Board of Directors

Ed Ripper - President

In 1959 Ed enrolled in the Professional Pilot and Airframe and Powerplant program at the University of Illinois Institute of Aviation campus located at the Champaign, IL airport.  He graduated in 1961 with a Commercial ASEL, CFI, and A&P cert’s., then worked for several months at a couple of small FBO’s.  Being very eligible for the Selective Service draft which he wanted to avoid, Ed instead applied for and was accepted into the U.S. Navy’s NACAD (Naval Aviation Cadet) program and thus was going to learn how to fly the Navy’s way.  After 18 months of training Ed became a commissioned officer and Naval Aviator and was assigned to VP-46 at NAS Moffett Field, CA flying the P-3 Orion (Lockheed Electra 4 engine land based turbo prop) aircraft in support of Anti-Submarine Warfare and Maritime Patrol missions.  Upon being discharged from the Navy in 1967 Ed was hired as a Flight Officer for United Airlines, where he started out as Flight Engineer on the DC-6 and 34 years later retired as a Captain on the B-767, having served on the DC-8, B-727, B-737, DC-10, and B-757 in between.  Since retirement Ed has not done any flying, but is currently enjoying serving as a volunteer mentor with the EAA Chapter 180 Teen Aircraft Build program.

Jim Allen - Vice President

Peter Leckband - Secretary

Cheryl  Turner - Treasurer

Cheryl recently retired from a 25+ year career in corporate accounting working for companies such as Honeywell and Eaton Corporation. Her roles have included leadership positions in financial planning and reporting, financial system implementations and internal auditing.  Her work has allowed her to live in several global cities including Prague, Paris, Geneva and the London suburbs and to travel to many many more.  She graduated from Eckerd College and went on for her Masters (MBA) at Duke University and passed the CPA exam subsequent to graduation.   After retirement, she began her flight training and earned her Private Pilot certification in 2022 and her Certified Flight Instructor- Sport in 2024. Cheryl owns a Cessna 162 Skycatcher and enjoys flying with friends and family. 

Susie Majesky - Membership Coordinator

Susie serves on the EAA180 Board as the Membership Coordinator.  Susie began working at Regal Ware in Kewaskum, Wisconsin and worked her way up to Senior Buyer.  She left Regal Ware and moved to California where she worked as a scheduler for for firemen working the movie sets in Hollywood. Moving to Florida, Susie worked at the Van Wezel as a Volunteer Usher, then Captain, then Asst. Head Usher, and finally Head Usher and Volunteer Coordinator. She currently supports her husband in his passion of flying and the EAA180 family as the Membership Coordinator. 

Bob Jones - Director