President
Stephen (Steve) Bateman
402-200-8930
Hello, I’m Steve Bateman, recently elected to the position of President of the Oregon Pilots Association (OPA). I have been involved with OPA leadership for a few years now; first as Vice President and then as Acting President. I’m an active flight instructor operating out of Prineville Airport (S39), and own a small aviation training and education company, Chocks Away Aviation, LLC, which operates a 1981 Cessna A152 Aerobat. I’m also completing a Van’s RV-12 project, which is putting my Light Sport Repairman Certificate to good use.
After a fun and successful career in electronic technology product development, I was fortunate to open a small flight school and have been immersed in aviation ever since, including working at AOPA Headquarters in Frederick, Maryland, as the Director of Flying Clubs. From this work, I understand firsthand the need for local pilots to act as a cohesive body when facing and tackling the seemingly never-ending onslaught of threats from many directions, including airports closures, fuel challenges, inappropriate use of ADS-B data, hangar lease shenanigans…and unfortunately so much more. The best way for each of us to counter these threats is to make our voices heard in a directed and concerted way, and that is what OPA has been doing since 1939 and we will continue doing so in the future: Protecting Your Freedom to Fly, and Keeping Oregon Flying.
I’m pleased to be an AOPA presenter and enjoy giving the very popular “AOPA Rusty Pilots” seminars and more recently “Back to Your Roots” webinars, designed to help ex- airplane pilots get back into general aviation. My work as a Lead Representative with the FAASTeam (WINGS program), see me preparing and presenting aviation-focused seminars and webinars. including safety seminars at the EAA Chapter 617 (Prineville) monthly breakfast meeting, every third Saturday of the month.
I live in Redmond, Oregon with my wife of 39-years. We have four (grown) children scattered around the country, and we very much enjoy the fun and convenience of flying ourselves to visit them.
I’m delighted to now act as President of OPA and as you will read in the following board member introductions, I am very lucky to have a first-class group of subject matter experts to work with, as we realign the vector of OPA to the modern times.
Vice President
Sean (Shan) Phillips
A Pacific Northwest native that was perhaps not fully inspired - but certainly positively influenced - by my pilot father, from a very young age. Although many decades passed, the persistent dream of learning to fly never faded. After years of doing the responsible-adulting thing, the relentless passage of time made it clear; it was time to take action. In 2020 that dream was transformed into reality by earning my private pilot certificate. The journey included acquiring a 1956 straight-tail Cessna 172 that still today provides the immense joy of flying and freedom.
I firmly believe that strong organizations, backed by active and engaged membership, have the power to protect and promote our ability and freedom to fly. It’s my time to give back and I’m proud to support the efforts of the Oregon Pilots Association.
Based in Prineville, Oregon and always looking for an excuse to go flying!
Treasurer
Alan Williams
I live in Vancouver, Washington, and also own a place in Government Camp, OR where I lived for 22 years before recently moving to Vancouver. My aviation experience includes getting my private ticket when I was seventeen, flying helicopters in the US Army, and flying helicopters and fixed wing for the Sheriff’s Department back in my hometown in Florida, after 10 years in the Army. Upon leaving the Sheriff’s Dept to get a master’s degree, I continued to fly for personal use and enjoyment. I currently fly out of Mulino Airport as a member of the Aero Dynamics Flying Club.
I hold a Commercial Pilot’s License for SEL, MEL, Rotorcraft Helicopter, with an Instrument Rating for both Airplane and Helicopter. Finally, as it relates to finance, I have an MBA with 20+ years of experience managing all financial aspects for several businesses as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.
I look forward to serving the OPA Membership as Treasurer for another two years.
Director of Communications
Casey Simons
I started flying in 2022 out of 77S (Creswell) and since, have been cruising around the Pacific Northwest trying to get as much time and experience as possible. I just started working on a Zenith 750 Super Duty in my garage! As I continue to fly I’d like to visit all public airports in Oregon (any any private ones I’m invited to), complete my Washington Aviation Passport, and to do some airport camping with my dog.
Director At Large
Dennis Schoenberg
I am currently a Director at Large, specifically focused on Safety and Procedures. I fly a RV-12, based at KBDN, and have recently completed a bucket list adventure from Bend (OR) to Kitty Hawk, NC (KFFA), a 70-hour Hobbs trip that had 41 legs of flying and took almost 7 weeks to complete. I currently work at a large flight school in a safety capacity. I am retired from a 27-year career at the airlines, started initially as a FAA-licensed Aircraft Dispatcher and subsequently worked in various Flight Operations management roles.
Secretary
Ryan Birr
Ryan has been Oregon resident since 1999, earned Private Pilot license in 1986 and CFI in 1999 and was flight instructor at the Troutdale Airport, taught at Mt Hood Community College in their Professional Pilot degree program, and gave seaplane training for several years in the early 90s. He transitioned into aviation insurance and risk management in 1995 and started Northwest Insurance Group in 2004, now serving the insurance needs for pilots, aircraft owners, and aviation businesses in all 50 states. Located on the Hillsboro Airport, he has owned his Mooney 252TSE for eight years and uses it extensively for personal and business travel. He holds designations: Certified Aviation Insurance Professional–Gold, and Gold Seal Certified Flight Instructor–Instrument.
Director of Legislative Affairs
Becky Breckenridge
have lived my whole life in the Portland area. As a child we frequented Portland International Airport and every time there we would visit the observation deck and watch the comings and goings of the airliners.
After marrying and raising our children I had the opportunity to take up flying. I have been doing so since 2002. I started in a C-172 and went on to a C-182. My husband soon joined in and got his PPL and we made Lenhardt Airpark (7S9) our home airport.
In 2009 I decided to build, from plans, my own aircraft, the Christavia MK-1. I had taken up welding a couple of years before the project which was handy in welding the fuselage. A lot of the methods I used were old school craftsmanship such fabric covering and fabricating wood ribs. Her first flight was in 2016.
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Shortly after finishing my project, I became involved with OPA, first as President Elect and then President. I now step into the position of Director of Legislative Affairs with some experience but am excited to learn so much more. I will endeavor to represent OPA on the state legislative level and inform OPA membership of how to be involved in the decisions being made concerning aviation in Oregon.
Director of OPA Chapters
John Storey
My passion for aviation began during summers in Pensacola, Florida, where I regularly watched the Blue Angels practice and witnessed a variety of military aircraft in flight. After earning a B.S. in Computer Science, I joined the Navy, earned my wings as a Naval Aviator, and flew the Lockheed P-3 Orion across the Pacific and Indian Oceans—including during Operation Desert Shield in 1992.
Following my Navy service and achieving CFI, CFII, and ATP ratings, I flew the Saab/Fairchild SF-340 for Business Express Airlines in the busy and weather-challenged skies of the Northeast. However, the volatility of the airline industry at the time prompted a return to the IT profession, where my flying skills eventually faded – until recently.
In 2023, as a Rusty Pilot, I returned to the skies and have since been actively rebuilding my proficiency and working toward reinstating my instructor certificates. I've presented on general aviation safety topics and am preparing to return to flight instruction, with a focus on helping non-professional pilots advance their skills, ratings and maintain proficiency. With general aviation facing growing challenges from economic pressures to regulatory neglect and industrial self-interest - I aim to contribute to a more organized and effective GA community voice.
Director At Large
Kim Muinch
I learned to fly at the Santa Monica Airport in the ‘60’s, and my father and I flew hundreds of hours together all over that complex airspace— and all over the country. I soloed at 16, got my private certificate at 17, commercial at 18, followed by instrument and helicopter ratings. I have more than 4,000 hours. I’ve flown in the Bonanzas to Oshkosh twice, and to Alaska. I’ve owned four airplanes of the Grumman and Beechcraft variety; however, I became a renter a few years ago, in favor of renting types I’ve never flown and lots of travel. I am a retired business management. consultant, with expertise in large-scale enterprise applications, lean manufacturing and project management. I am goal-oriented, well-organized and a team builder.
I live in Bend, and as co-founder and president of the Friends of Bend Airport (http://www.friendsofbendairport.com) I act locally and spend hundreds of hours each year to give voice to the users, investors and businesses there.