Staff

Gary Swanson Gary Swanson
Gary Swanson is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Apparel Design and is the director of Irondale's extensive color guard program. His credits include color guard instruction at many levels, adjudication, consulting, and special event choreography. Gary has been working with Irondale since 1990 and is also a freelance designer.


Jennifer Piche Jennifer Piché
Jen is a 1993 graduate of Irondale High School, and the 2002-03 season marks her second year as a colorguard instructor at Irondale along with many seasons here as a tech. She has marched with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, Royal Guard Floor Ensemble, and Minnesota Brass, Inc. Jen has taught colorguard at a couple of other local high schools in the past, and this summer helped with two out of state guards. Jen has a B.A. in English and a teaching license. She is in her fourth year of teaching and is currently at North High School in Minneapolis teaching 9th and 10th grade English classes.


Alison Mullaney Alison Mullaney
Alison is a 1998 graduate of Irondale, and the 2001 season marks her second season as an instructor at Irondale. In the summers of 2000 and 2001 she competed with the Blue Knights from Denver, and spent the previous two summers with Minnesota Brass Inc. She has also performed with Royal Guard Winter Guard. In addition to her instruction at Irondale, she has instructed the color guard at Wadena-Deer Creek high school and the Regement Winter Guard of Elk River.


Alison Mullaney Kim Spaeth-Presley
kimblybimbly@aol.com
Kim is currently teaching music and band at Grenada High School in Grenada, MS. She is a 1992 graduate of Irondale High School and has worked with the Irondale program since 1993. She has marched with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps.


Shubhang Davé
Shubhang Dave graduated from Irondale in 2002. He marched mellophone for four years, and was captain in 2000 and 2001. He also performed in the horn guard, which eased his transition to the color guard in the 2002 winter season. Shubhang enjoyed making the switch and hopes his color guard career will not be short-lived. Shubhang currently attends Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where he studies public health and communication.


Andy Combites Andy Combites
"AC" has been working with Irondale since the fall of 1998. He played trombone in the Iowa State University "Varsity" Marching Band and spent three seasons in their winter drumline on cymbals and bass drum. He played baritone with the Knights Drum & Bugle Corps from Geneseo, IL and euphonium with the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps from Rosemont, IL. Andy graduated from ISU in 1996 with degrees in Fine Arts and Advertising. He recently started his own design/consulting firm - Rightbrain Leftbrain, Inc.


Jessica Kracl
Jessica Kracl is a 2002 graduate of Irondale High School where she performed with the colorguard for four years in both the fall and the winter and acted as one of two captains during her last year with the guard. This has been Jessica's first season on the instructional side of things. Currently Jessica is attending Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN as an intended Biology/Neuroscience double major and music minor.