Meet the Team

The Edwards Team is dedicated to providing brass musicians with the highest quality instruments made today. Through innovations in design, attention to detail and unmatched customer service, our small company has quickly emerged as the industry leader in custom brass instrument manufacturing.

Christan Griego is Director of Development & Marketing for the Edwards Instrument Company. Christan joined Edwards in 1998 as the company's trombone rep. He was promoted to his current job in 2002; his responsibilities then expanded to include Edwards Trumpets. Christan has made significant contributions to both the Edwards and Getzen lines of brass instruments.

Traveling to annual trade shows is one of Christan's most important responsibilities. He has "fit" thousands of players with Edwards Trombones and Trumpets while on the road. As Edwards is a factory-direct company, Christan's presence at conferences and festivals allows musicians to simulate a visit to the Pro Stop in Elkhorn.

Christan also works closely with the Edwards/Getzen in-house production manager to bridge the gap between production and customers. He can often be found working with Ron Knaflic on order fulfillment, as well. Christan is a freelance tenor and bass trombonist in the southern Wisconsin area.

Most customers are familiar with Customer Service Associate Cathy Duesterbeck, since she is the first person customers talk to when they call the factory. Cathy joined Edwards in 1999, and her numerous responsibilities include taking and processing orders, tracking order progress, answering customer questions, and generally keeping the business running smoothly. Cathy's favorite aspect of the job is working with customers. She is a people-oriented person and enjoys interacting with the many musicians she deals with every day.

Cathy is married and has three adult daughters. She is an avid sewer and quilter as well as an active community volunteer.

Ron Knaflic has been the Production Coordinator for the Edwards Instrument Company since 2000. Like many members of our team, Ron played an Edwards before he joined the company.

Ron's daily duties include overseeing order fulfillment and quality control, play-testing Getzen trombones, and working one-on-one with customers in the Edwards Pro Stop. Ron moonlights as a bicycle mechanic — a job that gave him a new perspective on Edwards horns. The curved linkage now used on both Edwards and Getzen Custom Series trombones is his latest innovation. Ron has also done extensive experimentation with lubricants. The results of his work are evident in the oils Edwards currently offers — including the Signature Valve Prep (SVP) — available summer 2004.

Michael Clobes joined the Edwards team in 2006 working summers as an intern. After completing his degree in Music Performance at Whitewater University, Michael became a full time part of the Edwards Team in July 2007.

Mike has many different responsibilities at Edwards, from prepping slides and filling orders to working with customers.  He and his dad have teamed up to create the new wooden triggers for our tenor and bass trombones. He is also extremely active as a freelance bass, tenor, and jazz trombonist.  He can be seen performing with numerous groups in Wisconsin.

Joshua Brown joined the Edwards Team in 2001 after meeting Christan Griego at the International Trombone Festival. His first website redesign, launched in October 2002, better reflected the Edwards image of a leading brass manufacturer. Joshua also implemented an online shopping cart where, for the first time, customers could build a custom brass instrument online.

Joshua's role expanded in 2002 when he became the Getzen webmaster. Soon after, Edwards UK was launched — a site that focuses on the European brass musician in general, and the British musician in particular. With the latest Edwards redesign, he has once again raised the bar.

In addition to the Edwards family of websites, Joshua is also the webmaster for the International Trombone Association, Griego Mouthpieces, Kagarice Brass Editions, and many others. He lives in Dallas, Texas, where he is a freelance bass trombonist and proud new dad to Noah.