2026 Board Members
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Larry Sissom, President
Larry grew up in the Wayne - Westland area near the old National Airport where he used to ride his bicycle to watch aircraft take off and land. Now retired, he worked for Ford Motor Company for 45 years as an engineer in truck manufacturing. Larry is married to Ginger, who works part time as a Pilates instructor at the Chelsea Wellness Center, and has one daughter (Halley) who is a financial analyst at the University of Michigan. Larry has been a pilot since 1992 and is currently flying a Vans RV-7A that he built and completed in 2022. Larry has been an EAA member since 1997.
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Eric Gettel, Vice-President Lifetimes ago I worked in the jet engine industry and was always fascinated by aircraft. Back in those nearly penniless days I found racing sports cars to be a more accessible pursuit and by the mid 1990’s racing’s adrenaline rush was deeply infused in my blood. Yet one fine day when my new brother-in-law took me up in a tired 172 rental here at ARB I instantly became hooked on flying. My wife and I then moved to Boston and in those 7 years she earned a graduate degree while I earned a private pilot license. We found our way back to Ann Arbor, which was good because both sets of our parents had somehow become grandparents. I have been an EAA member since the early 2000’s and associated with chapter 333 since 2016. I am presently building an RV-9A and just took delivery of a Ch.11 version of the finishing sub-kit. I rent 172s and 182s from Michigan Flyers where I maintain currency and strive for that ever-elusive sense of proficiency.
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Brian Pearson, Treasurer I am a life-long Michigander, spending my childhood and early 20’s in Traverse City and the surrounding area. My love of aviation came very early and naturally – passed on from my father, who was a liaison pilot during WWII. After the war he went to medical school and became the town doctor in Boyne City, Michigan. He bought a 1957 Cessna 180 and although I don’t know how old I was (4 or 5 years?), I still remember my first flight.
I have loved anything that flew in the air or space for my entire life, but especially WWII airplanes and history. Frankly, I never dreamed I would be able to afford to become a pilot myself, much less own my own airplane, but fate was kind to me and 2 months before I turned 60 years old I earned my Sport Pilot certificate. I am still a relatively low hour pilot, but as retirement nears I plan on flying more and more.
My first plane was a RANS S-12S, purchased in May 2017 to learn in, since my two previous attempts at learning through flight schools ended prematurely (one plane was “bent” by another student and now replace, and the other’s radio didn’t work and the flight school insisted there was nothing wrong with it). The previous owner was a Sport Pilot CFI and he and I flew it back to Ann Arbor from Grand Junction, Colorado. As fun as that plane was, and the fact that I had flown it from Colorado, the S-12S is NOT built for travel.
In 2021 I got the opportunity to partner with Bob Steinmetz on building a Vans RV-12iS, and in March of 2023 we finished it. It is currently housed in the EAA hangar at KARB.
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Martha Chinnock, Secretary
Martha brings a passion for communication, connection, and community to her role as Secretary for EAA Chapter 333. While she and her pilot husband, Rob, are not building an aircraft (yet!), she quickly found her place in aviation through the people, stories, and energy that surround it. With a professional background in communications, marketing, and leadership development, Martha is known for her ability to connect people and build strong, engaged communities. She also serves as editor of the chapter newsletter, where she enjoys highlighting members and sharing the life of the chapter.
When she’s not at the airport, Martha loves travel, a little Disney magic, and finding meaningful ways to bring people together. She and Rob enjoy being part of the Ann Arbor aviation community and supporting opportunities that inspire the next generation of aviators. |
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Jeff "Jazz Hands" Cohen, Director Jeff came by his love of aviation and aerial feats naturally. His parents were both in the circus as trapeze artists and would tour the country with Jeff in tow. Just for fun they would shoot Jeff out of the canon as the human canon ball. He loved it. Then, when Jeff was 17, he ran off to work the carnival circuit. He was in charge of setting up the rides. Jeff loved being a “Carnie”, where not only could he have all the cotton candy he could eat, he could also hone his skills working with tools since the rides were always breaking down.
As life wore on, Jeff decided not to wait any longer and wanted to combine his workmanship skills with his desire to get back in the air (albeit with a little more control this time). He is currently working on a Vans Aircraft RV-7. Anybody that can get that darn ping pong ball in the gold fish jar gets a ride!
Jeff is the Treasurer of the financially sound EAA Chapter 333. However, we haven’t really heard from Jeff in the last few months since he packed up everything, including his plane project, and moved to the Bahamas.
….Real Bio to come…right Jeff?
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