Meet The Team

Hoosier Boys State, Director
Rich Brown
Richard E. "Rich" Brown, MA, SPHR is a 16-year member of The American Legion. He continues to serve his country on active duty as a Chief Warrant Officer Three with more than 18 years of military service. He holds the Senior Professional of Human Resources (SPHR) certification and is a graduate of Webster University, Indiana Wesleyan University, and Indiana University, and is currently attending law school. Rich and his wife Heather live in Indianapolis with their two sons.

Hoosier Boys State, Associate Director
Chuck Mason
Chuck has served on the Hoosier Boys State staff since 1995. Chuck believes that the motto " A Week to Shape a Lifetime" also applies to the staff at HBS.

Assistant Dean
Bart Cassida
Years at HBS: 23
Bart Cassida has a BA from DePauw University in mathematics, earth and space science. He is currently a geometry and algebra II teacher by day, a track and cross country coach by night.

Assistant Dean
Ben Lyon
First year with HBS: 1997
Ben is a public accountant with Katz, Sapper and Miller and is currently a partner in their business advisory group. Ben attended Boys State in 1997, and has been involved with the program ever since, first as a counselor and now as an assistant dean.

Assistant Dean
Jaycob Knazur
Years at HBS: 15
Jaycob was a delegate to HBS in 2004 an Assistant Dean since 2006. He is a graduate of Valparaiso University, and the University of Notre Dame where he earned his Bachelors and Masters in History and Political Science as well as a Master's in Education. Jaycob now teaches US History at Andrean High School and also serves as their Principal.

Assistant Dean
Jace McMullin
Years at HBS: 15
Jace was a delegate to HBS in 2005 and returned as a counselor in 2006. Jace earned his Bachelors in Music Education from Mississippi State University in 2011 and his Masters in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippian 2015. He is currently working on his Ed.D. In Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University.

Assistant Dean
Edward Gibson III
Years at HBS: 13
Edward Gibson III is a graduate of Indiana University in 2011 with a degree in Secondary Education in English, and currently teaches for Logansport Community School Corporation. He's been with the Hoosier Boys State program as a counselor for 11 years after serving as a delegate in 2005.

Assistant Dean
Barry Tyler Jr.
Years at HBS: 8
Barry Tyler Jr. was elected Governor of Hoosier Boys State in 2001, later attending Boys Nation. He graduated from Wabash College in 2006 with a B.A. in speech and political science. Barry currently serves as the Director of Regional Impact for Leadership for Educational Equity and an assistant football coach at Hammond High School. He is also serving in his first term as 3rd District City Councilman for the City of Hammond.