Meet The Board: Latrice Virola, Patty Dowd Schmitz, Susie O’Brien
The Bluecoats “Meet the Board” series is a spotlight series featuring the members of the Bluecoats Board of Directors. In each profile, you’ll learn about their professional paths, community involvement, and the experiences that brought them to Bluecoats. Together, these stories highlight the care, perspective, and steady leadership that support Bluecoats on and off the field.
In this issue, we are proud to introduce Latrice Virola, Patty Down Schmitz, and Susie O’Brien.
Latrice Virola, Bluecoats Affiliated Director
Latrice Virola
Affiliated Director
Latrice Virola joined the Bluecoats Board of Directors in 2024. She has served as Director of Customer Relations since 2014 and brings extensive experience in process improvement, talent management, customer service, and community outreach. She is a certified Lean Six Sigma Green and Black Belt and holds a Bachelor of Science in Decision Sciences from Miami University. Latrice also contributes significant nonprofit leadership experience through her service with Leadership Stark County’s Signature Program and her roles with Women’s Impact, EN RICH MENT, the YWCA of Canton, the Boy Scouts of America Buckeye Council, and several other community-focused organizations.
Her connection to the Bluecoats comes through her affiliation with EN RICH MENT and a shared commitment to empowering youth and strengthening the community. Serving on the board allows her to use her skills and knowledge to help the organization meet and exceed its goals. Outside of her professional and volunteer work, Latrice is a proud twin and enjoys spending time with her children. She describes herself as a dedicated sports mom, choir mom, and band mom, and is a passionate advocate for her autistic son.
Latrice’s Favorite Bluecoats moment: “Volunteering for Innovations in Brass in 2025.”
Patty Dowd Schmitz, Bluecoats Director At Large
Patty Dowd Schmitz
Director At Large
Bluecoats Years Marched: 1984-1986
Patty Dowd Schmitz joined the Bluecoats Board of Directors in 2024 and currently serves as Chair of the Development Committee. She is the Director of Communications for Gunnison County, Colorado, and previously served as President & CEO of the National First Ladies Library & Museum in Canton, Ohio, as well as Director of Communications, Marketing & Community Engagement for the Village of Barrington, Illinois. Her career has centered on nonprofit leadership, development, and marketing communications. Patty has also served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Gunnison Valley Community Foundation, Hartman Castle Preservation Organization, Canton Symphony Orchestra, Visit Canton, Aultman Women’s Board, Elgin Master Chorale, and the Barrington Area Conservation Trust.
A Bluecoats alumna who marched from 1984 to 1986, Patty reconnected with the organization in 2021–2022 when she wrote and produced the Bluecoats’ 50th anniversary coffee table book. Serving on the board allows her to give back to an organization that helped shape who she is, while continuing to learn alongside thoughtful and dedicated leaders. In 2025, she moved to Colorado to fulfill a lifelong dream of living in the mountains and enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, watercolor painting, and reading nonfiction. She is also the proud mother of two young adult children and two beloved dogs.
Patty’s Favorite Bluecoats moment: “Even though I did not participate in the 2022 Alumni Corps (smacks head!), I would have to say that watching that show was one of the highlights of my life - it continues to bring me to tears every time I re-watch it on YouTube. The entire show was just an exercise in absolute joy, and you could see it on every person’s face who participated in that moment both on and off the field. One of my favorite parts is seeing the 2022 Bluecoats members absolutely going crazy on the sideline as they watched the alumni perform. That show encapsulated everything that is magical and magnificent about drum corps.”
Susie O’Brien, Bluecoats Director At Large
Susie O’Brien
Director At Large
Susie O’Brien joined the Bluecoats Board of Directors in January 2025. She is the Director of Software Engineering at an education company, bringing more than a decade of experience in software development and engineering leadership. Earlier in her career, she worked as a DevOps engineer and as a financial analyst at PepsiCo and Hilton. Susie holds a degree in Finance from the University of Florida and is an active volunteer, serving as a crisis hotline counselor for the YWCA, a forest preserve volunteer, a horse rescue advocate, and membership secretary for her local community band. She also maintains her status as a Certified Master Naturalist.
A lifelong band nerd and devoted drum corps fan, Susie was a high school drum major and marched mellophone at the University of Florida during the Tim Tebow years (Go Gators!). Serving on the board is both an honor and a responsibility she takes seriously, especially in supporting diversity in DCI and expanding access to the life-changing experience of making music. She is proud to contribute to an organization that advances the activity while caring deeply about its members and community impact. Outside of work and volunteering, Susie knits and sews much of her own clothing, trains in dog agility with her rescue dog, Disco, and tends to her garden of entirely native plants.
Susie’s Favorite Bluecoats moment: “Change is Everything is my favorite show of all time. My mom and I loved it so much we made jackets that matched the corps uniform and wore them to finals that year. We watched the encore run from seats down low on the 50 and I thought my heart would burst out of my chest!”
