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Airport Advisory Committee
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.
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.
Shannon Nill
Shannon Nill was born and raised in Eugene with his two brothers by great parents Sally and Herb. He graduated from South Eugene High School. Shannon played Football, Soccer and Pole Vaulted in Track. He attended and graduated from OSU with a degree in Speech Communications and a minor in Business. At OSU he met is bride to be, Barbara. They live on a small farm near Coburg with their four dogs and four chickens.
Flying was an early hobby starting with Ultralights then moving up to fly his own Cessna 172. He has over 1500 hours of flight time logged and is rated to fly solo in 6 aircraft models. Shannon always loved flying and later bought the small airport Daniel's Field with his brother Mary Nill where they have been based for more than twenty years.
Guaranty Chevrolet and RV Centers in Junction City is their family business that they still enjoy running today after his dad started back in 1966. They are carrying on a proud legacy of country saving and down home customer treatment. Other hobbies include fishing, skiing, photography, golf, and horseback riding. Shannon is on the Oregon Auto Dealers Board of Directors, the Oregon Dealer Advisory Committee and is glad to return to the Eugene Airport Advisory Committee for a second run.
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.