In 1981, singer Dan Fogelberg released a song entitled Leader of the Band which was a tribute to his father, a high school band director. In the song he noted that his father had a “thundering velvet hand” and a “gentle means of sculpting souls.” At its core, the song is a tribute to Fogelberg’s father and an explanation of how music became a guiding force in the singer’s life.
A Ravenna, Ohio native, Brode’s love with music began with his first Cornet and lessons in school.
“Music has played a role in my life ever since,” said Brode. “I was active with sports, but once I started playing music, I knew that was what God had planned for me.”
Brode was active in a variety of musical groups through junior high and into high school, culminating in being voted captain of the band his senior year.
“I always loved performing,” said Brode, a trumpet player. “My friends and I lived and breathed music. Marching band was just one part of it. We played in ensembles and jazz band, we loved playing for audiences.”
The summer before his senior year of high school proved to be a momentous time in Brode’s life. At band camp, Brode saw for the first time a pretty sophomore girl who had just transferred to Ravenna from Rootstown, Ohio. “She was quiet and shy,” said Brode of his now wife, Cheryl. “I told my friends I was going to ask her out. I did and our first date was to the Randolph Fair in the fall of 1977. That is almost 50 years ago, and she has been a part of my life that entire time.”
Following his graduation from Ravenna High School, Brode considered a variety of colleges and auditioned at Bowling Green State University, The Ohio State University, and Kent State University.
“Kent State was the best option for me and my family,” said Brode. “I was able to save some money by commuting and it kept me close to Cheryl.”
After earning his degree in music education, Brode found it easy to find teaching positions which included the responsibilities of leading several school bands.
“I didn’t have any trouble finding a job, but it became clear to me that I needed to make more money if I wanted to raise a family,” said Brode. “I loved my job and I loved the kids. It was a difficult decision for me to make, but I found the courage and brought about a career change.”
With an interest in computers, and some additional education, Brode left the music education field and worked in positions of increasing responsibility for nationally known organizations such as Electronic Data Systems (EDS), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Hewlett Packard (HP) before coming to Liberty HealthShare in 2018.
“I’ve been very blessed to have the responsibilities I’ve had,” said Brode. “I enjoy working with people and helping them. It suits my personality well.”
A band director who transformed himself into a project manager, Brode knows well how the elements of each profession have melded together to shape his career path.
“Think about what you do as a band director,” said Brode. “You work with a lot of people to make sure they are doing their part. The same could be said of project management. You corral people and make sure their tasks are done. In both circumstances, the people you work with must trust you and feel confident that you care about them. In many ways, the second half of my career is a natural extension of my early days in music.”
Brode and Cheryl have two grown daughters, Brittany and Chelsea, the latter of whom with her husband, Allan, have sons Levi and Leo.
“I’m already thinking about ways to introduce music to my grandsons’ lives,” said Brode. “Levi, our oldest, likes to sing along with songs that he knows. I smile when I realize he has a great sense of pitch. I can’t help but think he may already share my love for music.”
The tradition of handing down his love for music started with Brode’s daughters. At his church, the United Methodist Church of Kent, Brode served as the director of the Youth Handbell Choir for 16 years.
“What I loved about that was both of my daughters played under my baton,” said Brode. “I never had the opportunity to have them in one of my marching or concert bands, so it was extra special to have them in my handbell ensemble.”