Kevin Valentine
Executive Director
Kevin Valentine brings over 25 years of leadership, technology, and operations management experience to Gold Youth Arts, having held senior leadership positions with Walt Disney Parks & Resorts and Hilton Hotels.
He is responsible for all aspects of the Organization, including strategic planning, marketing, financial and operational execution, legal and regulatory compliance, human resources management and volunteer coordination, as well as operation of the GOLD’s three performance ensembles (Gold Indoor Percussion, GOLD Winterguard, and GOLD Drum & Bugle Corps.)
Mr. Valentine holds a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Azusa Pacific University, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He lives in Corona, California, and is supported by his wife Kari, his daughter Rebekah and son Tim, who is an alumnus of the Gold Euphonium Section.
Scott Director
Program Composer & Director of Development
Mr. Director has over 20 years’ experience as a music educator and composer, and has extensive experience in the creation and development of fundraising programs for non-profit organizations. He is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing all of Gold Youth Arts’ fundraising, planned giving, special events and capital campaigns.
Mr. Director is the composer of original music for Gold Drum & Bugle Corps, and he also serves as the Organization’s Director of Development.
He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Miami where he studied with Clifton Williams, Frederick Fennell and Alfred Reed. Currently, Mr. Director resides in Los Angeles where he maintains an active composing, arranging, and teaching schedule.
Jeremy Grasz
Director of Technology and Live Events
Mr. Grasz has over 20 years of operations experience at Best Buy Co., Inc., as well as more than 10 years’ experience managing the operations of Gold Drum & Bugle Corps.
He is responsible for all technology systems including website design, social media, E-commerce, systems administration, and customer relationship management systems, as well as managing administrative tasks for all GOLD Drum & Bugle Corps events.
Mr. Grasz currently lives in Oceanside, CA.
Melannie Stakely
Operations Manager
Ms. Stakely is an experienced educator and operations planner with over 15 years’ experience in the marching arts activity.
She has performed with Mystikal Drum and Bugle Corps, Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, Black Knights Indoor Percussion and Pulse Percussion.
Her teaching experience includes bass drum instructor and battery manager roles with Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps, Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps, Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps, and Pulse’s POW Percussion, along with administrative roles as tour manager, staff coordinator, operations assistant manager, and ensemble director.
Ms. Stakely earned a Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Los Angeles, majoring in Child Development with an emphasis in Elementary Subject Matter, and a Master’s Degree in School Counseling from the University of Southern California.