Meet Our Board
Our Board of Trustees is made up of 100% volunteers. All our trustees devote their knowledge, time and energy without any financial compensation. Each brings their own unique experiences, talents, and perspectives to the Foundation.
Rebecca Duggan
President & Trustee
Rebecca Duggan is an instrument rated private pilot who earned her wings in 1999. Born and raised in Michigan, she has a vested interest in promoting aviation education in Michigan. Rebecca is a member of AOPA, EAA, FAAST and the Michigan Chapter 99s. She owns a Piper Cherokee which she plans to fly to every state in the continental US to fulfill a bucket list item inspired by her mentor, founder of the MAEF Mary Rawlinson Creason. After a 30 year civil service career, Rebecca took an early retirement from the Army and became President of the MAEF in 2013. She holds a bachelors degree in business management from Davenport University.
Kimberly Heitmeyer
Secretary & Trustee
Kimberly Heitmeyer was born in Staten Island, New York, but being in a military family, she spent most of her early life living in various places along the east coast before her parents settled in northern Virginia. Growing up, she was enthralled by watching airplanes flying overhead, but never considered pursuing a career in aviation until she was in High School. There she had the opportunity to fly along on a military training flight, and was immediately hooked. She graduated Cum Laude from Western Michigan University in 2016 with dual majors in Aviation Flight Science and Aviation Management and Operations with a minor in General Business. Currently she works as a First Officer with IFL Group flying their Dassault Falcon 20 aircraft conducting cargo operations. Kimberly splits her time living between Virginia and her work base in northern Minnesota. In addition to volunteering with the MAEF, in her free time Kimberly enjoys watching hockey, upcycling old furniture, and gardening.
Joseph Scalzi
Treasurer & Trustee
Joe spent 36 years in manpower management and budget analysis for the US Army and is now retired. He has a bachelors degree in liberal arts from Michigan State University and holds resource management certifications from Syracuse University and the Naval Post Graduate School. While not a pilot himself, Joe has enjoyed being a passenger in all kinds of aircraft to include several hot air balloons as well as float planes in Alaska and Canada. Joe has even jumped out of a perfectly good airplane on a tandem skydiving trip. Joe's favorite hobbies are gourmet cooking, traveling and fishing. He joined the MAEF board in 2017.
Brian Wezensky
Trustee
A native of Michigan, Brian works for Henry Ford Hospital Systems and has over 25 years experience in Information Technology and Wide Area Network (WAN). He holds a Associates degree in Diversified Business, a Cum Laude Bachelors in Computer Science with numerous technical certifications. In 2013, Brian started private pilot lessons at the Oakland-Troy (VLL) Airport and took his check ride the winter the same year. Brian tried his hand at building his own Sonex kit plane before purchasing a V-tail Bonanza. He is a member of EAA Chapter 13 at Ray Community Airport, and after volunteering at a 99s Girls Aviation Day event, Brian was inspired to be an active advocate for aviation education and joined the MAEF Board in 2015.
Janet Patton
Trustee
Janet Patton has been flying airplanes for over 30 years. A Michigan native, she earned her wings at small airports throughout SE Michigan. In the 1990s, Spirit Airlines was a Michigan-based company with its’ headquarters and training in Detroit. Janet’s biggest aviation accomplishment was becoming Spirit Airlines first woman pilot in 1996 followed by the first woman Captain in 1998. She now works as a Boeing 737 Captain for American Airlines, living in Denton, TX and is based at DFW. With over 20 years at American, she is looking forward to holding wide-body Captain on the Boeing’s 777 or 787 within the next 5 years.
Mitchell Kahn
Trustee
Mitchell Kahn, owner of MiddleCoast.Net, has a total of more than 40 years experience in print, including graphics design, brand identity development and in marketing communications. He has won a number of international and national awards for his work. Mitch spent many years as a retail executive in both department stores and specialty stores founding a chain of women’s stores in the 1980’s that were sold several years later. He has an MBA with concentrations in Marketing, Management Systems Design, and Organizational Behavior from the Owen School of Management at Vanderbilt University. Mitch has served on a number of boards and committees as varied as the Development Board of St. Mary’s Hospital. Mitch is an instrument rated private pilot who loves flying. As an active member of Cherokees to Oshkosh, he has flown his Piper Warrior in the group's mass arrival in formation into Oshkosh Airventure annually since 2015.
Monica Burke
Trustee
Monica Burke is currently an Assistant Principal and Middle School Social Studies and Religion teacher. She has been teaching for 13 years. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education with an endorsement in social studies from Oakland University and has a Master of Science degree in Catholic School Educational Leadership from Madonna University. Monica has been a member of the U.S. Air Force Auxillary, Civil Air Patrol (CAP), for almost 40 years and currently holds the grade of Lt Colonel. She is a former recipient (1985) of the Mary von Mach Scholarship and has served on the scholarship selection committee for almost 20 years. She is dedicated to advancing young women and youth in the field of aviation and leadership.
Rachel Lindvig
Trustee
Rachel is currently a commercial pilot and First Officer for American Airlines. She attended the University of North Dakota graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Flight Education and Commercial Aviation. Wanting to learn more, Rachel went on to obtain her Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Aviation Education and Safety Scholarships and education are no stranger to Rachel as she earned multiple scholarships paying for much of her flight training including all of her instructor ratings, Jet transition courses, tail wheel and seaplane courses. A resident of Michigan, Rachel is active in general aviation still. She is a volunteer pilot for the Yankee Air Museum flying the historic C-47 “Hairless Joe”. As the current President of the Yankee Ladies Chapter of the Women In Aviation International, Rachel has been organizing the Chapter’s annual educational “Girls in Aviation Day” event since 2016. Outside of flying Rachel enjoys photography, driving everywhere, quilting, and spending time with her husband and cats.
Morgan Duling
Trustee
Morgan Duling is a Michigan resident currently flight instructing in the Grand Rapids area. She is a Kentucky native and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Western Kentucky University in 2018 with a major in communication studies and a minor in industrial science. She is also a recipient of the Hecksel-Sutherland Scholarship. When she is not flight instructing she volunteers her time as the Scholarship Chair for the Michigan Ninety-Nines or the Outreach Chair for the WAI Great Lakes Chapter. She is passionate about helping others accomplish their aviation dreams and even started a podcast called “Clear Prop!” to bridge the gap between those just entering into aviation to developing themselves within the aviation world. Aside from flying, she also loves to travel, bake, and rock climb.
