What We Do

The Eugene Airport Advisory committee develops recommendations for airport staff by providing an ongoing citizen perspective and review of airport capital improvement projects, environmental issues, airport finances, air service development and changes to airport administration policy. Members have an initial term of three years, and can be reappointed to up to three terms allowing a total of nine consecutive years of membership.

The AAC meetings are open to the public and occur on the third Wednesday of each month beginning at noon. Meetings are held at Airport Administration at 28855 Lockheed Drive, Eugene.  Click here for latest and past meeting minutes.

Phil Groshong, Chair

Phil Groshong is a retired United Airlines Captain and former Air Force fighter/instructor pilot. He was the General Aviation and Tenant Relations Manager at Eugene Airport from March, 2005 to June, 2012. Phil is the proud owner/builder of a Lancair Legacy, a two-place high performance kit aircraft, and past Commander of Civil Air Patrol's Oregon Wing and Pacific Region.

Phil served previously on the Eugene Airport Advisory Committee and is a current member of the Lane Aviation Academy Advisory Committee as well as a member of Cascade Medical Team's Board of Directors. He is also the immediate past President of the Eugene Airport Rotary Club and a board member of Veterans Legacy.

Phil is a Eugene native. He and his wife of 46 years, Margie, have three grown children and reside on a 20 acre farm near Crow.

Randy Richichi, Vice Chair

Randy Richichi is Vice-President and Private Banker with U.S. Bank's Private Client Group. Randy has established a range of expertise, from helping multi-million dollar businesses for the future, to working alongside personal clients to build a lasting legacy. He knows that every client's needs are one-of-a-kind and he enjoys working to develop unique strategies for each of his clients. Randy also has experience in commercial banking and management.
Helping people grow is a big part of Randy's life outside the bank. He serves as the Board President for the Boys Girls club of Emerald Valley, and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and Junior Achievement. Randy lives in Eugene with his wife and their daughter, and enjoys travelling, sports and music in his free time.

Linda Ackerman

 
Linda Ackerman is serving her third term on the Airport Advisory Committee. The airline industry has been part of Linda's life for a long time. She started out working in flight operations with Lufthansa German Airlines in Duesseldorf and Frankfurt, Germany. After moving from Germany to Oregon, Linda started her career as a corporate travel consultant. She retired in 2002, but is still involved in the travel industry as a volunteer travel consultant to the artists and executive staff of the Oregon Bach Festival.

Wally Anderson

Wally Anderson, vice chairman, joined the US Air Force in 1967 and served four years. He spent four years working on jet engines for fighter and transport aircraft around the world. Wally received his private pilot license in 1974 and has owned certified and experimental aircraft. Presently he owns a 1938 Piper Cub and a RV 6A which he built. Wally serves on the Experimental Aircraft Association Homebuilt Aircraft Council in Oshkosh as one of four members advising the staff on matters of interest to the membership.

He started Synergy Air LLC six years ago with the primary focus of helping owners build their own aircraft. Wally was instrumental in starting EAA chapter 1457 here at the Eugene Airport two years ago and served as chapter president for almost two years. He is a volunteer Technical Councilor for EAA helping promote safety in aircraft construction of homebuilt aircraft and has also served on the Eugene Airport FlyFest steering committee.

Vaden Francisco

Vaden Francisco is a licensed helicopter pilot and aviation small business operator, Vaden also has a unique perspective on the aviation industry and all the regulations affecting those operations. And, as the son of an Army officer, he understands the personal commitments and professional regulations affecting our veterans.

In 2001, Vaden went to work for Heli-Trade Corporation, an FAA Repair Station and Bell Helicopter Customer Service Facility. There he served in many capacities as he worked closely with his father, a retired Lt. Col. in the US Army and decorated Vietnam helicopter pilot. Vaden served as president of Heli-Trade until the company was sold in early 2012.

In early 2016, Vaden purchased Synergy Air, LLC. Synergy builds the RV-12 a Special Light Sport Aircraft for Vans Aircraft. Synergy also maintains a staff of highly skilled Master Builder Technicians to assist builders with their Vans aircraft build.

A licensed attorney, Vaden also worked for the Missouri State Senate as a legislative aide, worked for the Lane County District Attorney as a deputy district attorney, and managed his own business law firm in Eugene.

Matt Hogan

Matt Hogan is a commercial real estate Principal Broker with CW Walker Associates, in Eugene. Matt previously worked as a national salesman for Industrial Finishes Systems, and is serving as Executive Director for Lane County Youth for Christ. In addition to YFC Matt currently serves on the Board for and is a graduate of the Eugene/Springfield Leadership program, is the past President of The Oregon Club. Matt is a lifelong Duck fan, and Eugene native. He holds degrees in Business and French from the University of Oregon. Matt's wife Amy is a dental hygienist in a pediatric dentist office. They have two daughters. He and his wife raise their family on their 30 acre horse ranch near Eugene and spend their summers travelling to and competing in rodeos and horse events.

Matt specializes in the sales and leasing of large manufacturing sites, office, retail, corporate airplane hangars, as well as other special use properties.

Dan Rodriguez

Dan Rodriguez is currently retired from the Associate Vice-President for Alumni Affairs and Executive Director for the University of Oregon Alumni Association. Born in California but an Oregon Native of nearly 30 years, Dan earned a degree in Business Administration, Marketing, B.S., from Arizona State University.

His career which has expanded 45 years have taken him all over California, Arizona and Virginia. He has served on many civic and community boards such as the Eugene Chamber of Commerce and American Lung Association.

In Dan’s spare time he travels with his wife of 45 years, enjoys attending all types of Oregon Duck and Arizona State Sun Devil sporting events and playing golf. He has 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

Andy Vobora

Andy joined Lane Transit District in 1983 as the Manager of Customer Service and in 1995 became the Director of Customer Services and Planning. He took more than 32 years of executive leadership experience and became the Vice President to Stakeholder Relations at Travel Lane County in February 2016.  In his new role he is responsible for membership, local media relations, and government relations.

Andy played football while attending the University of Oregon and graduated with BS in Business Management. A four-year letterman he was selected to the PAC 10 All-American Team his senior year.

His long history of community involvement includes serving for the past 17 years on the local leadership council for the Start Making a Reader Today (SMART) program and has served on SMART's State Board of Directors. He is a Rotarian, volunteers of a variety of role in his church and regularly participates in chamber of commerce activities.

Lindsay Wheatley

Lindsay Wheatley has been with Hilton Eugene in sales since 2011 and was recently promoted to Director of Revenue Management in the fall of 2015.

Her previous experience includes airport advertising concession sales for the Younger Agency and recruitment for Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada. Lindsay has held past positions with the Leadership Eugene-Springfield Steering Committee, Relief Nursery Auxiliary Board and served as VP of Communications for a local Toastmasters group.

In her free time Lindsay enjoys co-leading a troop of Daisy Girl Scouts and spending time with her new baby girl and husband.