The National Headquarters is tremendously proud to announce that Brother Brandon M. Smith, Xi Gamma (Columbus State) 2011, has been hired as our first Assistant Director of Programs (ADP). Following the 2014 Spring semester, the position formerly known as Retreat Coordinator and Programs Assistant was modified and redefined based on evaluation of the direction that the position’s responsibilities have been shifting in the passing years. The new position reflects a broader range of responsibilities, and the job description was reformulated to be more in line with current needs. The new position takes the overwhelming primary focus away from the sporadic onsite retreats, and shifts the management directives (as much as 70% worth) toward supervision of the colony program, answering questions posed by brothers by phone and through the website, processing store orders and initiations, and assisting the Director of Programs in the performance of his duties. Brother Smith will also be responsible for scheduling and coordinating retreats, both at Lyrecrest and in the field, and will report directly to Mark Helmstetter, Director of Programs.
Brother Smith assumed his new role on Monday, September 8. Please join us in welcoming him to the National Staff. You can reach Brandon by email at bsmith@sinfonia.org, or by phone at extension 103 (812-867-2433) at the National Headquarters.
Brother Smith graduated with honors from Columbus State University, Columbus, GA and the Schwob School of Music with degrees in Music Education and Percussion Performance. Brandon was the valedictorian of his high school in Jefferson, GA, and carried a 3.95 grade average during his undergraduate career at Columbus State. An accomplished percussionist, Brother Smith worked this past summer as an instructor and counselor at the renowned Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, MI, where he was also trained as a Certified Health Provider.
Brandon served as Secretary, President, and Parliamentarian of the Xi Gamma Chapter, and was in attendance at both the 54th National Convention in Orlando, FL in 2012, as well as the 2013 Leadership Institute. In addition to his many chapter accomplishments, he was recognized by his Brothers as the recipient of the Olin G. Parker Province Leadership Award of Province 33 in 2013. Brandon brings a strong operational background at the chapter and province level, and significant knowledge of the Fraternity and its traditions to the position, along with the ability to leverage his experience to prepare a retreat that is tailored to meet the needs and objectives of the visiting group.
We encourage chapter and province groups to take full advantage of this resource, particularly if the group has not yet participated in the Retreat program or visited Lyrecrest and the National Archives and Museum. You can view currently available retreat dates by clicking on this link.
