Senior Staff Biographies

Executive Director - Marc Kaufman
Versatility is the name of the game for Marc Kaufman. In Marc’s career as an educator, he has been a classroom teacher, drama director, musical director, curriculum writer, educational video producer, and a state educational technology coordinator. Prior to entering the classroom, Marc had a successful theatrical career, appearing in Broadway’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and an award-winning revival of West Side Story. Although he holds degrees from Western Connecticut State University and Kennesaw State University, some of his fondest memories are from 1980 and 1981, when he marched in the Redcoat Band at the University of Georgia. In addition to his CoH responsibilities, Marc spends much of his time volunteering in Boy Scout Troop 504 and Cub Scout Pack 504 as an Assistant Scoutmaster and Webelos Den Leader. Marc lives in Lilburn, Ga. with his wife, Jackie, sons Jared and Daniel, and daughter Caitie.

Program and Instructional Coordinator - Alan Armstrong
A native of Dalton Georgia, Alan Armstrong,  is a Graduate of Jacksonville State University with a BS in Music Education. Finishing his 14th year of teaching in public schools, he is in his 6th year at Northgate HS in Newnan GA after opening the school in 1996. He has 21 years of experience as a member or staff member with the internationally competitive Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps, and most recently served as an arranging consultant and brass caption head for this group.  He has served twice as the Director of the GA Lions All State Band, and has been a clinician and consultant for bands and drum corps in Japan for the past 6 years. His bands have consistently received superior ratings in marching and concert events and have won numerous championship honors in both regional and national competitions. They have appeared in the Alabama Governors Inaugural Parade, the WSB TV “Salute to America Parade” and three times in the Egleston Christmas Parade.  The Northgate band recently received the invitation to perform as a featured band in the 2003 Chinese New Years Day Parade in San Francisco, CA. His arrangements are published nationally through Jalen Publications.  He was selected by his peers as the Northgate Teacher of the Year in 1997-98 and was named to “Who’s Who Among American Teachers” in 1999 and 2002. He is married to the former Ginger Hodges of Houston Texas and they are the proud parents of Caitlin (12), Kelsey (8) and twins Ryan and Emily (4 1Ú2).

Operations and Tour Manager - Mike Miller
A native of Columbus Georgia, Mike Miller is a graduate of Columbus State University with a BA in Music.  He has served as the music teacher at Western Elementary in Newnan, GA, Director of Bands for Taylor County Schools in Butler, GA and currently serves as the Director of Bands at Arnall Middle School in addition to his duties as an Asst. Director at Northgate HS both in Newnan, GA.  His bands have consistently received superior and excellent ratings in marching and concert competitions.  During his tenure, the Taylor County Marching Band participated in the prestigious “St. Patrick’s Day Parade” in Savannah, GA and received third place in their class at the Smoky Mountain Music Festival in Gatlinburg, TN. He has served in the past as a member and as the Tour Director for the Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps. He is married to the former Diane Tomassini of Lawrenceville, GA.

Percussion Caption Head - David A. Enete
David is an Atlanta native and a graduate of the University of Georgia. While at the University of Georgia, he earned the degrees Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Bachelor of Music in Music Education, and Master of Music Education.  David is an active percussion arranger and drill writer.  Annually, he serves as adjudicator for numerous functions of the Georgia Music Educators Association and marching band competitions.  He is highly regarded as a percussion and marching judge in the Southeast U.S. David is currently a faculty member at Hiram High School (Hiram, Ga.) serving as Associate Director of Bands and Director of Percussion Studies. His other instructional credits include Pope High School marching percussion (Marietta, Ga.), Paulding County High School marching percussion (Dallas, Ga.), Perry High School marching percussion (Perry, Ga.) and the University of Georgia Drum line.  At the University of Georgia, David served as a marching technician during his first degree program and later as percussion instructor and arranger during his music studies. While instructing the UGA marching percussion program in 1994, the line took 4th place at the Percussive Arts International Convention's College Drumline Competition. In 1995, David served as coordinator of the first ever Marching Percussion Camp for Joycliffe, Inc. and maintained that position for 3 years.  He has performed with the University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Percussion Project, and the Spirit of Atlanta. David lives in Dallas, Ga. with his wife, Susan and daughter Amelia Grace.

Drill Designer - Matt Putnam
From Rutherfordton North Carolina, Matt Putnam, is a graduate of Limestone College with a BA in Music Education. Matt is an active drill designer, arranger and clinician for marching bands all across the country. Each year he serves as an adjudicator at numerous marching band competitions throughout the Southeast. He is the owner of Contempo Show Designs, a design firm specializing in custom marching band show packages and the Co-Owner of The Band Room, an up and coming marching band accessory company. His arrangements have been published by Row-Loff Productions. He has also served as a design consultant for Stanbury Uniforms. Matt is an alumnus of the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps ('85-'87). He is married to the former Deanna Spence of Travelers Rest South Carolina and they are the proud parents of Brittany (8) and Benjamin (5).