Jodi’s love for the marching arts began in 1992 when she joined the Burnsville Marching Band as a flute/piccolo player. In 1993, the marching band was defunded, and she joined the indoor drumline as a cymbal, where she found her passion for percussion. For 3 years and 5 seasons, Jodi lead the six-person cymbal line through fall pep band, half-time field shows, and winter indoor competitions. During her high school tenure, she used her budding graphic design skills to design Burnsville Drumline t-shirts and update the design of the team’s windbreaker jackets.

 

With a BFA in Graphic Design from St. Cloud State University, Jodi has a professional background in graphic design, web design, UX, UI, and digital application development. She’s worked for companies such as Metro Transit, Toro, Target, Wells Fargo, and currently works for Medtronic. She also holds a TEFL Certificate from Hamline University, and is certified to teach English as a Foreign Language in other countries. She spent more than 6 years as a volunteer ESL teacher at Metro North Adult Basic Education, teaching immigrant adults English and helping native speakers study and pass their GED.

 

Jodi joined Chops’ team of volunteers in the summer of 2018, where she helped build the skyscraper prop, sew costumes, and serve lunch for the Skyscraper show. She traveled to Williamsburg, PA with the crew and was a “living prop” as a construction worker on the skyscraper prop during the performance on the field. In 2019, she continued to be Kathy’s top volunteer, helping out with the Wolf Within, and traveling with the corps to Indianapolis, IN for Chops’ first competition with DCI’s SoundSport. 

 

In addition to being a volunteer with the summer corps, Jodi helped modernize Chops’ website, assisted in social media marketing efforts, and more recently has been the corps’ photographer and videographer for parades, summer shows, and winter programs. Even through the pandemic, she has continued to help out where she can, and stay actively involved with the Chops' organization.

 

Jodi lives in Blaine with her two daughters, enjoys listening to Latin music and learning to dance salsa, is working on writing a novel in her limited spare time, and is an avid traveler.