Skydive Chicago™ - Our Family

Our Family

SDC Staff

Rook Nelson Position: DZO, S&TA Chief Pilot Jumps: 14,000+ Years in sport: 25 Most memorable skydive: Every time someone jumps for the first time What I do when not skydiving: Fly the Otter What people don't know about me: I have 2 years of culinary school		Erin Horton Position: A little bit of everything! Jumps: 300+ Years in sport: 3.5 Most memorable skydive: Jumping in Hawaii. The view was amazing! What I do when not skydiving: Try to beat Rook at anything! What people don't know about me: I still haven't won!

Instructors

David Elliott Position: Student Operations Manager Jumps: 3,000+ Years in sport: 8 Most memorable skydive: All of them What I do when not skydiving: Watch the sunset What people don't know about me: I'm actually a nice person	Bill Joswiak Position: Tandem Instructor Jumps: 3,000+ Years in sport: 10 Most memorable skydive: Taking second place at the Greenville 4way comp What I do when not skydiving: Spend time in the mountains What people don't know about me: I am a licensed insurance agent in Pennsylvania	Donovan Bartlett Position: Maintenance Manager, Tandems, AFP, Video Jumps: 7,000+ Years in sport: 10 Most memorable skydive: Most of them What I do when not skydiving: Spend time with my family What people don't know about me: I have a horticulture degree

Chad "Dread" Staerkel Position: Tandem Instructor Jumps: Millions Years in sport: 6 Most memorable skydive: Taking Molly on a tandem and proposing to her under canopy What I do when not skydiving: Play tetherball against the elderly and usually annihilate them What people don't know about me: Gave up career as Chippendales dancer to become a skydiving instructor	Rodney "Sparky" Paap Position: Tandem Instructor, AFP Instructor Jumps: 4,000+ Years in sport: 10 Most memorable skydive: Taking Mom on her 1st skydive & Mom doing her second in Ixtapa What I do when not skydiving: As little as possible What people don't know about me: My other name in Mexico is Chispa Martinez	Enzo Amitrano Position: Tandem Master Jumps: Good Question Years in sport: 14 Most memorable skydive: Can't remember What I do when not skydiving: Wish I was What people don't know about me: I'm made of pudding

Mike Hoyt Position: Tandem Instructor Jumps: 3,000+ Years in sport: 8 Most memorable skydive: My 19th jump I landed in a tree and was hanging 30 ft off of the ground until I was found by a lot of people with video cameras--about a 1/2 hour later they helped me down. What I do when not skydiving: Work in the real world, B.A.S.E., jump and I like to party. What people don't know about me: I'm really Superman	Jeff Brown Position: Tandem Instructor Jumps: 750+ Years in sport: 8 Most memorable skydive: 1) 10-way skydive with no undies, 2) Getting a kiss pass from Sunny, 3) Jumping a hot-air balloon What I do when not skydiving: Ride my Harley, work on my house, stalk the cast of The Dukes of Hazzard What people don't know about me: I enjoy curling up on the couch with a box of tissues and watching chick flicks	Brad Vancina Position: Tandem Instructor, Videographer, Web Photos Jumps: 5,800+ Years in sport: 10 Most memorable skydive: Jumping with my son Cody on his first two tandems over Mexico What I do when not skydiving: Mountain bike; snowboard; raise Molly, Josh, & Cody What people don't know about me: I'm an alien. Ask my kids they know the whole story

Jerry Lehnherr Position: Tandem Instructor Jumps: 7800 Years in sport: 37 Most memorable skydive: 200-way. Mr. Bill with Mike Stark--After opening I climbed onto his shoulders and flew for a minute, then jumped off, deployed and came back to Mike and docked. We landed the 2-way stack at Tyrol Basin ski hill. What I do when not skydiving: Maintenance tech for a school district What people don't know about me: I once owned a 28 ft double L -- and was proud of it.	Scott Ayer Position: Tandem Instructor Jumps: 1300+ Years in sport: 12 Most memorable skydive: Jumping above Soldier Field, being able to read Chicago Bears while in freefall w/ smoke, and then intentionally landing in Lake Michigan... As well as getting arrested ;) What I do when not skydiving: Motocross, boating & water skiing, fly, oh and I'm an electrician. What people don't know about me: I was lead singer in a rock band that played all over Chicago and the four state area	Billy Bob Wawak Position: Tandem Instructor Jumps: 1,500+ Years in sport: 13 Most memorable skydive: '98 World Record What I do when not skydiving: Work a real job 5 days a week What people don't know about me: I am the creator of the infamous "White Juice"

Mike Sparks Position: Tandem Instructor Jumps: 2,400+ Years in sport: 10 Most memorable skydive: Taking my mom on a tandem What I do when not skydiving: Eat, sleep, and other normal people stuff What people don't know about me: I actually like belly flying	Mike Macino	Tim Koeppen

Mark Lamberson Position: Tandem Instructor, Manifest chocolate supplier Jumps: 1,000+ Years in sport: 17 Most memorable skydive: Jumping from a plane my sister was flying before she knew I could jump What I do when not skydiving: Think about airplanes & flying What people don't know about me: If you figure it out it wouldn't be a secret	Charles Lane Position: Tandem Instructor Jumps: 3,400+ Years in sport: 9 Most memorable skydive: Winning the bronze medal in 4-way with my girl What I do when not skydiving: My girlfriend What people don't know about me: I have a sub 70 I.Q.	Christa Cross Position: Tandem Instructor, Grounds, Loader/Fueler Jumps: 2,400+ Years in sport: 18 Most memorable skydive: 300-way attempt What I do when not skydiving: I love to walk, swim, and travel What people don't know about me: I'm a Russian spy

Sean Hutto Position: Tandem Instructor Jumps: 2,400+ Years in sport: 12 Most memorable skydive: My wedding jump. It was in Jamaica onto the beach, around the 25 foot palm trees, over the volley ball net, through the horseshoe pit, dodging the brick wall. What I do when not skydiving: Top secret stuff What people don't know about me: The top secret stuff I do when I'm not skydiving

AFP Instructors

Biff Bolen Position: AFP Instructor, Tandem Instructor & Fashion/Fitness Coordinator Jumps: 1,500+ Years in sport: 4 Most memorable skydive: Today, with Skittles What I do when not skydiving: I am a traveller of both time and space What people don't know about me: I like plaid shirts, OMG LOL ROTF LMAO	Frank Shisler Position: AFP Instructor, Videographer Jumps: 6,700+ Years in sport: 14 Most memorable skydive: First time I had sushi just before my skydive What I do when not skydiving: Eat sushi What people don't know about me: I like sushi	Troy Church Position: AFP Instructor, Tandem Instructor Jumps: 3,000+ Years in sport: 8 Most memorable skydive: 4 cessna 16-way What I do when not skydiving: Hunt for smurfs

Mike Wittenburg Position: AFP Instructor, Freefly Coach, Organizer, Rigger, Keeping Noah in check Jumps: 7,500+, 3 of them with Skittles Years in sport: 11 Most memorable skydive: Any jump with Harry Higbie What I do when not skydiving: Looking for Harry Higbie after dinner, dressing up in princess costumes w/ Kaliegh What people don't know about me: I'm seriously thinking about becoming an interior decorator

Videographers

Shellie DuBois Position: Videographer Jumps: 3,000+ Years in sport: 13 Most memorable skydive: Jumping the jet	Steve Verner Position: Tandem Instructor/Examiner, Videographer, Tandem/Coach course director, etc, etc, etc Jumps: 12,000+ Years in sport: 18 Most memorable skydive: Jumping out of a helicopter with a Jeep Commander What I do when not skydiving: ZZZZZZZ... What people don't know about me: My social security number is: 455-45-5454	Jenny Verner Position: Videographer, part-time Rigger Jumps: 6,500+ Years in sport: 12 Most memorable skydive: Jumping out of a helicopter next to a Jeep Commander during a demo What I do when not skydiving: softball, church & bible studies, rigging, read, garden, bike, run, travel What people don't know about me: I am from Las Vegas

Kenny Jaworski Position: Videographer, Tandem Instructor, Grounds Crew Jumps: 4,000+ Years in sport: 8 Most memorable skydive: Swooping mountains in New Zealand and jumping with my family What I do when not skydiving: Work, travel, scuba dive, snowboard, party What people don't know about me: That's for me to know and you to find out!	Ron Olson Position: Videographer Jumps: 8,100+ Years in sport: 21 What I do when not skydiving: Boating, Scuba diving, snowboarding What people don't know about me: I am 71 years old	Amy Elliott Position: Video Editor Jumps: 5 Tandems Years in sport: 6 Most memorable skydive: My first tandem skydive with my husband in Ixtapa Mexico What I do when not skydiving: Drive back and forth from Indiana to work more and spend time with my 3 kids What people don't know about me: I think I've told them everything already

Samara Boyer Position: Professional Photographer Jumps: 5 Years in sport: 300 Most memorable skydive: When I was the stunt double in the last James Bond movie What I do when not skydiving: Take pictures and change diapers What people don't know about me: I have travelled to 20 different countries

Manifest

Whitney Reighley Position: Office Manager Jumps: 400+ Years in sport: 4 Most memorable skydive: Jumping all over New Zealand What I do when not skydiving: Yoga, snowboard and watch Karry skip.	Sara Kleinmaier Position: Manifest Jumps: Zero, none, zip, nil Years in sport: Zero, none, zip, nil Most memorable skydive: What I do when not skydiving: When do I skydive? What people don't know about me: I have 5,000 jumps ...	Karry Schwartz Position: Manifest Jumps: 1000+ Years in sport: A lot! Most memorable skydive: Making a night jump on 12/31/99 and being in freefall when the new millenium began What I do when not skydiving: Skip What people don't know about me: Professional card shark and I'm afraid a moth will fly into my ear and be stuck there...forever

Molly Mulcahy Position: Manifest Jumps: 80 Years in sport: 2 Most memorable skydive: When I finally held my sit for a whole skydive!! What I do when not skydiving: International spy What people don't know about me: I'm 31 years old	Molly Staerkel Position: Manifestress Jumps: 110 Years in sport: 3 Most memorable skydive: My first skydive; jumping in Puerto Rico What I do when not skydiving: Sew patches on Biffs pants

Pilots

Dave Schwartz Position: Pilot, Tandem Instructor Jumps: 2,600 Years in sport: 18 Most memorable skydive: Building a night 4-stack and flying it at the Hail Bop Comet What I do when not skydiving: Run with scissors What people don't know about me: I got my pilot's license in a Cracker Jack box	J.W. Baker Position: Pilot Jumps: Only Yoda knows Years in sport: 29 Most memorable skydive: All of them What I do when not skydiving: Cook, clean, laundry What people don't know about me: I like ballroom dancing

Para Concepts

Kirk Smith Position: Owner of ParaConcepts (onsite pro shop & rigging service), Pilot Jumps: 7,970 Years in sport: 20 Most memorable skydive: 246-way RW world record What I do when not skydiving: Relax What people don't know about me: I consult for parachute manufacturers	Betsy Smith Position: Sales Manager, Senior Rigger, Icarus Canopies Demo Coordinator Jumps: 600+ Years in sport: 8 Most memorable skydive: Being in an 8way from 2 cessnas on jump 25. Thanks Larry Stein! What I do when not skydiving: Rehabilitate my wild gardens. Love that chainsaw! Preach the virtues of Pit Bulls as pets, training for my 1st marathon this fall. What people don't know about me: I'm an opera singer & voice instructor	Tracy Janousek Position: Master parachute rigger Jumps: 2,150 Years in sport: 22 Most memorable skydive: 1. Night 4-stack chasing Hale-Bopp; 2. UFO jump; 3. Y2K jump What I do when not skydiving: Enjoy secluded walks What people don't know about me: If I'm not here I'm there

Mic Boyer Position: Rigger Jumps: 460 Years in sport: 6 Most memorable skydive: 10-way cross country that landed 3 miles out What I do when not skydiving: Sleep What people don't know about me: I have interests in science fiction & history	Marsee Ross Position: Senior Parachute Rigger Jumps: 28 Years in sport: 1 Most memorable skydive: My AFP graduation jump! What I do when not skydiving: "Eat Sleep Read" a quote from the band "The Books" What people don't know about me: This fall I'm spending 6 weeks in Tibet - I'll climb Mt. Everest Base Camp if the weather lets me.	Amber Bartlett Position: Cat herder, masochist, cheese mover Jumps: 100ish Years in sport: 3 Most memorable skydive: The jumps required to pass the USPA Coach course...I may actually know what I'm doing up there, but it's more fun to pretend I don't! What I do when not skydiving: Pacify other skydivers, parent, battle the never ending laundry and dog hair problem at home What people don't know about me: I was an Illionis state police intern for six months in order to earn an AAS degree in Law Enforcement

Billy "Bam" Fiarito

Nylon Engineers

MJ Obos

Organizers

John Zagoda Position: Swoop Club organizer, picture taker Jumps: 1,700+ Years in sport: 7 Most memorable skydive: Flying video on my second UFO jump. Jerry Baker ignited his flare right under me and I had to roll sideways to keep from catching a bunch of fire in my face. It made for great video, but it was a little scary. What I do when not skydiving: Abuse cuddly animals, & think of ways to make Mike Roe look stupid What people don't know about me: I'm 100% serious about everything I say	Ben Crooch Position: Load Organizer Jumps: 1,200 Years in sport: 3 Most memorable skydive: My last one What I do when not skydiving: Play music What people don't know about me: They don't know for a reason!

Grounds Crew

Dale St. Arbor Position: Grounds Crew Jumps: 2200+ Years in sport: 11 Most memorable skydive: 1st Malfunction What I do when not skydiving: Hope the weather breaks for a 20 minute call. Pack parachutes What people don't know about me: I'm a father of four great young adults -- Anastacia, Jacob, Zachary and Baily	Eric Kmiecek