited to be joining the corps once again. Kristi will be returning as the merchandise manager and Michelle is returning as the merchandise assistant. Kristi has no prior marching experience within the Buccaneers, but she did march Tuba in the PSU Blue Band and came to The Buccaneers to run the merchandise last season to support her husband Rich Strang, as the director. Michelle marched Tuba in The Buccaneers from 2016-2019 and returned last season to help her mom with the merchandise. Come stop by the merch stand and say hello if you get the chance.
Danielle Marone
Assistant Director
Returning for her sixth year with the Reading Buccaneers, Danielle Marone is serving as our Assistant Corps Director for the 2024 season! Dani previously served as the Treasurer for the corps. Dani brings a wealth of colorguard knowledge from her previous experiences. She marched with the RBCG in 2010-2013, with Blackwatch in 2013-2014 and 2017 and with Jersey Surf in 2008. Dani taught colorguard at Somerville High School and is currently the Guard Director at Spring Ford High School. Dani graduated from Somerville High School, earned her Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management from University of Massachusetts Amherst, and is currently working towards her Masters’ degree in Human Resources from West Chester University.
Andrea Gwyn
Secretary
Andrea Gwyn is returning for her 20th year with the Reading Buccaneers. She will be serving as the lead Drum Major for her 16th year. Previously, Andi marched trumpet and mellophone in 1987 and 1990. Andi has served as the Secretary at the Reading Buccaneers from 2015-now. She also marched with the Garfield Cadets in 1988 and 1989. She took some time off to make two more Buccaneers who marched with her in 2012-2017. Andrea came back in 2011 and has been on the podium ever since.
Ben Mair
Social Media & Web Manager
Returning for his tenth season with the Reading Buccaneers, Ben Mair is serving as the Social Media and Web Manager for the 2024 season. Ben marched with the Reading Buccaneers from 2015-2019 and 2022 in the tuba section. Ben has worked with multiple marching ensembles in a variety of roles including Downingtown West High School (Tuba Tech), Abington High School (Music and Visual Tech), Hatboro-Horsham High School (Wind Tech), and Pottstown High School (Percussion Tech). Ben graduated from North Penn High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from West Chester University.
Joel Ignatovich
Knack Manager
Returning for his third year with the Reading Buccaneers, Joel Ignatovich is excited to be returning to the Trumpet Section. He is also serving in his second year as the Knack and Discord Manager. Joel has marched with the Reading Buccaneers from 2020-now. Previously, Joel has marched with the Hawthorne Caballeros 2017-2019 as a Trumpet and Solist. He also marched with the Skyliners in 2015 and 2016 as a Trumpet and Section Lead. Joel has served as the Assistant Band Director at Burlington Township High School from 2019-now. Joel is a Cloud Security Engineer. Joel graduated from Holy Redeemer High School and received his Associates Degree in Computer Information Systems
Mikayla Vangelo
Fundraising Coordinator
Returning for her second season with the Reading Buccaneers, Mikayla Vangelo is excited to be joining the 2024 voyage! Mikayla began her drum corps career with Cadets 2 in 2016 and 2017 marching tuba. She returned to the activity in 2023 to march tuba with the Reading Buccaneers. Mikayla is serving as the Fundraising Coordinator for the Buccaneers this season. Mikayla currently teaches elementary school music, chorus, and band at Pleasantville Elementary School in New Castle, DE. She also served as a Music and Visual Technician for Pottstown High School. She graduated from Easton Area High School and earned her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and her Master of Music in Teaching and Tuba Performance from the University of Delaware.
Matt Heckman
Recruiting Chair
Abby Gruber
Historian
Abigail Gruber (she/her/hers) is the Historian for the 2024 season. In this role, she works to record and archive materials related to events and people connected to the Reading Buccaneers. Abby marched with the Buccaneers during the 2008, 2010, and 2011 seasons as a member of the horn line. In addition to her time as a member of the competing corps, her family has a long history with the corps, during which she was a fixture at rehearsals and shows throughout her childhood.
Abby graduated from Millersville University in 2015 and 2017 with her Bachelor's of Science in Social Studies Education and her Master's of Arts in history, respectively. Over the past decade, Abby has researched, published, and taught history for various ages and audiences along the East Coast and in Bermuda. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in History at Temple University and is writing her dissertation on women's hereditary organizations and their influence on public history sites in Philadelphia.
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