Meet the Region Flyers Crew

Our staff is comprised of individuals who have stood out among the crowd. Flying isn’t just a job for these folks – it’s a passion. That’s something that sets us apart. There’s nothing that makes us happier than being in the cockpit and transferring our knowledge to our students. Each instructor carries their own personal experiences which they are excited to share. Furthermore, our instructors and management team will work together to ensure that your lesson plan is picked up right where you left off and that no lessons are repeated! Meet the crew!

CFI / CFII / MEI / ATP

Chief Flight Instructor

Location: Valparaiso, IN and Lansing, IL

Brad is qualified on just about every light general aviation aircraft, as well as 7 different corporate jets and airliners.  His job mostly entails running the business but occasionally you’ll find him out teaching in taildragger and multi-engine aircraft.

Brad enjoys swimming, camping, traveling, scuba diving, skiing, and riding and fixing motorcycles.

CFI / CFII / MEI

Assistant Chief Flight Instructor

Location: Valparaiso, IN and Lansing, IL

Justin is our Assistant Chief Flight Instructor.  He grew up fascinated by airplanes and the magic of flight, but never thought the daydreaming could actually be hiding a possible career.  After trying many other paths, he decided to take a chance and dropped everything to give it a shot. Ever since that first taste of flight he still can’t get enough and loves every moment he can spend helping others to chase their own dreams in the sky!

When he isn’t flying or nerding out about aerodynamics, Justin loves traveling, reading, sailing Lake Michigan, and backpacking the great outdoors.

Tony Rose

Ground School Instructor

Location: Valparaiso, IN

He offers ground school classes twice a week in sessions that last 12 weeks each.  His goal is to prepare prospective private pilots to pass their required FAA written exam. 

In Tony’s free time, he enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren, playing a MEAN guitar, and of course flying!

Contact Tony for details on all things related to ground school.

Barry Moore

CFI / CFII/ MEI / ATP

Location: Valparaiso, IN

Barry is a CFI/CFII/MEI.

He is excited to share his passion for aviation while helping others achieve their own goals

Tim Peters

CFI / CFII

Location: Valparasio, IN

Tim has a little brother that’s a pilot, and he wasn’t going to be outdone by the younger sibling!  

Tim was a doctor for 25 years and has recently caught the bug for flying and is pursuing a full time career path in aviation.  His main goals are to inspire his students while honing his own flying and teaching skills to a laser-sharp degree of precision.

In his spare time Tim enjoys running, reading, theatre, and musicals.

Welcome aboard Tim! 

Billy Coe

CFI

Location: Valparaiso, IN

From an early age, Billy has always been fascinated with space and with flying.  A Region Flyers graduate, he further pursued his training and graduated from Purdue University with an aviation major.

When Billy is not flying and instructing, he likes to spend time with family and friends, hike and swim at the Indiana Dunes, and play video games.

Billy has aspirations to start a career with the Major Airlines.  He’d also like to own his own airplane and continue instructing throughout his life!  He is very passionate about flying and instructing.

Michael Holland

CFI / CFII

Location: Lansing, IL

Michael grew up listening to his Great Uncle’s stories of flying fighter jets.  As a kid, he took a flight on a commercial airliner and was instantly hooked.  He knew at a very early age that this was his calling in life.

Michael earned many of his flight certificates at Region Flyers.  He is currently a student at Purdue University majoring in aircraft mechanics.  He hopes to someday have a plane of his own.

In his free time, Michael enjoys spending time with family, working out, hiking, teaching swimming lessons, flying drones, and skydiving.

Dana Prill

CFI / CFII

Location: Lansing, IL

Dana has been fascinated with flight since as long as she can remember.  One of her earliest memories is when she was sitting on her first flight, gazing with awe and wonder out the window on  the world below her.

She graduated from the University of Illinois with an aviation degree and since been flight instructing since then.  She has previously worked in the aviation department at a major U.S. Government private contracting firm, but has now exclusively focused her attention of full-time teaching.

An avid hiker, she also enjoys cycling, camping, scuba diving, and anything that brings her outside. Dana has aspirations of flying for FedEx on long international flights one day!

Gwynn Hammermeister

Executive Assistant

Location: Lansing, IL and Valparaiso, IN

Gwynn’s profile

Keith Walatka

CFI / CFII / MEI

Location: Valparaiso, IN

Keith’s Profile

Owen Patrick

CFI / CFII / MEI

Location: Lansing, IL

Owen’s Profile

Maddi Johnson

CFI

Location: Valparaiso, IN

Maddi’s dad exposed her to aviation at a pretty young age.  Her dream of becoming an airline pilot led her to get her private pilot certificate at Region Flyers.  She then attended Purdue University where she earned her Aviation Technology Bachelor’s Degree, and she’s currently working on her Master’s Degree in Aviation and Aerospace Management.  

Maddi was a Division I Athlete on Purdue’s swim team where she competed against other rival major Universities around the country.  When she’s not poking holes in the sky, Maddi likes to swim for fun.  She is an avid reader and always loves to wind down relax with a good book! 

Beth Wenzl

CFI

Location: Lansing, IL

Beth’s Profile