Joe Roche will join the Bushwackers as visual program consultant for 2016. Joe began his drum corps career in 1976 as a member of the Southern Tier Grenadiers in Binghamton, New York. He then marched with the Watkins Glen Squires as a soprano player and then a snare drummer in 1980 and 1981. The next challenge for Joe was the Garfield Cadets as a mellophone player, where he aged out in 1985.
Following this, Joe joined the Cadets’ visual staff in 1987 and rose to the rank of visual caption head for 1989 through 1992. Since then, Joe has remained active as an adjudicator and instructor in the pageantry world across the country.
In addition to his role with the Cadets, Joe has served on the visual staffs of Star of Indiana, Madison Scouts, Long Island Sunrisers, and the Connecticut Hurricanes.
Joe is active as a member of the New York Federation of Contest Judges and works the fall and winter seasons in New York State adjudicating in the pageantry world. He recently retired from the US Army after over 20 years of active service.
Joe runs his own consulting business, Achieve!, a motivational coaching company serving marching bands and other student groups across America. Joe is living with his wife Carolee in New Hartford, New York.