2023 DESIGN TEAM

BRITTANY ROBERTS
Coming soon

ART KILCRIST
Art has 34 years’ experience teaching pageantry teaching 128 College , high school, middle school and Independent teams along the Gulfcoast Staff member of Nouveau Winter Guard of Houston Texas ( 1993 WGI Independent A World Champions),
Staff and Faculty member of Tate High School "Chaparrals" of Gonzalez Florida ( 1989 WGI Scholastic World Champions and consistent World Class finalist Visual Coordinator and Color Guard Director Lafayette “Mighty Lion” Band 17 years ( 2 time Grand National Finalist and WGI Scholastic A Finalist). He is the former Executive Director of LMCGPC,Clinician, Adjudicator Motivational Speaker and Executive Director, YEAA( Youth Education in the Arts Academy). He is happily Married to his Life Partner (19yrs) Andre Brown. During his tenure his ensembles achieved 47 State Championships,23 Regional Finalists Positions, and 3 time WGI A Class -Finalist.

DEONTAHVIUS FORD
Deon has gained his education from Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts (High School), Doubletake Dance Studio, Debbie Allen Summer Dance Intensive (2 years),Texas Christian University/ Tarrant County College (AA-DancePerf),Zumba Certification (University of Texas at Arlington) ,Horton Technique Certification (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre/ Ana Marie Forsythe),Para-educator/Subsitute Certification (Austin ISD, Castleberry ISD, Arlington ISD).
His extensive pageantry arts performance experience includes Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps 2009, 2010 ,The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps 2011, The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps 2013 ,Cypress Independent Winterguard 2013, 2015,Colorguard Theatre of Texas/CGT 2018, 2019,Mary Kay Cosmetics Seminar – Summer Explosion Show, Universal Studios Orlando (Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue),Disney World Resorts (Animal Kingdom: Festival of The Lion King), Magic Kingdom ( Frozen Summer Fun, Festival of Fantasy, Pleasure Island Show, TotallyTomorrowland Christmas), Orlando Contemporary Dance Comp
Deon has insturcted and choreography for the following groups Castleberry High School Band (UIL TX State Band 8th,Lamar High Scool Winterguard,Timbercreek Band/Colorguard,The Woodlands High School Band, Colorguard, and Drill Team (BOA/WGI finalists),The Guardians Drum & Bugle Corps (DCI Finalists),The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps,University of Texas at Arlington Marching Band,Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts (choreographer festival),Lea Dance Factory (competition jazz team)
,North Crowley High School : Silver Star Drill Team,Anderson High School Drill Team and Colorguard ,and Jane’s Academy of Dance Excellence (jazz, partnering/pas de deux/ competition team)

GERRAN MOLINA
Gerran Molina is an up-and-coming instructor and choreographer based out of the Austin, TX area. His teaching experience includes various roles at Glenn High School, LBJ High School (2019 Texas Color Guard Circuit silver medalist), Georgetown High School (, Lehman High School (2020 WGI Austin Scholastic A semifinalist), Elgin High School, Conroe High School, and Redemption Winter Guard.
As a performer, Gerran is honored to have been educated by a variety of prominent designers and instructors in the activity. Many of those experiences were acquired at performing ensembles at the highest levels, including the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps (2017 DCI bronze medalist), Black Gold World Independent Winter Guard (2019 WGI Independent World finalist), Origins Winter Guard (2018 WGI Independent Open finalist), and the James Bowie Outdoor Performance Ensemble and World Winter Guard (2016 and 2017 WGI Scholastic World finalist)
Gerran is pursuing a degree in dance as well as taking courses in non-profit management. He lives with his pet cat, Salem, and is looking forward to this upcoming season!

CHASITY CRAYTON-ELLIS
I am originally from Tupelo, MS. I’ve been a part of the guard and band world since 2009. I was a part of the Tupelo High School color guard, concert bands, and winter guard. I also participated in a few honor bands throughout my clarinet playing years. I went on to be a member of the ICC All-American Band and color guard, and performed with Magnolia Independent. After leaving ICC, I became a member of the University of Mississippi’s band and color guard, and I spent a season with Conversion winter guard. I later marched, taught, choreographed, and co-directed Colibri within the 5 years of the program. In 2018, I started a 4 year run as the color guard director at Southaven High School. In the summer of 2022, I became a member of Atlanta CV, and I am currently choreographing for and teaching groups across MS and TN.

ALEXAS FAYE ELLIS
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MIKE BISHOP
Mike Bishop is a producer, arranger, composer, music educator, international clinician, and consultant creating for various organizations worldwide, including the West Chester University Incomparable Golden Ram Marching Band, United Percussion, and Spirit of '52 (Germany). Previously, Mike served on the staff or designed for the Crossmen, George Mason University, The Company Performance Ensemble (UK), European X (Netherlands), Cedar Park HS Timberwolf Band, Carolina Crown (2013 DCI World Championship), Rhythm X/The X Academy, Redline, Blue Stars, and was a founding Board of Directors member at Invictus.
As a producer, Mike is experienced in working with songwriters, editing & creating soundtracks for podcasts, radio & tv commercials, dance teams, and color guards, as well as samples and sound effects for the pageantry arts. He has composed and arranged hundreds of works for various scholastic, collegiate, independent, and corporate programs.
Mike is a Yamaha Artist, a proud endorser of Vic Firth sticks & mallets, Zildjian Cymbals, & Remo drum heads and a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America. He has presented clinics at Music For All's Bands of America Summer Symposium, the Texas Bandmasters Association Annual Convention, Western Carolina University Summer Symposium, Vivace Marching Band Leadership Camps, and throughout the United States, Western Europe, and Japan.

ROBERT JORDAN
coming soon.
2023 EDUCATIONAL TEAM

KAYLEE MAZERES
Equipment Technician
Kaylee Hollingsworth is from Vancleave, Mississippi. She attended Vancleave High School for 4 years and participated in Colorguard for all of these years, and served as captain for her senior year. Following her high school graduation she attended William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Music Education. During her time at William Carey, she was a 3 year member of the Spirit of Carey Colorguard, as well as a member of Evidence Winds visual ensemble. During her time in this competitive ensemble, she received 2 LMCGPC Gold Medals was well as a WGI Winds World Championship bronze medal in 2019. She was a member of the Louisiana Stars in 2019 where she performed in their production “Break.” Kaylee started her teaching career in 2019 where she was the Assistant Winterguard Instructor at Vancleave High School. Kaylee is currently resides in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and is serving her 3rd year as the West Jones High School Colorguard Instructor. During Kaylee’s time at West Jones, she has received all superior ratings, as well as started the first ever winterguard program at West Jones High School in 2021. She has also done choreography for Perry Central High School and Mize High School. In 2021 Kaylee decided to perform one last time, since she was not able to march her age out drum corps season. She served as a charter member and captain of Future Independent Winterguard in 2021-2022. Kaylee was honored to finish her age out season by receiving the 1st annual “Ping Dawson Leadership Award.”

JUANDARIUS ROBERTS
Equipment Technician
Coming Soon

RODRICK HOWELL
Equipment Technician
Rodrick Howell is originally from Gulfport,MS and is a graduate of Harrison Central High School. While there, Rodrick was a member of the Harrison Central Big Red Band, Harrison Central Indoor Percussion Ensemble and other award-winning ensembles. He was also a member of the MGCCC Band of Gold and performed as a member of Gulf Coast Independent. He later transferred to William Carey University and was apart of numerous ensemble including the WGI Winds Group: Evidence.
Some of Rodrick accolades include 4 Gold and 2 Silver Medals in the Louisiana Mississippi Color Guard and Percussion Circuit and 4 WGI World Championship Finals appearances where he won a Bronze Medal with Evidence winds. Rodrick is going into his 4th year as the Assistant Band Director and Color Guard Instructor at Kosciusko High School.

KENYA BAKER
Movement Technician / Medical Staff
Coming Soon

DONNA FLOYD
Movement Technican
Coming Soon

NEIL CHATUM
Movement/ Equipment Technician
Coming Soon

KALEIGH TILLOTSON
Equipment Technician
Kaleigh Tillotson is from Pearl, Mississippi. She holds 2 State Championships with the Pearl High School marching band. She started colorguard in 8th grade and continued on throughout her high school career. She was part of the Pearl High School Winterguard from 10th-12th grade. From there she attended Jones County Junior College where she continued colorguard with the marching band and also was a part of the dance team during the 2nd semester. After leaving JCJC Kaleigh took a break from colorguard to start a family. Kaleigh is married to Jonathan Tillotson and has 2 beautiful boys, Kaiden and Easton. Kaleigh is now an EMT with Pafford EMS and intends to further her education to become a flight medic in the future. Colorguard has always been a passion of hers and even though she took an extended break from it, she still practices skills from home. Kaleigh is super excited for this chance to go back to her roots and share a passion of hers with others.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EVAN WILLIAMS
Director of Communications

RICARDO ROBINSON-SHINALL
Director of Operations

MARTELL PEARSON
Founder/ Executive Director

SARAH THAMES
Director of Membership Development
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Since our founding in 2019, Future Independent Winterguard has developed and grown in a positive direction. We’re very proud of the diversity of our staff, and their abilities to contribute their own unique experience and skills to our success. Find out more about some of our team members below.