Alex Holland

Alex Holland is a devoted educator in the color guard activity. He holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from Saint Cloud State University (MN) and is currently a full-time hair stylist and color guard designer/director. Residing in Dayton, Alex is the director of the Centerville Color guard where he has taught since 2015. After an extensive marching career with groups such as The Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, Juxtaposition Winter guard, Mayflower Winter guard, and Zydeco Color Guard, he found his passion for teaching and designing. Alex has worked with many groups in a variety of capacities. His teaching and design background includes Centerville High School, The Blue Stars, Etude Winter Guard, Juxtaposition, Miamisburg High School, Rangerettes Winter Guard, and more. 

Alex brings an education-focused approach to coaching while always remembering why we do this activity: connection, creation, expression, and, most importantly, fun. His show designs typically have an air of whimsy and camp while always being driven by creativity and art. He aims to inspire students and audiences through his choreographic voice and visual storytelling. 

In his free time, Alex loves to travel the world with his wife Lola. If there is a place on earth that is different from where they’ve been before, they want to go! 

Lola Flores-Holland

Lola Flores-Holland began her color guard journey attending Centerville High School and discovered her passion for the activity here. Lola has proudly been a part of the Centerville Color Guard staff and design team since 2018. Her background as a traditional artist fuels the visual packages behind The Centerville Jazz Band and the Centerville Winterguard. She was a member of the Centerville Color Guard throughout high school and went on to perform with organizations such as The Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps, Zydeco Color Guard, Onyx, and Juxtaposition Winter Guard. Since then, she has built an impressive career as both an educator and designer. Her expertise comes from years of teaching and creating with several successful programs including Bellbrook High School, Allegoria, Kettering High School, Kings High School, Juxtaposition, and Rangerettes Winter Guard. In addition to teaching, Lola works as a graphic designer specializing in the marching arts. She collaborates with companies such as Fred J. Miller Inc and Band Today, creating beautiful custom floor designs, costumes, and flags for programs all across the country.

Lola places major emphasis on fostering an environment in which everyone is welcome to come as they are. By creating a safe space, she finds that students are more likely to be their authentic selves on and off of the performance floor, an aspect she thinks is key to growing in this activity. 

In her free time, Lola enjoys a colorful life with her husband, Alex, in their cozy home in Dayton where they share their days with their dog, Hugh, and cat, Boo.

Kelsey Klawonn

Kelsey Klawonn is a dance educator and performer from Dayton, with extensive experience in the performing arts. She is currently the lead dance instructor for the Centerville Colorguard where she has taught since 2018. Her background includes several years of performance with the Miami Valley Dance Company and the University of Dayton Dance Ensemble, where she developed a strong foundation in technique, artistry, and performance. She has also performed with the Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard, Pride of Cincinnati Dance Ensemble, and Juxtaposition Winter Guard, gaining valuable experience in movement, storytelling, and collaborative performance.

Kelsey earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Dayton and currently serves as the Office Manager and Human Resources Representative for a locally owned and operated tool and die company. In addition to her role at Centerville High School, Kelsey has had the opportunity to teach the Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard, Juxtaposition Winter Guard, and Kettering Fairmont High School. She is passionate about helping students develop not only their technical abilities, but also the confidence, discipline, and teamwork skills that extend far beyond the performance floor. Her teaching philosophy centers on creating a positive and supportive environment where students feel empowered to grow as artists and discover their full potential.

In her free time, Kelsey enjoys spending time with her family and pets, reading, experiencing local music, and doing home renovation projects. 

Mia Thompson

Mia is from Dayton and currently resides in Centerville. She received an associate’s degree in Baking & Pastry Arts and a bachelor’s degree in Food Business Management from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY in 2023. She is currently a Family & Consumer Science teacher at Centerville High School and runs her own cake decorating business, bakedbymia.

Mia is an alumni of the Centerville Color Guard and competed with them for 10 seasons. After graduating college she moved back to the area and began helping with the Centerville Junior Guard in 2023. She has been the director of the Junior Guard since 2025. Additionally, she began working with the drum corps Cincinnati Tradition in their 2026 season. 

In her free time Mia enjoys trying new recipes, reading, and hanging out with her dog Daisy. She loves to travel and visit family that lives around the world.

Emma Boyce

Emma Boyce is a native of Rock Hill, South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in dance from Winthrop University.  

Emma has served as a director for programs across the Carolinas, including Providence, Mauldin, and Mooresville High Schools. She also works as a staging designer for scholastic and independent programs throughout the country, including Nation Ford, Ashley Ridge, and Westwood High Schools, as well as Tampa Independent Open.  She is a founding member of Étude Winter Guard, where she currently serves on the design and administrative teams. Emma is excited to join the Centerville Band program and looks forward to sharing her knowledge, experience, and passion for the activity with our students.

In her free time, Emma enjoys traveling, arts & crafts, and cuddling with her 5 year old Frenchie Boston mix, Mabel. 

Abbie Nelson

Abbie is from Dayton, Ohio and currently resides in Waynesville. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Rehabilitation Studies from the University of North Texas in 2020, and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati in 2023. She currently works full-time in Warren County as a Probation Officer. 

Abbie’s color guard career began at Kettering Fairmont High School. She then went on to perform for 3 years with Allegoria Winter Guard. Abbie later moved to Dallas, Texas and was a member of CGT Dallas in 2019. She taught at Fairmont from 2015-2017 and 2019-2020 and has taught at multiple other local area high schools. Most recently she was the Flag Specialist at Homage Independent for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. She has also performed with the Dayton Pride Guard from 2022 - 2026. 

In her free time, Abbie enjoys traveling, listening to Taylor Swift, and working around the farm she lives on with her husband. She is an avid houseplant lover and has over 50 houseplants. She also loves to birdwatch with her cats, Fat and Vader.