Ron Hardin serves as the Regional Sales Manager of Stanbury Uniforms for the North Central and North West portion of the United States, and also Hawaii. Born and raised in the Midwest, Ron now resides on the Big Island of Hawaii and spends about half the year on the mainland working for Stanbury, teaching high school bands, drum corps and adjudicating. Ron’s uniform designs can be seen on bands throughout the country.
As a drill designer, Ron is very active and closely connected with the pageantry activity. Ron has designed hundreds of shows for bands, drum lines, winter guards and drum corps. His visual designs have appeared in several BOA regional finals, won numerous state championships, circuit contests and have won three WGI Percussion Gold Medals.
Ron is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the world, having done many clinics throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Since 1999, Ron has served as a visual judge for Winter Guard International, annually adjudicating for many circuits, regionals and world championships.
Ron has performed judging clinics for numerous state circuits, WGI and local indoor percussion circuits.. Ron has produced several instructional videos, and has appeared in WGI's "Meet the Judge" and “Top Secrets” series. He has also recorded several podcasts with Marching Roundtable. Ron has led instructional sessions in Japan, Thailand and in the Netherlands.
As an instructor, Ron has led visual teams earning six DCI World Championships and ten High Visual Awards, most recently including the 2012, 2013 & 2016 John Brazale Best Visual Award, and the 2013 & 2015 Steve Brubaker Best General Effect Award.
Ron's experience in the drum corps activity is extensive, spanning over twenty years. As a performer, he spent the 1991 and 1992 seasons with the Star of Indiana. Upon the completion of his performing career, Ron joined the Blue Devils as a member of their visual staff. After eight seasons, he then spent five years as the Visual Caption Head of the Santa Clara Vanguard, and four years as Visual Caption Head of the Canton Bluecoats before his last stop as Visual Caption Head of the World Champion Carolina Crown, where he led the caption from 2012 to 2018.
In addition to instructing, Ron has designed visual programs for several drum corps, and mentored staff at many others. Ron has served as an instructor representative on the DCI Instructors' Task Force, Rules & Systems Task Force, the DCI Medical Project Advisory Board and WGI Percussion Advisory Board.
Before his career with Stanbury, Ron Hardin served as the director of Bands at Papillion - La Vista South High School. Ron took this position in 2014, and quickly led the program to national level recognition over two years. Prior to that appointment, Ron was the director of Bands at Bellevue East High School for 14 years and led the Chieftains to many successful performances in all areas, including Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Jazz Bands, Indoor and Concert Percussion, Chamber Ensembles and Indoor Color Guard. Under his watch, the band programs have performed in ten different states. Ron spent the first six years of his career as the Director of Bands at Clayton Valley High School in Concord, CA.
Ron also has extensive history as a professional music educator and performer. He was the founder and past conductor of the Diablo Wind Symphony, and the Principal Conductor of the Omaha Symphonic Winds. In addition, he was the recipient of the Jack R. Snyder Young Band Director Award. Ron spent two terms as the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association Marching Band Chair. He has also served as president of the Contra Costa County Band Director's Association and Vice-President and Contest Coordinator of the Western Band Association. His greatest pride and joy is his family: his wife, Molly, and their daughters, Emma and Celeste.
