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As the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association celebrates its 25th anniversary, CWEA is strengthening its administrative leadership and organizational infrastructure with the appointment of Cody Crawford as Chief of Staff and the addition of Carl Nelson as Operations Manager.
For 25 years, CWEA has provided competitive and educational opportunities for performers and ensembles throughout the Carolinas and surrounding region. As the circuit looks toward its next chapter, the expanded staff structure represents an investment in the people and systems supporting CWEA’s participating groups, events, and competitive programs.
“This is an important investment in the people and infrastructure behind CWEA,” Crawford said. “Strengthening our administrative team gives us more capacity to support our members, improve how we operate, and continue building an organization positioned for long-term success.”
As Chief of Staff, Crawford will serve as CWEA’s senior administrative and operational leader, working under the direction of the Board of Directors to manage the association’s day-to-day operations. His responsibilities include organizational leadership, competitive administration, events, financial management, staff oversight, compliance, and participating group support.
Crawford brings more than a decade of leadership experience with CWEA, including time as President and Treasurer. He is currently Senior Ticketing Manager for Drum Corps International, overseeing ticketing operations and customer experience across DCI’s annual Summer Tour. Previously, he spent more than a decade with Carolina Crown, ultimately holding the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer and leading areas including finance, ticketing, events, business development, and fundraising.
His involvement in the broader pageantry arts also includes financial leadership with the Winter Guard Association of Southern California and Civitas Independent, along with event administration and volunteer work with Winter Guard International.
As Crawford transitions from the Board of Directors into this administrative leadership role, the Board is working through a transition plan to ensure continuity in governance and organizational leadership.
Working alongside Crawford, Carl Nelson will focus on the day-to-day administrative systems supporting CWEA and its participating groups. He will serve as a primary point of contact for members and oversee registration and event administration, organizational records, compliance documentation, personnel onboarding, and event scheduling.
Nelson brings more than three decades of experience in the marching and pageantry arts as a performer, designer, instructor, administrator, adjudicator, and clinician. His career includes three years as a DCI performer and 17 years as a DCI adjudicator, along with adjudication experience for WGI, BOA/Music for All, WBA, and numerous regional circuits.
He currently serves with BD Performing Arts in Human Resources and Ensemble Relations and has approximately 30 years of administrative experience with the Winter Guard Association of Southern California.
“I’m excited to join the CWEA team and contribute to an organization with such a strong community of performers, educators, and volunteers,” Nelson said. “I look forward to getting to know our members and helping create an organized, responsive, and positive experience for everyone who participates in CWEA.”
Together, the Chief of Staff and Operations Manager positions strengthen CWEA’s capacity to support its members and events while building a stronger organizational foundation for the future.
As CWEA celebrates 25 years of serving the pageantry arts, this investment in personnel and administrative infrastructure reflects the circuit’s commitment to its next 25 years of providing strong events, community, and a positive experience for the organizations and individuals CWEA serves.