Cover Photo: Some current and outgoing board members were honored at HAI’s annual reception in Alexandria, Virginia. From left to right: Torbjorn “TC” Corell, James O. Wisecup, Matt Zuccaro, Daniel B. Schwarzbach, and Chuck Aaron Photo by PJ Barbour/HAI
Outgoing HAI Chairman Daniel B. Schwarzbach passes the gavel to his successor, James O. Wisecup. Photo by PJ Barbour/HAI
More than 100 people helped HAI welcome its new Board of Directors on June 25 as the association held its annual reception to mark the end of the fiscal year and the installation of the new board. Old friends and new connections mingled over hors d’oeuvres as they congratulated the board on another year of serving HAI members.
During the reception, outgoing Chairman Daniel B. Schwarzbach of the Houston Police Department passed the gavel to James O. Wisecup of Air Methods Corporation, who on July 1 took over as chairman of the Board of Directors (read more about Wisecup in his profile on p. 12 and his chairman’s column on p. 4).
HAI President and CEO Matt Zuccaro also honored Schwarzbach and outgoing board members Torbjorn “TC” Corell and Chuck Aaron with plaques to commemorate their time as HAI volunteer leaders.
New Board Members, New Vision
New Board Members, New Vision
At the reception, Matt Zuccaro introduced Douglas Barclay and Jack Matiasevich, two new directors selected by HAI members during elections this spring.
“We are pleased to welcome both Douglas and Jack to our Board of Directors,” says Zuccaro. “Each of them brings significant experience from their respective branches of our industry, which should blend very well with the other directors.”
Barclay is the vice president and director of Kachina Aviation, a helicopter operator located in Nampa, Idaho. He received his A&P license in 1980 and inspection authorization in 1991. Barclay served in the US Army and has worked for several helicopter companies, advancing through levels of responsibility. He joined Kachina Aviation in 1993. Barclay serves on the HAI Aerial Firefighting Committee and has been a member of HAI for 20 years.
“I am greatly humbled to be elected to the HAI Board of Directors. I hope to do as well as my predecessors,” says Barclay. “As a newly elected member to the board, I intend to listen to the advice of our members and work on their issues with my fellow board members.”
Matiasevich has flown for more than 24 years and has accumulated more than 11,000 flight hours, working in utility, aerial firefighting, single-pilot helicopter air ambulance, agriculture, and construction. Devoted to safety, he is a representative of the FAASTeam and holds five CFI ratings and three ATP certificates in addition to his IS-BAO auditing credential. He is a 15-year member of HAI and an active contributor to HAI’s Utilities, Patrol, and Construction Committee.
“I am thankful to all those who voted for me, and I look forward to serving the membership at large,” says Matiasevich. “I strongly feel we need to encourage and promote active participation between the HAI committees and show the value and impact a collective body can make. With all of the work we need to accomplish, I am confident we can continue to make an impact.”
