Illinois State University Distinguished Service Award in 1999
Currently the Shop Coordinator for the NAPBIRT Technical Training Center (located in Normal, Illinois) and was a driving force in it's inception
Created an Emergency Instrument Repair course at Illinois State University in the 1990's for future music educators (former students still thank him for the course to this day!)
Master Clinician having presented repair clinics in Alaska, Texas, California, Virginia, Illinois, and Minnesota to name a few
Honorary member of the Illinois State University chapters of Tau Beta Sigma and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternities
Honorary member of the Illinois State University and Illinois Weslyan University chapters of the International Tuba-Euphonium Association music fraternity
TRAVIS THACKER
Director of the Normal West High School Jazz Ensemble from 2002-2007
Earned Bachelor's degree in Music Business from Illinois State University in 2004
College Honors Award from the Illinois State University School of Music at in 2004
Very active NAPBIRT clinician having presented repair clinics at the NAPBIRT Technical Training Center and at NAPBIRT Repair Conferences in Arizona, Texas, Florida, California, Illinois, and Minnesota
Attends many national and regional repair conferences to continue progressing in the craft
Travis' clinic on French horn repair (from the 2010 NAPBIRT Annual Repair Conference) has been requested for use in several repair colleges' curriculum
Regional Director of NAPBIRT from 2012-2014 and 2018-Present
Emergency Instrument Repair course instructor at Illinois State University for future music educators
Former saxophonist in the ISU Jazz Ensemble, ISU Wind Symphony, ISU Chamber Winds, 10-piece touring group Public Display of Funk, progressive jazz group Lexicon. Currently playing with 10-piece soul/stax/funk band JC & The Redemption and modern jazz-rock quartet Disorganizer.