NAFI Professional Development Program (Pilot): Bring Lost Clients Back

Chris Moser & Josh Harnagel

Presenters

AOPA Director, Flight Training Initiative

Josh Harnagel is a CFI, CFI-I, MEI with 3,000 hours. He currently serves as Vice President, Marketing for Redbird Flight Simulations, an Austin Texas-based flight training technology company.

Josh oversees a team responsible for marketing, communications, and product development. A member of the Redbird staff for 10 years, he has held a number of key positions. During that time, he has been an instrumental contributor to Redbird's explosive growth since its inception.

Bob Meder

Host

Robert "Bob" Meder completed his initial flight training in 1995 and earned his CFI in 2006. He went on to add single-engine and multi-engine instrument certificates. Recently he retired from a 40+ year career at a major railroad as the Director of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). While in this position, he worked directly with the FAA on regulatory issues for Drones and critical infrastructure companies. During this time, he continued to instruct.

Bob has over 6,000 hours of dual instruction and enjoys training new flight instructors, challenging them to recognize the distinction between skill and critical thinking. He emphasizes that superior risk management, not just skill, is the key to safe flight training. He is a FAASTeam Lead Rep at the St Louis FSDO and was honored as the district and regional flight instructor of the year in 2009 and 2010. After nearly ten years as chair, Bob currently serves as Chair Emeritus on the NAFI board of directors. At the time of the NAFI Professional Development Program and PDC Live @ OSH broadcasts, Bob Meder was NAFI Chairman of the Board.

Rick Todd

Host

Rick Todd is a former NAFI president. Rick Todd received his private pilot certificate in 2005 and, within a relatively short timeframe, in 2008 became a CFI. A past flight school owner for four years, Rick added CFII, MEI, AGI and IGI, and became a FAASTeam Representative for his local FSDO in the Chicago area in 2011 to his flying achievements. Rick has over 3,500 hours total time with 2,900 dual given.

After flight school ownership, he continues to teach with a flying club and at most airports in south suburban Chicago. Rick has considerable experience as a successful executive, currently serving as Vice President for an electrical systems manufacturing facility near Chicago.

Rick is a member of the NAFI Board of Directors and currently serves as the association president overseeing business operations, programs, sales and marketing.