CAE Board Names Vicki Ferrence Ray Permanent Executive Director
Erie, Pennsylvania (May 22, 2023) — Cadets Arts & Entertainment (CAE), the non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that oversees The Cadets Drum Corps, today announced that Vicki Ferrence Ray has been named permanent Executive Director, effective immediately.
Ferrence Ray’s appointment culminates a months-long search for permanent leadership following Denise Bonfiglio’s decision to retire as CEO last September.
As CAE’s Compliance Officer from 2020 to 2022, Ferrence Ray was appointed interim CEO to maintain the organization’s focus on operational and governance opportunities for the 2023 season.
She also fulfilled the CAE board’s decision this past February to move The Cadets Drum Corps and the organization’s operations from Allentown, Pa., to the Erie Sports Center in Erie, Pa.
An independent review of the organization’s governance documents and policies led to a recommendation to change the title of the operational leader from Chief Executive Officer to Executive Director, in line with other organizations of similar size and scale.
Ferrence Ray has over 20 years of youth program development and non-profit experience. She served as Executive Director for Youth Education in the Arts (YEA!), responsible for leading all aspects of the organization from 2018 to 2019.
Prior to her service to YEA!, Ferrence Ray was Chief National Programs Officer for Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY), the nation’s premier youth leadership development organization. She provides expertise in executive leadership, organizational planning and development, youth protection, and non-profit compliance.
A resident of Allentown, Ferrence Ray is an alumna of the 1992 Cadets, having marched in The Cadets’ last cymbal line.
“After a long and thoughtful search, the CAE board has concluded that Vicki is the best candidate to lead our organization,” said CAE Board Chair John Broschak. “Not only has Vicki demonstrated solid, consistent, and effective leadership, but she is also well respected as a long-time member of the drum corps community.”
“Our committee took the Executive Director selection process very seriously, understanding that it represented one of the most important decisions this board could make,” added Matt Chamberlin, vice chair of the CAE board and chair of the Governance Committee that oversaw the selection process. “While we were pleased that Vicki openly expressed interest in taking on this role permanently, we can now say, having interviewed several high-quality candidates, that she is the most qualified person to build the next chapter in The Cadets’ history.”
“I am grateful to the CAE board for recognizing my accomplishments and entrusting me with this important role,” said Ferrence Ray. “I have been involved in all facets of The Cadets as a fan, corps member, volunteer, donor, and staff member over the years, so I have many perspectives and much experience to draw upon as we move forward. I am so proud of the Cadets Arts & Entertainment team and honored to share their incredible work to elevate The Cadets back to the forefront of the drum corps activity.”
For more information about CAE and The Cadets, please visit cadets.org.
