Bluecoats Welcomes Patty Dowd Schmitz to Board

Written By Mike Scott

Patty poses in front of the Saxton-McKinley House, a part of the First Ladies National Historic Site.

Today Bluecoats announced the election of Patty Dowd Schmitz to its board of directors. Patty is the President & CEO of the National First Ladies Library & Museum located in Canton, OH. She is a Bluecoats alumnus and already has a rich history of supporting Bluecoats’ fundraising & history efforts. Notably, she was the producer and project chairperson for 50 Years of Excellence, a beautiful coffee table book chronicling Bluecoats history and released in celebration of our 50th Anniversary in 2022.

Patty was named President & CEO of the National First Ladies Library and Museum at the First Ladies National Historic Site in March of 2023. She is a native of North Canton, Ohio, but spent the past 25 years of her career in the Chicago area, where she worked in executive leadership, marketing, fundraising, and consulting positions for various nonprofit cultural organizations. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern University and has a deep passion for women in history. As a nationally known scholar of the children’s author Laura Ingalls Wilder, she has presented her research at numerous national conferences and events. In her current position as head of the National First Ladies Library & Museum, she works to tell the story of American history through the eyes of women and further the understanding of the significant contributions made by all our nation’s First Ladies.

Patty will serve as the chairperson of the Fundraising & Development Committee.

Mike Scott
Mike Scott is a clinician, consultant, and the CEO of Rhythm X, Inc., a non-profit music education company in Dayton, Ohio. Mike earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 2012. There he studied percussion and conducting and completed the Farmer School of Business Summer Institute. Before beginning his career as an administrator and teacher, Mike was an active performer in the marching arts. In 2011 Mike was the conductor of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps of Canton, Ohio and was a performer in Rhythm X’s percussion ensemble from 2011-2012. Mike was also a member of the Miami University Marching Band for four years, serving as the drum major during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. In 2013 Mike began work at Rhythm X, Inc. as the Operations Director, managing the business development and logistics of the organization. He was also the Director of Instrumental Music at St. Ursula Academy in Toledo, Ohio. There he taught band, orchestra, and general music in grades 6-12. Prior to the 2015 competitive season, Mike became the first full-time employee at Rhythm X, Inc. as the company’s CEO. There he works with the organization’s President Tim Fairbanks to develop the future strategy of the company. During the summer months, Mike travels the country with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps as the group’s Tour Administrator. He has also served as the tour manager of The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mike proudly endorses Innovative Percussion, Etymotic Research, and Fred J. Miller Inc.
http://mikewscott.com
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