I started my career in aviation in 2003 working as a flight instructor for Great River Aviation in Quincy, IL. It was during this job that I discovered my true passion of teaching others how to fly. I was only going to work as a flight instructor for a year or two until I got enough flight hours to move on to the next chapter in my life. There was something truly rewarding about teaching others how to fly and helping them succeed in their dreams of becoming a pilot. So, I continued as a flight instructor for Great River Aviation moving up through the ranks of Assistant Chief Flight Instructor of our Part 141 Program in 2006 and then Chief Flight Instructor in 2009. At Great River Aviation, I also started as a Charter Pilot in our Part 135 Operations in 2004 and became the Chief Pilot of our Part 135 Charter Operations in 2009 and recently became the Director of Operations in 2016. I started teaching for Quincy University as an adjunct professor in 2005 teaching basic aviation academic classes as well as pilot ground schools. I became a full-time employee of Quincy University in 2009 as the Aviation Program Coordinator and was later promoted to Assistant Professor of Aviation. I have since retired from Great River Aviation and Quincy University as of June 2018 and I am now a full time FAA Designated Pilot Examiner and a contract pilot for a few corporate aviation departments. I also am a Federal Aviation Administration FAASTeam Representative for the Springfield, IL District Office hosting and conducting aviation safety seminars. I belong to several aviation organizations and currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Pilots Association and Illinois Aviation Trades Association. In 2014, I was awarded the Brown Jacket Award at Airventure from the IMC Club. It was the first time this has been awarded and felt very honored and privileged to receive it. I am currently a 4-time Master Flight Instructor and a 3-time Master Ground Instructor of the NAFI Master Program. I was also awarded AOPA's Flight Training Excellence Distinguished Flight Instructor in 2017 and 2018.

Flying At/Near These Airport(s)

Quincy Regional Airport – Baldwin Field (UIN)