Check out Fusion's Guard Staff for 2015

[Fusion Core Administration]

WORLD CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP GUARD STAFF RETURNS FOR 2015........

Fusion is pleased to announce the return of its World Class Championship Guard Staff for the 2014 season lead by Rob Watson. Fusion Core's Color Guard staff represents years of instruction, performing, writing and designing from the activities most prestigious organizations; from DCI to WGI. Coming off a successful season earning DCA's... World Championship High Color Guard Award, against formidable ensembles, Rob Watson said "I am excited to continue to expand upon the program and look forward to welcoming returning and new members to the 2015 Guard."

Please join the Core in welcoming returning and new guard staff.

Rob Watson | Program Coordinator, Guard Designer & Caption Head

Throughout his 16-year career, Rob has remained active in the marching arts and education. Many are familiar with his work with Emanon Winter Guards: 2013 Caption Head of Emanon A Guard and a show designer of Emanon Open Guard's 2010 "Seated Perspective" show (WGI IO 6th Place) - and currently, he resides on the executive administrative team.

Rob is proud to return as Production Coordinator and Color Guard Caption Head for the 2015 summer season. He has assembled a instructional team of some of the best color guard designers and technicians in the industry — culminating last year's production of "Dreamscapes" with a World Champion Color Guard trophy at the DCA World Championship in Rochester, NY.

Rob has taught and consulted with numerous high school, college, drum corps, marching band and winter guard ensembles all around the country, receiving numerous accolades, with units including Southern Regional HS (NJ) 2003-2008, Middle Township HS, Toms River East HS (NJ) 2009-2012, West Orange HS (NJ) 2011, Washington HS (MO) 2011.

Rob also serves as a national color guard and visual performance adjudicator for several marching arts and winter guard associations around the country. In 1999, Rob was named among the "Top 10 Performers in the World" by Field & Floor Magazine. Rob resides in Mount Olive, New Jersey and is the Vice President of User Experience for the Advertising Specialty Institute, a leading agency in promotional marketing and advertising.

Tim McLaughlin | Rifle Instructor & Designer

Tim is excited to return to Fusion Core's Guard Staff for his second year as the primary rifle designer and technician. With 10 consistent years of performing and teaching behind him, Tim offers a fresh take on choreography while capitalizing on weapon technique with his programs. He has taught extremely successful programs to date: Fusion Core (2014), Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps (2013), Sachem High School (2012), Cadets2 Drum and Bugle Corps (2012), Northern Highlands Regional High School (2009-2011), and Lindenhurst High School (2009).

Tim is no stranger when it comes to performance either, completing the most successful season with the Emanon Independent World winter guard (2010, 2013-2014) and has a marching history that holds his stake in the ground with Alter Ego Independent World (2011-2012), The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps (2010), Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps (2009, 2013), Regime (2008-2009), and the Sachem Flaming Arrows Marching Band (2003-2007).

Outside of the activity, Tim is a Packaging and Brand Designer in New York City and lends his graphic talents to winter guard set design, notably Trumbull High School (2011-2012), Alter Ego (2011-2012), Newtown HS (2013-2014) and Redlands HS (2013-2014). He currently lives in New Jersey.

Lia Grauch | Saber Instructor & Designer

Lia returns for her second season to Fusion Core's Guard Staff as the Saber Instructor & Designer. She has been involved in guard activity since the late nineties. Lia began teaching while attending high school and continued throughout college.

She has had the opportunity to be on the design team for numerous groups such as Haverford HS, Daniel Boone HS, Immaculata HS, Mount Olive HS and most recently Spring Ford HS. Lia started her Drum Corps career with the Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps from 2006-2009. Then, marched with the Reading Buccaneers until 2011.

She has had the opportunity to travel and perform abroad with support from WGI- Sport of the Arts. She currently is a captain at Emanon Independent World Color Guard from Hackettstown, NJ. Lia currently lives in Pottstown, PA and Works for a Software and Technology company in the HR department.

Casey McCoy | Flag Instructor & Designer

Casey is looking forward to his second season with the Fusion Core Colorguard 2015. Casey has been active in the color guard world for over 15 years performing and teaching with several units. Casey has worked with a large number of high school and independent programs throughout the country including Mt Markham HS (NY), Liverpool HS (NY), East Syracuse Minoa HS (NY), Ridge HS (NJ), West Milford HS (NJ), McNeil HS (TX); as well as Spectrum Winterguard (NY), a multiple WGI A and Open Class Finalist.

Casey is also still very much active in the performance world. He is a current 4-year member with Alter Ego Winterguard, a 6 time WGI Independent World Finalist Winterguard based out of Trumbull, Connecticut. Casey began performing with his high school group (New Hartford High School, NY) and went on to march with Brigadiers Winterguard (2006), Spectrum Winterguard (2007-2010), as well as DCA corps Syracuse Brigadiers (2004-2005), Empire Statesmen (2007-2009) and the Hawthorne Caballeros (2011-2013), who were the 2013 DCA Best Colorguard.

When Casey isn't on a field or in a gym spinning or teaching, he works as an Administrative Assistant for Callisto Home, a high-end home furnishings and design company in Secaucus, NJ. Casey currently resides in Lyndhurst, NJ.

Kerri Newlander | Guard Instructor

Kerri was inspired by the color guard activity in 1994 while watching her brother at football games and competitions. In 1996 Kerri was asked to be a flag runner and began marching in 1997 with her high school, Mt. Pocono, through 2000 earning auxiliary awards in 1999 & 2000; Group 4 ACC Champions.

Kerri's drum corps experience began with the New York Skyliners in 2003, 2004 and 2006. She marched with Fusion's A winter guard, aging out in 2006 and then serving in 2007 as Instructor. Kerri's other instructional background includes Pocono Mountain East High School in 2002 – 2004, 2009 and 2010, Huntington High School, 2005 and Hicksville High School winter guard in 2007. During her tenure with Mt. Pocono the group has gone from 12th place to 6th place finish at ACC's, their highest placement to date.

In 2007 Kerri was part of Fusion's first year out as a Drum Corps and has been a part of Fusion Core's Guard staff and helped with marching on the field for the 2007-2008 and 2010-2014 seasons. Kerri is looking forward to being a part of this group's continued success this summer!

Syreeta Shelley | Guard Instructor

Syreeta was born and raised in Norwalk, CT. She started her marching career with Norwalk High School Marching Band and Winter Guard. The winter guard was a Scholastic Open Finalist throughout each of her years in high school. Syreeta was then captain her senior year.

After graduating from high school, she continued her passion to march. She marched with Hawthorne Caballeros for a summer. Syreeta loved winter guard and decided to audition for Blessed Sacrament which became her family and marched there for 4 years, 2001-2004 and was captain 2003 & 2004. Throughout her years at Sac, she marched with the Cadets of Bergen County in 2001 and Connecticut Hurricanes in 2002 & 2003.

Syreeta has been teaching the Norwalk High School Marching Band and Winterguard since she has graduated in 2000. She's currently a stay at home mom with an adorable 2 year old.

Yvette Gonzalez-Loya | Guard Instructor

Yvette is excited to return to the guard staff at Fusion Core. She started her color guard career with Norwalk High School Marching Band and Winter Guard from 2004 – 2011; leading the group as captain her Senior year. After graduating Norwalk, she joined their staff and continues today teaching Norwalk's Marching Band and Open Class winter guard. In addition to her teaching role at Norwalk, she currently resides on the color guard staff for the University of New Haven's marching band.

Yvette was a member of Blessed Sacrament Winter Guard from 2012-2014 and will be continuing her performer role with Alter Ego Winter Guard in 2015. She marched with the Connecticut Hurricanes in 2012 and filled a performer spot with Fusion Core in 2013 – while being a member of the Guard Staff at that time. Last summer (2014), Yvette was a color guard member with the world-famous Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps from Allentown, PA – placing 2nd in color guard at the DCI World Championships.

Currently, Yvette resides in Norwalk, CT and is excited to rejoin the teaching ranks with Fusion for the 2015 summer season.

Bekah Van Gieson | Guard Instructor

Bekah began her color guard training in the late nineties with Pocono Mountain High School. From there she went on to perform with the West Chester University "Incomparable" Golden Rams Marching Band (2000-2003), Apex Independent World Guard (2005) and most recently, Emanon Independent World Guard (2013-present), where she currently is serving as co-captain with fellow Fusion staff member, Lia Grauch. In addition to her accomplishments in the color guard world, she has been dancing since the age of 3, a passion she carried into her involvement with guard.

Bekah resides in Bethlehem, PA and outside of the world of pageantry, she is a venue coordinator for Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites as well as a restaurant server.

This is Bekah's first year with Fusion Core and she is excited to see what this season will bring!