INDIANAPOLIS — Drum Corps International, Marching Music’s Major League™, has appointed Brad Furlano as its next chief executive officer.
Furlano’s appointment comes by unanimous decision of the DCI Board of Directors. He will officially start in the position on September 1, stepping in as the fifth full-time CEO of Drum Corps International since the nonprofit’s founding in 1972.
“I am honored and humbled by the trust the board and member organizations have placed in me,” said Furlano. “Drum Corps International has had a profound impact on my life, and I look forward to working alongside the corps, staff, volunteers, sponsors, and fans who make this activity so special. Together, we will continue to strengthen and grow the experience for future generations.”
Having grown up within the Drum Corps International community, Furlano brings decades of experience in leadership, administration, event operations and the marching arts activity to the role.
His history with the drum corps activity stretches back more than 40 years with the Blue Stars organization as a performer, staff member, volunteer, board member and executive leader. Named the Blue Stars CEO in 2006, Furlano’s tenure with the La Crosse, Wisconsin corps has been marked by a commitment to member experience, artistic excellence and financial stability.
Complementing his drum corps background, Furlano also brings impressive corporate experience to DCI’s top leadership position. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, he spent years managing high-level communications teams for Fortune 500 companies, including Best Buy, Ameriprise Financial and Eddie Bauer.
Furlano is intimately familiar with DCI’s internal governance and member relations. In 2016, while serving as CEO of the Blue Stars, he was elected to the newly created role of “Chair of the Membership.” Serving in this capacity through 2019, Furlano acted as an essential ombudsman, overseeing the governance committee, facilitating engagement across diverse member organizations, and increasing transparent communication between the board of directors and the corps themselves.
“Having worked alongside Brad for many years within the activity, I know firsthand his deep commitment to the marching arts,” said DCI board chair Jonathan Powell, who first encountered Furlano’s leadership as a student in the Blue Stars program. “He has a comprehensive understanding of the operational realities facing our participating ensembles, paired with the corporate business acumen needed to lead our global organization. We are thrilled to welcome him as our next CEO.”
Following a brief transition period, Furlano will take the reins from DCI chief financial officer Jennifer Clevenger, who has been serving as interim CEO since the spring. The DCI board of directors expressed their deep gratitude to Clevenger for her steady leadership in guiding DCI’s corporate staff and participating organizations through the 2026 DCI Summer Tour and preparing the organization for this successful transition.
