COURTNEY MILLS
Courtney Allyson Mills (she/her/hers) has over 25 years of dance education, freelance choreography, and consulting experience within several facets of the performing arts. A graduate of Seminole High School in Seminole, Florida, Ms. Mills holds a Master of Arts in Performance Psychology from National University and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Texas Woman’s University. She also earned a Specialized Certification in Teaching Social-Emotional Learning from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Courtney is the Modern/Contemporary Dance teacher at the Center for Visual & Performing Arts in Arlington, Texas. Her responsibilities include the creation of the modern/contemporary dance program servicing all six high schools in the district, two full-length dance productions, as well as forming two dance companies comprised of secondary students within Arlington ISD; contemp.co and Company E. Previously, Ms. Mills was the dance, yoga, and AVID teacher at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, CO as well as the Director of the Smoky Hill Dance Collective. She additionally served as the Director of Dance at Bowie High School in Austin, Texas where she taught the Silver Stars Drill Team, Dance 1-4, and Musical Theatre Dance.
A Carolina Crown alumni, Courtney is proud to have been on staff at Crown, Santa Clara Vanguard, Phantom Regiment, Madison Scouts, Crossmen, and Troopers. Currently, she is a visual designer for The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. Mills marched The Company Colour Guard, a WGI Independent A (1995) and Open (1996) gold medalist, from St. Petersburg, Florida. She attributes her growth into the human she is today to her many years marching and teaching drum corps and winter guard.
Ms. Mills is an active clinician, performance consultant, and choreographer. She is currently on a team at USA Gymnastics creating curriculum and training for a New Coaches pilot program launching in the Spring of 2023. Courtney frequently provides lectures, webinars, and presentations to a variety of organizations, including; USA Gymnastics, Vivace Education, USBands, and Texas Dance Educators Association. Ms. Mills also broadcasts the live stream for all Bands of America contests, through Box5 Media. A seasoned explorer, Courtney loves the mountains, hiking, and nature, as well as anything sports-related.
GEOFF SPERLING
Originally from Detroit, MI, Geoffrey graduated from Indiana University-Bloomington with a Bachelor of the Arts. Geoffrey has been a performing member, and currently is an alumni of Interplay, Zydeco, and The Pride of Cincinnati Winterguards. In 2011, Geoffrey ended his 8 year DCI career as a performing member with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps where he was a part of the George Zingali "Best Color guard" award-winning cast. Prior to that, Geoffrey was a marching member with the Cadets (2008-2010), Bluecoats (2007), Hawthorne Caballeros (2009), Capital Regiment (2006), Racine Kilties (2005-2006),and The Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps (2004-2005).
After moving to Texas, Geoffrey became an integral part of the design team at Cedar Ridge High School from 2012-2014. During his time at Cedar Ridge the marching band made its inaugural appearance in the Bands of America Grand National Finals, the winter guard made finals at all WGI regional appearances, and medaled in their local circuit. Following his time at Cedar Ridge, Geoffrey directed and designed for the New Braunfels High School Band and Colorguard. During his time at New Braunfels, his design contribution helped lead the band to their highest placement, still to date, within Area D 6A. The winterguard grew to 3 performing ensembles, and was awarded multiple accolades in TECA, TCGC, and WGI (including making finals at the WGI Southwest Power Regional for the first time in school history). Outside of his involvement with scholastic programs, Geoffrey has served as choreographer for multiple drum and bugle corps and winterguard programs across the country. Currently, Geoffrey is one of the executive directors of Origins Winterguard. An Indepencent Open & World program based out of Austin, Tx. Geoffrey serves on the WGI Steering committee and has been a member of the WGI Colorguard Advisory Board since 2018. As a freelance designer, Geoffrey has had the privilege of working with programs such as Hebron HS, Oak Ridge HS, Hanks HS, Pebble Hills HS, McNeil HS, and United HS to name a few. When Geoffrey isn’t off doing pageantry he enjoys spending time at home with his two dogs Artie & Leo and escaping to National Parks to go hiking.
STEPHANIE CHAVEZ
Stephanie Chavez began her Color Guard career as a member of the Cypress Falls HS Color Guard from 2003-2007. Upon graduating from HS, she continued to pursue her passion for color guard as a member of the Phantom Regiment Color Guard from 2007-2010. During her time with the Phantom Regiment, Ms. Chavez served as the Color Guard Co-Captain in 2009 and Color Guard Captain in 2010. After four years with the Phantom Regiment Ms. Chavez decided to march her last summer of drum corps with the 2011 Carolina Crown Guard. Aside from drum corps, Ms. Chavez, also performed during the winter guard season with Code Black in 2008 and continued her performance career as Captain of Cypress Independent Winter Guard in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016.
After many years as a performer, Ms. Chavez continues her involvement in the color guard activity as an educator for many high school and independent color guard programs across the nation. From 2007-2013, Ms. Chavez was the Color Guard Director at Cypress Ridge HS, from 2010-2015 she was a tech/choreographer for the 2014 WGI Scholastic Open Champions, Spring HS and from 2013-2018 she was the Color Guard Director for the 2017 WGI Scholastic A Champions, Klein Oak HS. During the summers of 2012- 2013 she taught the Blue Knights Color Guard, the Crossmen Color Guard in 2015- 2016, the Boston Crusaders Color Guard for their 2017 season and was Color Guard Caption Head/ Designer for Phantom Regiment from 2018-2022. Most recently, Ms. Chavez served as Assistant Caption Head/ Choreographer for the 2023 Cavaliers CG and consulted for the BKCG and Madison Scouts CG. Lastly, during the winter seasons from 2013-2019 Chavez served as a technician and choreographer for Cypress Independent Winter Guard.
Ms. Chavez is currently the Color Guard Director at Friendswood HS/JH and serves as mentor, consultant, technician, choreographer for programs in the Houston area. Aside from her career in the color guard activity, she is also a graduate from the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and minor in Education. On her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, her partner Mason and loves cuddling with her cat, Pacha.