Northwest Guilford Viking Band
PLATINUM Corporate Sponsors
Mailing Address : PO Box 820 Oak Ridge, NC 27310
Booster Board
President - Rick Pro Contact Our President
Information Coming SOON !
Hi, my name is Rick Pro and I am your 2024-2025 NWBB President. This is my first year on the Board, but I have been active on the Viking Band Prop Team for two seasons. I also coach the sprinters on the NWGHS track and field team.
I am married to Jennifer (the 2024-25 PTA vice president), an exercise physiologist, health fanatic and personal trainer. We have a rising junior, Isabella, who is a percussionist/drummer in various school bands and will be on drum set for the Marching Vikings. Gianna, our rising 8th grader is a middle school cheerleader and sprinter/long jumper on the track team.
I also have three adult daughters in Pennsylvania (Angela and Christina) and Perth Australia (Alyssa) and four grandsons ages 1 month to 6 years. Four of my five daughters have been musicians (flute, clarinet, guitar, drums, piano) and I am a lifelong guitarist/vocalist, so I LOVE our involvement with the Marching Vikings!
I am a Pennsylvania native but have made my home in North Carolina for nearly sixteen years. My role as Cone Health’s first Chief Data and Analytics Officer brought us to Greensboro. One year ago, I started my own strategy, analytics, and leadership consultancy, VRINetics LLC.
We settled in Stokesdale in 2016 and have loved being a part of the Northwest Marching Vikings family!
If you have any questions about the program, I am happy to answer. I guarantee that, in addition to musicianship, the life lessons learned by your child as a member of the Marching Vikings will be transformational.
Vice President - Kristi Flynt Contact Our Vice President
Hi, my name is Kristi Flynt and I will be serving as Vice President for the 2024-25 school year.
My son, Joshua Flynt is a 9th grader, marching for his 3rd year playing Baritone.
I am a stay at home mom. My husband, Bradley Flynt is the Superintendent over the water resources department for the City of Greensboro. We have lived in Stokesdale for 19 years.
I look forward to meeting and working with everyone this year.
I hope you enjoy this amazing program as much as my family and I have over the last several years.
Secretary - Amber Middleton Contact Our Secretary
Hi, my name is Amber Middleton and I am your 2024-2025 NWBB Secretary. It is my first year on the board, but I have previously been Secretary for both the Oak Ridge Elementary and NW Middle PTOs.
I am married to Brian (aka Mr. Middleton, everyone’s favorite sub). We have a rising junior, Logan, who isn’t in band but can often be seen with a select few of the marchers and also at football games photographing for the yearbook. Landis is our 8th grade daughter and is beginning her third year of Colorguard. She is also on Varsity Winterguard and has danced at Destination Arts in Oak Ridge for 10 years.
I am a Nurse Manager for Labor and Delivery at Cone Health and have been there in various nursing roles since 2005. I graduated from NWHS in 2002 but was sadly not in the Marching Band. If I had known how beneficial the program was to students and their parents-- building self-confidence, making lasting relationships, and teaching self-discipline- I would have been involved! My advice is to give it a try. There is a place for you even if you don’t play an instrument! You won’t regret it.
If you have any questions about the program, I am happy to answer. This program has been wonderful for our whole family.
Treasurer - Cassie Nicholson Contact Our Treasurer
Hi, my name is Cassie Nicholson and I will be serving as Treasurer for the Band Boosters for the 2024-25 school year.
My husband Justin and I have 2 daughters. Alyssa is a Junior and this is her 4th year playing the flute in the marching band. Carleigh is in 6th grade and this is her first year in color guard.
I was born and raised in Florida, but after several moves with my husband, we decided to settle down in Oak Ridge in December of 2017. I work for Flow Accounting Services as a payroll administrator. We are always busy balancing that home/ work/ band life, but when I have some free time I love to refinish furniture and sew.
I look forward to another great year as part of this band family and can't wait to meet all our new band families!
Budget Director - Mark Winterhoff Contact Our Budget Director
My name is Mark Winterhoff and I will be serving as the Budget Director for 2024-2025. This will be my 4th year as a marching band parent. My wife, Carrie, and I have 2 children in the Marching Band. Our son, Luke, is in 11th grade and plays the sousaphone/tuba and our daughter, Leah, is in 8th grade and plays the mellophone/horn.
We moved to Oak Ridge in 2014 and it has been an awesome home for our family. We are grateful for the fantastic opportunity that marching band has provided for not only our children, but also for Carrie and me as parents. We treasure the experiences that we have been fortunate to share with Luke and Leah so far and are looking forward to creating more memories.
I work in Finance and Carrie is an Occupational Therapist, but currently stays busy keeping our family organized. Outside of band activities, I enjoy watching sports (especially Wake Forest), traveling, and staying active.
Ways & Means - Monika Sharpe Contact Ways & Means
I am Monika Sharpe and I will be the Co-Chair of the Ways and Means Committee with Kelly Solesbee. This is my 4th year with the band and my 3rd on the booster board.
I have two children in the Marching Band. My son, Alex is in the front ensemble and this is his 4th year marching, he also participates in Winter Percussion. He will be a senior in the 2024-25 school year. My step-daughter Hallie, is a rising freshman and she plays alto saxophone, this will be her 3rd season marching. .
When I am not with the band, my boyfriend John and I like to travel, attend baseball games and Nascar races. I work as a Customer Care Specialist for Lexington Home Brands in Thomasville.
Looking forward to another awesome season. Feel free to contact me with any and all questions you have about the band or any of our fundraising events. Remember, this is what keeps our dues where they are, we rely on our community.
Ways & Means - Contact Ways & Means
Information Coming SOON !
Volunteer Coordinator - Karli Christman Contact Our Volunteer Coordinator
Hi Everbody, My name is Karli Christman! My son Luke plays clarinet and this is his 2nd year in Marching Band.
Luke also has a younger sister at Northwest. We, along with my husband James, have lived in Stokesdale for 2 1/2 years, before that we were in High Point for 16 years.
I work full time with DH Griffin, but I had such a great time with the Viking Band family last year that I knew I had to be more involved this year! I look forward to working with you all this year!
Fall Festival - Harry Keller Contact Fall Festival Chairperson
Hello, my name is Harry Keller and I'm happy to serve as the Fall Festival Chairman for the 2024-2025 Viking Band. I am originally from Pennsylvania, and our family moved to North Carolina in 2009.
My wife Erica and I both grew up in band, and knowing all of the great benefits, we encouraged all of our children to get involved in music as well. Maya plays clarinet, and graduated from NW Guilford HS in 2021. Eli graduated in 2023 and plays alto and bari saxophone. Owen is in 11th grade, and plays French horn, mellophone & trombone.
I have been involved with the band program since 2017 by helping with props and driving equipment trucks. Previous to this role, I served as Logistics Director. I work as an engineer at Volvo Trucks, focused on energy simulation and data analytics. In my free time, I enjoy woodworking, music and cycling.
I have played percussion since I was 10, and have performed with the Penn State Blue Band and the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. Seeing my children performing and growing with music has been a very rewarding experience, and I am very thankful that they are part of the NW Guilford program!
Competition Support - Amy Cassidy Contact Competition Support
Hi. I’m Amy Cassidy and I am half of your Competition Support team for 2024-2025. Our role is to make sure our marchers have everything they need for football games and competitions including all their uniform parts!
I have two amazing band kids. Lucy is a sophomore who is in color guard, but has also marched sousaphone. She has marched since the 7th grade. She has also been on the Varsity Winter Guard the last two years, and plays tuba in class band. Riley is a senior this year and has marched since 9th grade. She plays clarinet and is the clarinet section leader (LT) for the marching band. She has also been on Varsity Winter Guard since 9th grade. My husband Mike is a proud prop dad.
When I’m not with the band I work as an obstetric anesthesiologist at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist helping mamas bring their babies into the world safely as well as teaching residents and medical students! My remaining spare minutes are spent traveling or planning where we’re going to travel next.
I can’t say enough about what this program has done for my kids and our family. My advice to new members is: jump in! Involve yourself wholeheartedly, you will not regret it! You will learn so much more than how to play an instrument. I can’t wait to meet our new band family members!
Competition Support - Kara Zander Contact Competition Support
Hi I'm Kara Zander and this is my first year serving as a board member for the Competition Support Team. Our team will make sure your kids look their very best for any performance next year. We will also look after them as we travel. I volunteered with this group last year and it was very fun.
This will be my daughter Bez's second year in the band playing the Flute. The band introduced her to many new friends of all ages, They have been very supportive through the band season as well as her first year in high school. She is very excited and proud to be part of this group!
I have been working with Atrium Health Wake Forest as a Business Data Analyst for the last 7 years. I am fortunate to be able to work from home as my Mother lives with us and it makes it easier to care for her and Bez. We also have 2 crazy dogs - Midnight and Zelda.
Logistics Director - Justin Nicholson Contact Our Logistics Chairperson
Hello, my name is Justin Nicholson and I will serve as Logistics Director for the 2023-2024 school year. This is my 3rd year involved with the band program. I assisted the first 2 years and will continue to assist with the Prop Crew this year.
My wife Cassie and I have 2 children, Alyssa is in the marching band and plays Flute. Carleigh attends Oakridge Elementary. We have enjoyed being a part of the marching band family and seeing the growth in our daughter over the last 2 years.
We moved to North Carolina in 2017. I work for the American Legion as the Director of Veteran Benefits for the Department of North Carolina. I also have my real estate license.
When I am not working or selling a house, I enjoy traveling, cars, cycling, and hanging out with friends.
If you have any questions about the band, logistics, or how you can help this year please reach out to me!