Our Staff

The staff of Lanier Flight Center represents over 100 years of experience in flight instruction and professional flying. As an Atlanta Flight School, we are a dedicated team of aviation professionals who understand how privileged we are to be able to experience the freedom and joy of general aviation. We are committed to providing excellent service and training to a high standard.

We welcome you to contact us any time. Please feel free to call or email with questions or just to get to know us a little better. We are looking forward to working with you in training for a new certificate or rating, currency or just having fun in an airplane.

Troy Wheeler – President
email: troy.wheeler@lanierflightcenter.com
Troy Wheeler is the President of Lanier Flight Center and Lanier Flight Express. Troy has been in aviation since 1982 when he started flying at Peachtree Dekalb Airport in Atlanta Georgia. Troy’s flight training was with Epps Flight School under his mentors Steve Shaner and Clint Rodgers.

Kenny Wheeler – Vice President
email: kenny.wheeler@lanierflightcenter.com
Kenny Wheeler is owner of Wheeler Services, Inc. in Alpharetta Georgia. Wheeler Services has over 20 years in business as  a construction and landscape company. Kenny Wheeler has his Private License and is currently working on his Instrument Rating.

Mark T. Sulimirski – Director of Sales and Marketing
email: mark.sulimirski@lanierflightcenter.com
As Sales and Marketing Director, Mark is responsible for maximizing Cessna Piston Aircraft sales and Lanier Flight Center’s position as a premier flight school, spearheading marketing and business development strategies and promoting general aviation.

Heidi Earle – Director of Operations
email: heidi.earle@lanierflightcenter.com
Heidi is the third generation of aviators in her family.
She enjoys using her education and background in communication, management, and marketing to support the wonderful customers and team members at Lanier Flight Center. In her words, LFC is where smart people have fun!

Paul Kyst – Director of Maintenance
email: paul.kyst@lanierflightcenter.com
When Paul is not flying Boeing 777s for American Airlines, he manages the maintenance team and keeps the Lanier Flight Centers Fleet airborne. He joined Lanier Flight Center in February of 2011 and is a Licensed A&P Mechanic with an IA permit. He brings a wealth of experience managing fleets of aircraft.

Scott Simpkins – PDK Manager
email: scott.simpkins@lanierflightcenter.com
Scott Simpkins joins Lanier flight center after serving 6 years in the U.S Army as a
AH-1S (Cobra) helicopter crew chief an Twenty Five years with the Savannah-Chatham
Metropolitan Police Dept. Scott retired as a Captain / Pct. Commander and Aviation
Commander in December of 2010 and moved to Flowery Branch.

Gainesville (KGVL) Based Flight Instructors

Derek Metro – Chief Flight Instructor – CFI, CFII, A & P
email: derek.metro@lanierflightcenter.com
Derek went on to get his Private Pilot at 18 and later a B.S degree in Aviation Maintenance Management from San Jose State University. He has been instructing since 1993 including 10 years as a full-time flight instructor in the San Francisco Bay area.  Over 90% of his students pass the checkride on the first try.

David Gazda – Assistant Chief Flight Instructor - CFI, CFII
email: david.gazda@lanierflightcenter.com
David Gazda is originally from Jacksonville, ILL. David’s eyes were opened to the love of aviation as a Civil Air Patrol member. In early 2009, he accomplished his Professional Certified Flight Instructor rating. He is currently working on obtaining advanced Instructor ratings as well.

Chuck Padgett – Flight Instructor – CFI, CFII, MEI
email: chuck.padgett@lanierflightcenter.com
Chuck also has his commercial, multi-engine and instruments ratings. Chuck now holds both a CFI Certificate and an Instrument Instruction Certificate for instruction in both single engine and multi-engine land airplanes.  Whether you are interested in starting a career, flying for business or just some plain old fun, call Chuck today!

Stephen Kilpatrick – Flight Instructor – CFI, CFII, MEI
email: stephen.kilpatrick@lanierflightcenter.com
Stephen Kilpatrick completed his flight training with ATP in 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona. He instructed for Air Safety Flight Academy in 2007 and 2008 where he held the position of Director of Standardization. Then, he took an active duty position with the army as an avionics technician for rotor craft…

Bill Shuford – Flight Instructor – CFI, CFII, MEI
email: bill.shuford@lanierflightcenter.com
Bill Shuford is a FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor, CFI, CFII, MEI, Ground Instructor, FAASTeam Member. At Lanier Flight Center, Bill is a Lanier Flight Center flight instructor and joined the LFC Team in 2005 and has logged almost 4000 flight hours of which 75% were as an Flight Instructor.

Kelly Chandler – Flight Instructor – CFI
email: kelly.chandler@lanierflightcenter.com
Since 2005 Kelly has been a member of the LFC Flying Club and has accomplished his Private, Instrument and Commercial ratings under CFI Bill Shuford. Kelly has also recently achieved his CFI with instructor Derek Metro here at LFC. Kelly is LFC’s most recent instructor addition. Way to go Kelly!

David Wardlaw – Flight Instructor – CFI
email: dewardlaw1@gmail.com
David “Dave” Wardlaw was an Army helicopter pilot, flying Hueys and Blackhawks, from 1982-1995. He started fixed-wing flying and training in 2004 at Lanier Flight Center earning his private, instrument and single and multi-engine commercial ratings.  He became a certified flight instructor (CFI) in 2008 and worked in Florida as a flight  …

Liz Kooymans – Flight Instructor – CFI
email: liz@lanierflightcenter.com
Liz Kooymans is a mechanical engineer that graduated from Georgia Tech. She then moved to Texas to work in the defense industry at Raytheon as a Mechanical Engineer for about 5 years.  Then one day she met a fellow engineer who was a pilot and lived in a hanger home at a flying community.  By the end of the week…

Curtis Ford – Flight Instructor – CFI
email: curtis.ford@lanierflightcenter.com

Peachtree-Dekalb (KPDK) Based Flight Instructors

Joe Lanier III – Flight Instructor - CFI, CFII
email: joe.lanier@lanierflightcenter.com
Joe obtained all of his pilot ratings at Peachtree Dekalb Airport. His love of aviation began on the viewing platform atop the old Hartsfield terminal. Joe attended Sewanee University (BA Economics) and the University of North Carolina (MBA) before spending 15 years in the textile business.

David Schiff – Flight Instructor – ATP, CFI, CFII, MEI
email: david.schiff@lanierflightcenter.com
David is has been flight instructing for 25 years with over 8000 hours, 70% as an instructor. He was Chief Pilot, Training Officer, and Check Airman for a medium sized international Part 135 charter company so he has flown “the system” from dirt strips to the busiest airports in the U.S. He has flown as a police pilot and a corporate pilot.

Brian Bera – Flight Instructor – CFI, CFII, MEI
email: brian.bera@lanierflightcenter.com
Brian is originally from Napa, California. He has been flying since 1997 and has had a variety of jobs in the aviation field including being a tour pilot in the Grand Canyon. His love for flying motivated him to get his CFI in 2000 and looks forward to continuing his career teaching others. He has a passion for all aircraft, but has a specific interest in WWII planes.

Jackson Slappy – Flight Instructor – CFI, MEI
email: jackson.slappy@lanierflightcenter.com
Jackson Slappy has been flying for almost 25 years. His love of flying started with
his father who worked for the FAA. He was able to see the flight operations from the
inside and knew one day he would be joining the aviation community.

Lanier Flight Center Maintenance Staff

Jon Owens – FAA A&P Licensed Mechanic
email: jon.owens@lanierflightcenter.com





Wes Dale – FAA A&P Licensed Mechanic
email: wes.dale@lanierflightcenter.com





Greg Hunsinger
email: greg.hunsinger@lanierflightcenter.com





JR Tucker
email: jr.tucker@lanierflightcenter.com