Board of Directors
Board Officers
At Large Board Members
Board Officers
President:
Executive Committee Chair
Spent over 40 years in nonprofit development and administration, 17 years on staff at USC and as vice president at two other local universities. Credits Art Bartner with being his first nonprofit boss when he was appointed band manager in 1975-76, the year of the second trip to Notre Dame and the Liberty Bowl. Lives in DTLA with his partner, Chris Reyes. A different side of Rick: His love for LA history. Author of the local history book “The Iron Fist,” an immigrant’s story to wealth and power.
First VP:
Second VP:
Betsey Dillon, Clarinet, 1977-81
Entrepreneur, product designer and merchandiser. Mom of a Trojan and a Husky. Took my USC business degree and started my own apparel label at 28. Many of our designs were featured in movies and television: “Fight Club,” “MTV,” “Friends,” “The Bachelor,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Beverly Hills 90210,” “The Nanny,” etc. Ready to lend my collegiate licensing
VP of Young Alumni:
Treasurer:
Howie Szabo, Trombone, 1977-1981
Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair
Real estate investor, attorney and broker.
Secretary:
Jan Berkeley, Silk, 1983-1986, 1998-2000
Secretary, Homecoming Committee Chair
Returned to the TMB in 1998 to become the silk TA and lead the alumni silks. Worked in systems and computer engineering. I also perform dance with an over 50s dance team and with my high school alumni drum section.
At Large Board Members
Daniel Barcenas
Trombone, 1979-1981
Global Supply Chain Management Consultant
Dan Beintema
Trumpet, 1979-81
Fundraising Committee Chair
Former Naval Officer and carrier aviator. Retired from City of Chula Vista as an executive manager; career continues as President of the USS Midway Foundation. Prepared and finalized the field charts for half-time shows for Dr. ‘Arc’ Bartner during tenure, and was a member of the tiny group who initiated the iconic lyrics to the end of “Tusk”, dishonoring the cross-town wannabes.
Christina Burcelis
Silk 2012-2014, Squad Leader,
I’m an alumna from the Annenberg School of Communication and am currently pursuing master’s in management at Pepperdine. I spent 10 years as a director of nonprofits throughout California and Canada. Currently working as an account manager at Keurig Dr. Pepper. I grew up watching the band since I was 2 years old and because my father attended USC. My greatest memory: Walking down Trousdale parading to the Coliseum for the first time and hearing my dad screaming, “That’s my daughter!” with a big photo of me on his shirt.
Raymond Camacho
Robert Campos
Known as “Rob” by Dr. Bartner. Actually went to see Dr. Bartner during his senior year of high school and told him he wanted to join the TMB. Former Laker Band, Disneyland Band and performed five nights at the Forum with Fleetwood Mac.
Richard Cox
Trumpet, 1981-84, TMB Assistant Director
Started with the band in 1981 and never left, although I did graduate from USC in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts in Trumpet Performance. Was a squad leader, section leader, and TA. Also:10-piece director from 1986-1998; member of the Lakers Band from 1981-1986; director of the Lakers Band in 1986. Performed in the 1984 Olympic band (including the venue band for boxing and basketball) and in the All-American College Band for President Reagan’s second inauguration in Washington, D.C. Performed in the opening ceremonies for Euro Disney in France and have appeared in numerous TV shows and movies. My most recognizable role is the close up of my foot stepping on the remote in “The Naked Gun.”
Rylee Epperson
Alto Sax, 2014-2018
Gretchen Heffler
It is often hard to leave USC, so after graduate school I became part of the university annual giving staff. After my 10-year stint in development at USC, I pursued my love of music and travel, producing international music festivals and performance tours. Traveling the globe, even touring with the TMB in 2000 to Australia and New Zealand. I then spent most of my career as a major gifts officer with the Salvation Army, Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, California Outdoor Heritage Alliance, Ducks Unlimited and MSGI Direct. TMB highlight: I stayed an extra week in Hawaii, right before the Rose Bowl, came back to rehearsal and marched the parade and game.
Natalie Innocenzi
Azya Jackson
Kirk Lynch
Clarinet, 1984-1988, 2019
Clinical pharmacist for large managed health care organization. Enjoy travel, rock concerts and games. Eternally young at heart having just marched the Holiday Bowl. Does that make me the oldest person ever to march on the field in uniform?
Joan Mullins
Silk, 1981-1982
Retired Catholic School Principal ADLA. Named child Troy Thomas and he was born on the day that OJ was cruising the freeway.
Javier Ortega
Trumpet, 2001-2005
Southern California native with 15 years’ professional service experience in banking, mortgage lending, credit analysis, and tax compliance. I am a CPA at a global professional service firm in Los Angeles. I joined the TMB at the beginning of the Coach Carroll Trojan football era. It was a tremendous privilege to march under the direction of Dr. Bartner for four years. One of my favorite memories is performing the National Anthem at the 2004 Rose Bowl, directed by John Williams, after marching a six-mile parade.
Steve Ortiz
Tenor Sax, 1987-1992, Section Leader/Band Manager
Events Committee Chair
Finance and accounting professional for over 25 years. Currently controller at Walton Isaacson. Perpetual thorn in Dr. Bartner’s side until Dr. Bartner grudgingly made him band manager. Only tenor sax on the trip to Pullman, Washington, in 1989 that began the streak of the TMB attending every USC Football game, home or away.
Lisa Rapp
Baritone and mellophone, 1975-1979
Received my bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1979 and have nearly 40 years of public works experience. I’ve served the city of Lakewood, Calif., for 30 years, with 25 as public works director. Met my husband Richard (trumpet) while getting on the bus to go to band camp as freshmen in August, 1975. I was one of the members who had to change instruments when Dr.Bartner eliminated baritones, so I switched to mellophone. We’re very proud to have two sons who are USC TMB trumpets. A devoted Trojan for life, I’m an active mentor for civil and environmental engineering and public policy students at USC and a member of Town and Gown.
Rhonda Rogers
Alto Sax, 1972-75
Volunteer Relations Chair
Former broadcast journalist and later technology sales professional. Mother of Ashley (Kuhnert) Hatcher, second generation TMB alumni. Learned miracles happen while raising money for the first Notre Dame trip in 1973, and the come-from-behind football game of SC over Notre Dame, 55-24 in 1974.
Clarinet, 1971-75
Communications Committee Chair
Semi-retired communications consultant. Former reporter and corporate communications professional. Annoyed Dr. Bartner with tell-all stories about TMB road trips that appeared in the Daily Trojan.
Trombone, 1973-77, Band Manager 1976-77
I’m an attorney for a federal banking agency; married a flag.
Trombone, 1980-1984
Personnel Committee Chair
Attorney. Parlayed four years in the band into 32 years of marriage and an offspring who is currently marching in the band.
Don Townswick
Trumpet, 1985-1988
Head of equities at Conning Inc. in Hartford, CT. My team and I invest stock portfolios for our clients. I transferred into USC and missed the Olympic band, but did get to play a fanfare horn at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies in 1984. As for memories: All the bay area trips were awesome! I remember watching the Bears crush the Patriots in 1986 on a trip to San Fran while drinking with friends out on Fisherman’s Wharf. The Citrus Bowl and Rose Bowl trips in 87-88 were highlights too, along with the Notre Dame trips!