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Richard Winstock
Hackettstown, New Jersey
Age: 42. Director of New Business Development. First jump: 1992. Total jumps: 9,400. Jumps past year: 850. Licenses and ratings: A-22549, C-26355, D-19054, Coach Examiner, Tandem IE, AFF I, PRO, Student Pilot. Awards: GW, DW, DDW, GFF, DFF, Tenure Award.
"I have visited skydiving operations across the country and spoken with skydivers from all walks of life. Witnessing different size skydiving operations, meeting skydivers and getting a sense of their frustration has been my motivation to pursue change. It is the diversity in the sport and my true love that has driven me to run for National Director, wanting to be a voice for fellow skydivers. I have been asked, “What exactly is your agenda?” My answer to this simple question is fairly easy. I want to advocate for you, bringing forth your ideas to improve the safety and quality of our sport. I want to expose as many people to the sport of skydiving as possible, giving them a safe and unforgettable experience, similar to the one I received 18 years ago. I am not a DZO or a politician; I am a skydiver like you who loves our sport. A vote for me is a vote for you.
I made my first jump in September of 1992 and since have accumulated 9,400 jumps. I am currently a Chief Instructor and Safety & Training Advisor, overseeing all fun jumpers, instructors and student activities. I consider myself to be an instructor who is working on the front lines of the sport dealing with everyday issues that are common to us all.
I hold the following ratings; AFF Instructor, AFF Designated Evaluator, Tandem Instructor Examiner, Coach Instructor Examiner, Professional Rating and Safety & Training Advisor."
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John (Jack) Guthrie
Stansbury Park, Utah
Age: 64. Drop Zone Owner. First jump: 1968. Total jumps: 10,000-plus. Jumps past year: 50. Licenses and ratings: C-5618, D-4683, Coach, AFF I, Static-Line I, Tandem I, PRO, Master Rigger, FAA DPRE. Awards: GW, DW, DDW, GFF, DFF, 8-Stack, CCS.
"Shortly after entering the incredible world of skydiving, 42 years ago, I felt that unless skydivers put more into this sport than we get from this sport that skydiving would not survive. I have tried to conduct my efforts in my professional life according to this belief. I also believe that tandems are the lifeblood of a drop zone, but novice jumpers are the lifeblood of USPA and that USPA is the watch dog of our sport. Without USPA, skydiving as we know it today would not exist. If you feel as I do, I would appreciate your vote."
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Jan Meyer
Hemet, California
Age: 53. Software Developer. First jump: 1981. Total jumps: 6,500-plus. Jumps past year: Not reported. Licenses and ratings: C-15447, D-7833, AFF I, Static-Line I, Private Pilot, ASEL. Awards: GW, GFF.
"In nearly 30 years of jumping, I have organized, jumpmastered, written articles, competed, run meets, managed the logistics, roster and slotting of world record events, provided input to USPA, PIA, FAI and the FAA. I have testified at public hearings on airport access issues. My recent testimony, in a high profile lawsuit, was critical to a $9.6M judgment being awarded to the drop zone and reducing deceptive internet advertising that gave skydiving a black-eye with the general public.
I attended two prototype IECs, at my own expense, to augment the caliber of our instructors.
I am well versed in the workings of many aspects of skydiving and jump operations. I hold four world records and two national championships. I have organized three Skydivers Over Sixty (SOS) world records and hope to be on the one when I turn 60.
I communicate with thousands of jumpers worldwide. I meet active jumpers, new jumpers and retired jumpers by attending events worldwide. I help new jumpers progress through their student training by giving them encouragement and guidance. I help experienced jumpers deal with issues they have with USPA and more importantly, help them improve their skills.
My background and experience as a fun jumper, instructor, organizer, competitor, world record holder, world record organizer, meet director, judge, OmniSkore! technical support, writer, PIA speaker and board member provides me with a depth of experience, knowledge and a perspective to guide USPA in a direction that benefits the most jumpers.
Contact: Aerosoftware@MakeItHappen.com."
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B.J. Worth (Incumbent)
Whitefish, Montana
Age: 58. Filmmaker/Event Organizer. First jump: 1970. Total jumps: 6,600. Jumps past year: 150. Licenses and ratings: C-6785, D-3805, Senior Rigger. Awards: GW, DW, DDW, GFF.
"Serving on USPA’s Board is an effective means for me to give back as much as I’ve gained from our sport. By actively skydiving with USPA members, I’ve acquired the knowledge and wisdom to make balanced assessments and informed decisions that serve the best interests of the majority of USPA members.
Sport Leadership: Helped develop sequential skydiving into widely practiced discipline as Captain of U.S. Freefall Exhibition Team (1975); conceived/developed 4- and 8-way FS competition disciplines; captain/competitor on three consecutive World Champion 8-way teams; earned 12 FAI world records; organized Olympic Rings skydiving exhibition for Seoul Olympic opening ceremonies; conceived/developed canopy piloting competition of Blade Running; Director of World Team: 400-way world record; organizer of Kaleidoscope Dives (100-way sequential), 100-way diamond; currently developing comprehensive program to implement the most effective and affordable big-way training procedures and events.
National Skydiving Museum: Trustee; helped develop Skydiving Hall of Fame; organized multi-disciplined exhibition jumps for NSM’s 2010 Skydiving Celebration Weekend.
USPA Leadership: Chairman of the Board (current); President (four years); IPC delegate (20 years); chaired several key committees; developed USPA-2000—project to modernize membership services and operations; active proponent for implementing online voting.
Skydiving Promotion: skydived with George Bush Sr., then produced video for his Presidential Library; Aerial Stunt Coordinator/Stuntman in 120-plus movies, TV shows, commercials: eight 007 films, “XXX,” “Drop Zone,” “Terminal Velocity,” “World’s Greatest Stunts,” Honda advert (2008), Rold Gold Super Bowl ad; First IMAX freefall cameraman; Producer/Director of one-hour skydiving show for Discovery Wings."
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Abbie Mashaal
Twin Falls, Idaho
Age: 32. Drop Zone Owner. First jump: 2001. Total jumps: 1,100. Jumps past year: 200. Licenses and ratings: A-43709, B-26579, C-34496, D-28392, Coach, IAD I, Tandem I, PRO, Senior Rigger, Pilot ASEL, USHGPA Paragliding P-4, T-1, BASE 1014, NRASE 152. Awards: 4-Stack, 8-Stack, CCS.
"Before Abbie jumped full time into parachuting, he ran an engine parts business for his father, then became a tech-sector entrepreneur who built retail-business computer systems, networks and point-of-sale equipment, and designed database and web applications for national and multinational corporations.
Abbie now owns Snake River Skydiving and Splatula Rigging in Twin Falls, Idaho, where he also serves as Senior Rigger, tandem, IAD and wingsuit instructor, videographer and serious CReWdog (bronze medal, 2009 Nationals). He also paraglides, speed flies, BASE jumps regularly at nearby Perrine Bridge and flies his own Cessna 182.
Abbie recently moved his DZ to a bigger, better, towered airport by working in concert with USPA HQ to create a consensus coalition of other airport businesses, airport management and city officials. He routinely interfaces with city leaders to improve the already good relationship between local residents and the jumping community, and is running for the USPA Board so he can share his demonstrated leadership ability on a larger scale:
‘Parachutists and DZs should make their own decisions about their jumping and their business in their states. We should minimize new regulations and convince FAA to apply to parachuting its current aircraft, airshow and experimental equipment category rules; jumpers should be able to do low-altitude demos and jump personal homebuilt gear just like pilots can. And I would revisit Group Membership for wind tunnels, and why USPA supports businesses that do not use parachutes, because every dollar spent in a tunnel is one less dollar spent on parachuting!’"
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Tom Noonan
Orlando, Florida
Age: 36. Professional Skydiving Instructor. First jump: 2000. Total jumps: 3,800. Jumps past year: 800. Licenses and ratings: D-24313, Coach Examiner, Tandem IE, AFF I, PRO, Senior Rigger. Awards: GW, DW, 12FF, 24FF.
"I have been skydiving for 11 years and working in the industry full time for the last four of those years. In that time, I have had the opportunity to work with many USPA members and group member drop zones across the country and around the world. Currently I hold the following ratings: USPA Coach E, AFF I, Tandem IE and IERC Course Director as well as Tandem Examiner for Strong Enterprises, Senior Rigger, and I hold a USPA PRO Rating. For the last two years, serving the USPA membership as the Southeast Regional Director, I believe that I have brought a fresh perspective to the BOD, working diligently in the Safety & Training Committee, campaigning to raise the standards of the instructional rating process and demonstrating the willingness to vocally advocate for the membership when it calls for change. In my role on the Finance & Budget Committee, my educational and financial background helped the committee ensure the financial stability of our organization. As a Tandem Instructor, I focus on turning first-time skydivers into students. As an AFF Instructor, I train students to become licensed skydivers. As a fun jumper, I skydive with licensed skydivers to help them get ready to pursue instructional ratings. Then as an IE, I train licensed skydivers to become our next generation of coaches and instructors. Looking toward the future of our sport and our great organization, I humbly request your consideration and vote for National Director in the upcoming USPA Board of Directors election."
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Sherry Butcher (Incumbent)
Marshallville, Ohio
Age: 44. Real Estate Broker. First jump: 1993. Total jumps: 5,731. Jumps past year: 225. Licenses and ratings: D-16988, Coach Examiner, AFF I, Static-Line I, PRO, Master Rigger, SDU Coach. Awards: GW, DW, GFF, DFF.
"The USPA Board continues to work hard for skydivers in many ways including progressive training programs, airport access, membership benefits, competition and sport promotion! This term I again served as the Secretary, a member of the Executive Committee as well as the Safety & Training and Membership Services Committees. I am running again for a National Director position because I truly enjoy being on the board and helping to shape the future of the skydiving industry.
For those of you who don’t know me, I started jumping at Grand Lake Skydiving in Celina, Ohio, May 24th, 1993. I am a Static-Line and AFF Instructor, SDU Coach, USPA and SDU Coach Course Director, a PRO rating holder, a Master Rigger, AFF Designated Evaluator and a retired Tandem I. I owned AerOhio Skydiving Center for 14 years and would not trade those years for anything! Working with students continues to inspire me. Watching their success just makes me smile and keeps me at the drop zone every weekend!
Have fun voting with the new online system!"
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John Goswitz
Little Canada, Minnesota
Age: 61. Fleet Service Supervisor. First jump: 1975. Total jumps: 1,169. Jumps past year: 0. Licenses and ratings: A-5289, D-8534, Static-Line Instructor, A&P, Private Pilot, SEL. Awards: GW, GFF, 4-Stack, 8-Stack.
"John has spent the last 24 years serving the members of his region by serving on the board as a Regional Director. During this time he has been a member or chairman on all of the committees with the exception of the Competition Committee. This has allowed him to learn all of the interworkings of the board. His years of experience have allowed him to serve as a mentor to the new Regional Directors.
John started his skydive experience at a Cessna drop zone and has represented the members who jump at small- and medium-size DZs during his years on the board. As the majority of the drop zones in the United States are one- and two-Cessna DZs, John knows that the jumpers at these DZs will need his voice on the board.
Even though John has not served on the Competition Committee, he is a Regional Judge in FS and supported the NSL competition by judging for the NPSL for the last 10 years. He has also worked at a number of USPA Nationals helping out the Chief Judge. His hours of time spent judging for the NPSL have earned him the respect and gratitude of the competitors.
The membership needs to elect people to the Board of Directors with experience to mentor the new members and too remember what has been tried unsuccessfully in the past.
Please allow John to continue to serve the membership and elect him to the position of National Director."
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Thomas Deacon
Waialua, Hawaii
Age: 40. Skydiving Instructor Examiner. First jump: 1997. Total jumps: 9,385. Jumps past year: 1,541. Licenses and ratings: A-33126, D-27911, Coach Examiner, AFF IE, Tandem IE, Static-Line I, Senior Rigger. Awards: GW, DW, DDW, GFF, DFF.
"I am running for USPA National Director to make a positive change. If elected to the board I plan on working for the membership as all board members should and representing them to the best of my abilities. USPA is the premier skydiving organization in the world. We still have a long way to go and need work in several areas.
1. USPA needs to solicit corporate sponsors like other ‘extreme’ sports which I believe will help our membership grow by targeting a whole new audience.
2. We need to develop up-to-date training programs that meet the needs of modern skydivers.
3. The current rating system needs to be looked at. We should be producing the highest quality instructors, and that’s not possible when we train to minimum standards.
These are just a few of the things that we need to work on at USPA, and with your vote and your support we can make a change."
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Jay Stokes (Incumbent)
Yuma, Arizona
Age: 54. President and CEO of Certification Unlimited, Inc. First jump: 1974. Total jumps: 18,650. Jumps past year: 875. Licenses and ratings: C-13899, D-6528, Coach Examiner, AFF IE, SL IE, IAD IE, Tandem IE, PRO. Private Pilot, ASEL. Awards: 240-Hour Freefall Badge, 18,000-Jump Wings.
"After being on the board for two terms and serving as president, I believe I have the experience to continue to be a productive member and a leader pursuing the good of the entire association.
This year, we were able to develop and implement the online or electronic voting system. Hopefully this new system will mean a higher turnout in elections and give USPA elected officials a greater mandate and increase the effective involvement of individual members.
During this upcoming term, I want to focus on two very important issues: (1) canopy-related fatalities and (2) USPA involvement with the tandem program.
Between 2004 and 2007, fatal accidents after deploying a safe parachute, were 51 percent of the total. This year that percentage was 60 percent. We need to ask, ‘What is going on?’ We need to establish standard landing patterns to manage the risks involved. We must stop the unnecessary loss of life or the FAA will do it. No member should want the FAA to step in when we should do it ourselves.
Have we been successful in managing the tandem program? If not, where do we go from here? Whether or not a parent can sign the rights away for their minor child to make a tandem jump is an issue. The legal answer is ‘No.’ That means that we may need to change the BSRs to clarify minority age requirements.
I want to be part of these discussions and in the leadership as we find solutions."
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Marty Jones
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Age: 54. Equipment Specialist. First jump: 1970. Total jumps: 10,300. Jumps past year: 300. Licenses and ratings: C-8821, D-6397, AFF I, Static-Line I, Tandem I, PRO, Master Rigger, Pilot, A&P Mechanic. Awards: GW, DW, GFF, DFF, 4-Stack.
"Skydiving has provided me a great life for the last 40 years. It is time for me to give back."
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Michael Mullins (Incumbent)
Germantown, Tennessee
Age: 64. Airline Captain. First jump: 1963. Total jumps: 4,266. Jumps past year: 52. Licenses and ratings: C-2442, D-1643, AFF I, Static-Line I, Tandem Master, PRO, Senior Rigger, ATP, Airbus A300, B727, B737, Lear Jet, Helicopter, Glider. Awards: GW, DW.
"USPA is at a crossroads deciding whether we are a membership organization dedicated to serving the individual skydiver or a liability watchdog serving the skydiving industry and their lawyers.
I am for serving the individual skydiver with a minimum of regulation and words."
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Lawrence Hill (Incumbent)
Eloy, Arizona
Age: 64. CEO Skydive AZ. First jump: 1967. Total jumps: 5,000-plus. Jumps past year: 0. Licenses and ratings: D-3132, AFF I, Tandem I, PRO, Senior Rigger, ATP, A&P IA. Award: GW.
"I made my first jump in April of 1967. Our organization was known as the Parachute Club of America (PCA). Since that first jump I have seen many changes in our sport and our national organization. I have obtained all the instructional ratings and have been active in student training for the length of my jumping career. From being a jumpmaster and instructor to running a school employing up to 30 people. I feel that I have been a contributing factor in the growth of competition and the increase at our U.S. Nationals in all disciplines. In 1993 the birth of Omniskore happened due to my desire to have a public scoring system for spectators. Running one of the largest skydiving centers in the world (Skydive Arizona) has given me knowledge in all aspects of our great sport. Since 1985 I have attended every meeting of the USPA Board of Directors as both a member of the organization and as an elected National Director. In 1991 I started attending every meeting of the International Parachuting Commission. I have seen the operations of these boards from both outside and as a member. For our organization to serve the needs of all its membership we need people who are experienced in all aspects of this sport. We also need people who have the knowledge of the past and a vision for the future. I have these qualities. With your support I will continue to serve you to the best of my ability."
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Kirk Verner (Incumbent)
Southern Pines, North Carolina
Age: 43. Manager, Paraclete XP SkyVenture. First jump: 1982. Total jumps: 25,000. Jumps past year: 450. Licenses and ratings: C-17887, D-11059, AFF I.
"Have sincerely enjoyed my first term as National Director. I am still very active in the sport, fun jumping, competition training, organizing and coaching. I am a four-time World Champion with 30-plus National Championships. I will continue to do my best to promote skydiving and keep jumpers jumping."
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