Administrative Staff

Chris Keri: Director of Operations

Chris Keri has been on staff with the Marching Scarlet Knights since 2013 after being a 4-year member and section leader of the trumpet section. Chris serves as the Director of Operations for the Rutgers University Athletic Bands; helping to recruit new members, plan band camp, place orders, and help organize other aspects of the season.
Chris has also been the voice of the Marching Scarlet Knights since 2016, announcing the band on and off the field for every performance.

Chris is married and lives with his wife, Leigh, and two sons, CJ and Lucas, in High Bridge, NJ. They also have a dog, Minnie (Mini Bernedoodle). He is a graduate of Rutgers; receiving his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology in 2013 and his Master's Degree in Special Education in 2014. He is also a Certified Teacher of Orton Gillingham (2017). Most recently, he obtained his Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University (2020). His full time job is serving as Principal at Kingwood Township School in Frenchtown where he began in July 2024.

Mona Garbely: Assistant Director of Operations

Mona Garbely returned to the MSK staff for the 2023 season after a long hiatus, though never far away as she cheered on the band from her football season ticket seat. Previously she was with the Rutgers Athletic Bands program for twenty years throughout the 80’s and 90’s, six years as a member, first in the drumline then as drum major, followed by fourteen years as an instructor.

Mona is a retired educator with a B.A in Biology from Douglass College, followed by two Masters degrees from the Graduate School of Education, one is Science Education, the other in Counseling Psychology. Throughout her career she never strayed from her involvement in music.

Mona is her eleventh year as the marching, drumline and percussion ensemble instructor with the Freehold High School Band. She is currently the tympanist with the Rutgers University Alumni Wind Symphony and the Brook Symphony Orchestra.

One of the many reasons Mona is thrilled to be back on staff is that some of the best people she has met along the way came into her life through music at Rutgers. Her husband of over thirty years, Jim, is a Rutgers Band alumnus. They have two adult children, Tessa and Alec.

Todd Vaccaro, Jr.: Equipment/Logistics Manager

Todd is returning for his tenth season as a staff member with the Rutgers University Athletic Bands. He was a visual/brass tech with the program for the 2015-16' & 2016-17' seasons before taking over the Equipment Manager position. He graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace Concentration) from Rutgers University in 2015. During his time at Rutgers, Todd was a member of the Marching Band, where he was a 4-year member and a co-section leader of the trumpet section during his senior year. He also performed in the Rutgers University Concert Band and could be seen playing in pit orchestras for numerous shows with the Livingston Theatre Company & Cabaret Theatre. He also marched with the Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps for their 2012 season. Todd is a Brother of Mu Beta Psi.

Today, Todd is an active freelance trumpeter throughout the state of NJ when he does not have Athletic Band obligations. He studied under Jerome Callet for 2 years and further honed his playing abilities under Russian jazz trumpeter Valery Ponomarev for 4 years through NJPAC's jazz program. He actively performs with the Rutgers University Alumni Wind Symphony, Greater Shore Concert Band, Atlantic Wind Ensemble, Hazlet Pops, Ocean Grove Summer Band, numerous pit orchestra gigs, and occasionally performs with the Edison Philharmonic / Edison Chinese Chorus. He currently works full-time for A.D.E. Systems in Sayreville, NJ as a mechanical engineer in the commercial HVAC industry and is an Associate Member of ASHRAE. Todd currently resides in Highlands, NJ.

Michael Verra: Assistant Equipment/Logistics Manager

Michael (Smiley) Verra is returning for yet another season as a staff member of the Rutgers Band. He will serve as the 2024-25 Assistant Equipment Manager. Michael was formally the band’s Equipment Manager from 2011-2016, and now returning to the place he loves.

During his time with the Rutgers Band, he was a section leader of the Low Brass section while also working as the Equipment Manager before becoming ant full time staff member. Michael, also performed in the Rutgers University Concert Band. Michael is a Brother of Mu Beta Psi.