Go Teach—We’ve Got the Rest!

Why I Started Director’s Assistant

By Chris Walls, Founder & CEO

I never set out to start a company. I just wanted to help.

I’ve been incredibly lucky in my life. I had the kind of support system most people only dream of—mentors who saw something in me, teachers who pushed me, and a community that believed in what music could do for kids. Because of that, I never wanted for anything in my career. When I didn’t know the answer, someone showed me. When I messed up, someone helped me fix it. And when I needed a model for how to lead, serve, or teach—someone was always there.

People like Randy Storie, who led with integrity and heart. Debra Haburay and Lynne Jackson, who taught me the value of compassion, strength, and structure. Gary Lewis and Gary Garner, who showed me how to conduct with purpose. Rick Villarreal who pushed me to grow as a musician and as a man. And Suzanne DeLuca—our band secretary at the time—who, without ever standing on a podium, taught me everything I know about managing the million moving parts behind a successful program. That woman could have run NASA with a clipboard and a highlighter.

While earning my graduate degree in orchestral conducting at the University of Colorado Boulder, I had the privilege of working with several rural bands across the country through Superior Marching Band Camps. That experience changed me. I saw firsthand how deeply dedicated these educators were—and how isolated and unsupported they often felt. They were working miracles with minimal resources, and doing it all while wearing ten different hats. That’s when the idea for Director’s Assistant began to take root.

In 2012, I officially launched Director’s Assistant—not as a flashy startup, but as a concierge-style support system for directors who needed someone in their corner. A real assistant. Someone behind the scenes to help with uniforms, fittings, tuxedos, marching tops, equipment—everything that pulls you away from your students. Because when directors are free to focus on their kids and their craft, amazing things happen.

It reminds me of that old line from Shakespeare: “What’s in a name?” In our case—everything. Director’s Assistant wasn’t named to be trendy. It’s a clear, honest description of what we do. We assist directors. That’s the mission.

We’ve made our fair share of mistakes along the way, and I’ll never pretend otherwise. But we’ve learned from every one of them. And more importantly, we’ve learned from you. Your feedback, your honesty, and your willingness to grow with us has shaped every product, every process, and every improvement we’ve made. We continue to grow—with humility, intention, and gratitude.

Today, we’re proud to be a family-owned business, without the bloated overhead or inflated markups that come with big corporations. We fight every day to keep our costs lower than the rest, because we know how tight your budgets are. And we believe no student should feel left out or less-than because of what they wear.

We’re especially proud of our exclusive EZ Hem™ Tuxedo—a time-saving, stress-reducing solution we created to make your life easier. Same fabric. Same manufacturer. Same quality as the big brands—but with no sewing required, and no upcharges for larger sizes. Ever.

I'm fortunate to run Director’s Assistant with my husband and partner-in-crime, Casey Bates, who brings his own background in education and media to everything we do. Together, we’ve built this business with purpose and pride. When we’re not working, you’ll probably find us cooking at home and loving on our three dogs: Sydney (16), our wise and nurturing soul; Jackson (5), our energetic goofball; and Maggie (3), our sweet and sassy baby girl.

Director’s Assistant is more than a business to us. It’s a thank-you note to every person who helped us get here, and a promise to every director trying to keep their head above water:

You don’t have to do it all anymore.

Give us your projects—and we’ll give you back your time.