Mailing Address: 8711 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., #198, Scottsdale, AZ 85255-3517 [email protected] (928) 377-1020

Board Members

President/East Valley Liaison/Historian/Advertising

Rick Hardina

Rick is retired from the field of Psychology. He is our photojournalist, documenting our trips with his ever-present camera and writing articles for local papers. Rick is the president of his local business association, on the board for A.D.O.B.E. and volunteers at a local museum. He also organizes tours for groups on cruise ships.

Vice-President/Digital Media & Communications Coordinator

Robert Krug

Robert is a quality assurance manager for a digital advertising company and volunteers his professional services to several non-profits including Honor Flight Arizona. His diverse business experience includes aviation & drones, energy, and financial services. He is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. Robert and his wife have served as a volunteers and event coordinators with Honor Flight Arizona since 2013.

Secretary

Karen Keogh Friddle

Karen is retired from the medical industry where she spent the last 10 years of her career in Corporate Training and Development. She has been a volunteer for hemophilia and genetic emphysema organizations for the past 25 years. She became involved in Honor Flight Arizona to honor her father, a career Army WWII/Korea veteran and her husband Tom, a Vietnam veteran, as well all other veterans.

Treasurer

Gay Nichols

Gay is retired from her bookkeeper job of 32 years at an automotive and agricultural dealership owned by her husband in Montana. She graduated with a degree in mathematics and taught school before taking the bookkeeping/accounting position. She was introduced to the Honor Flight organization by a friend. Gay realized she could make a worthwhile contribution to Honor Flight Arizona as Treasurer and flying as a trip leader. She is honoring her father (USAF) and husband (USMC), both Korean War Veterans, along with all Veterans.

Board Member/Hub Coordinator

Diane Franzese

Diane retired from the corporate world in Human Resources, Training and Development more than a decade ago to start her own business in Arizona. Several years ago, she was in Baltimore waiting for a flight home when 28 WWII Veterans arrived and came off a plane to visit their memorial in Washington, D.C. After her experience with the Veterans that afternoon, she knew that was her calling. When she got back to Arizona that evening, she immediately looked up Honor Flight Arizona and signed up to volunteer. In doing so, she is honoring her father, both her brothers, her fiance and many many friends along with all veterans. Diane also enjoys flying as a guardian and coordinator with Honor Flight AZ.

Board Member/Medical Coordinator

Dr. Scott Kurbat, M.D.

After an intermission of a few years, Scott is serving in his second campaign as Medical Coordinator for Honor Flight Arizona. He is a charter board member, and flew on our first mission in 2009! Scott has flown over 20 missions in Guardian, Medic, and Trip Leader roles. He is an Arizona native (Tempe), attended ASU, then St. Louis University School of Medicine. He served his Emergency Medicine Residency at Maricopa Medical Center and has been an Emergency Physician at Banner Thunderbird Hospital & Medical Center since 1996. Scott is married with three children and four grandchildren.

Board Member/Transportation/Mail Call Coordinator

Lisa Rosetty

Lisa is a homemaker and has held various positions in the hospitality industry as well as positions in Arizona and Oregon schools running school lunch programs. Her main focus was raising her two boys and chairing her local church’s fundraising rummage sale. Prior to moving to Arizona, Lisa volunteered with the Portland Junior Hawks Youth Hockey Association as a team manager. Lisa is married to her husband of 28 years, Bruce, and they have two adult boys, James and Justin.

Lisa contacts each of the veterans family members and friends to generate and coordinate “Mail Call” for all of the veterans on the trip from the memorials in Washington, D.C. and acts as a Guardian as well.

Board Member/Logistics Coordinator

Matthew Hartman

Matt retired after 20 years active duty in the US Air Force and then served another 23 years as a DoD Contractor and Department of the Air Force Civilian. He started volunteering with Honor Flight in February 2009 with Honor Flight Historic Triangle Virginia and later founded Old Dominion Honor Flight covering sections of Virginia and North Carolina. One of the highlights of his career was being named the Air Force Sergeants Association Volunteer Service Person of the Year for 2010 and receiving the Book of Golden Deeds Award from the Old Point Comfort Exchange Club in 2011.

Board Member/Fundraising Coordinator

Jon Berry

Jon is retired from the USAF following 30 years of service. He is now the Director of Business Development for USAF Programs at Teledyne FLIR, Inc where he continues to serve by facilitating high-tech detection capabilities and solutions to the battle space. Jon learned of Honor Flight Arizona while serving as the AFROTC Detachment Commander at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ as part of the selection committee tasked to nominate cadets for participation as guardians. He was so impressed with the program he made it a point to become more involved following his retirement. Jon continues to live in Prescott with his family, and enjoys serving his community..

Board Member Emeritus/Honor Flight AZ Founder

Susan Howe

Susan is retired from the medical field. She had been involved in the improvement of children’s health issues, her church and Young Life before founding the Honor Flight Arizona hub. Honor Flight Arizona exists today because of the many years, and many thousands of hours of hard work (and faith), given by Susan for the Honor Flight mission. Her love and appreciation for our Veterans is tireless, and we appreciate her insight and continued support as a Board Member Emeritus.

President Emeritus

Anthony Martinez

Tony has been involved in many civic organizations, particularly the Lions. He has held the elected position of Yavapai County Tax Assessor. Tony served in the U.S. Army National Guard for six years. He served as Honor Flight AZ President for four years. Tony has been on a number of Honor Flight AZ trips as co-Coordinator.


December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy…With the confidence in our armed forces – with the unbounded determination of our people – we will gain inevitable triumph – so help me God.”
–-Franklin D. Roosevelt