Express Winter Guard

Express Director - Charlotte Buhman - charbuhman@hotmail.com

Charlotte has been involved with the organization since it began as the Northwest Missouri State University Winter Guard in 2001.  She has been a marching member, staff member, assistant director, Senior Guard Director, and now Director and Vice President of the Organization.  She is married to her college sweetheart - Craig Buhman.   Charlotte is an elementary teacher in the St Josph School District.  Her husband Craig is a member of the Express Board of Directors and serves as our Public Relations Officer.  Charlotte gave birth to their Daughter Chloe this past May of 2009 the day before Mothers Day.  Congrats Charlotte and Craig, and welcome Miss Chloe!!!!

Express Assitant Director - Amber Hess - amberhess1102@hotmail.com

Amber is a member of Express, and also serves as the current Guard Director during Charlotte's maternity leave..  She is a 2002 graduate of Hickman Mills HS, and spent 4 seasons marching for the Fall and Winter Guards.  She graduated from CMSU in 2007 and is now an elementary teacher in the Ray-Pec School district, as well as the HS Marching Band Color Guard Director.

Kelly has been working with Mark and Pat on developing Nightmares, and will be driving down from Minneapolis to work with the guard thruout the fall.  Kelly is a former member of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps (95) as well as a member of the Minnesota Brass (94, 97, 98, 99, 02) and the Royal Guard Floor Ensemble Winter Guard (95,96, 98).  He has instructed several guards over the years such as Coon Rapids HS Winter Guard.

Pat is entering his fourth season as a visual instuctor with the Express Winter Guard.  For the 2010 season, Pat will be working with Kelly on the staging design for the guard.  He has worked the former show designer on each of the past two seasons shows, as well as teched some of the 2007 season.  Pat is first and foremost percussionist who has fallen in love with guard, having marched one season (his senior year) with the Hickman Mills Winter Guard (2000).  Many remember Pat as the guy looking for love during the show.  Pat is a graduate of CMSU and is married to his HS sweetheart Lindsay, who also serves Express as it's treasurer.

Express Dance Instructor - Kristen Kemp

Kristen returns to Express for her second season as our Dance Coordinator/designer and instructor.  Kristen will be working with the guard members to expand their capabilities with proper dance technique, as well as clean all the movement under the equipment work.  She is well suited to this, as she works as a dance instructor for Dance Studio in Warrensburg, Mo.  One of her groups just took first place in a national competition.  Kristen is married to Mike Kemp, who serves as the Express Guard's Fundraising Director.

Christy Thomason - World Equipment Tech

Christy comes to Express after placing her own guard - Innovations - inactive for the 2009 season for personal reasons.  She is a graduate of Hickman Mills High School in 1993 where she first learned about winter guard from Jeff Storey and Mark Schleihs.  She attended college at SMSU in Springfield and graduated in 1997.   She says "It was a great experience for me to have John Sullivan as my guard instructor there".  After graduating from college she slowed down on guard stuff and got married and has two amazing boys ages 5 and 8.  Christy is very active in the Kearney Relay for Life, after her dad passed away 2 1/2yrs ago from Brain cancer and it is very important for her to raise money for cancer research.  I just wish dad could be here to see all of this-he would be so proud and excited to find me following my dream. After being the guard director at Kearney High School Christy went to Blue Springs South where she worked with wonderful people and gained even more experience.  Express is very happy to have her aboard and have her add her knowledge and love of guard to our Organization.