Hometown: La Verne, CA
Balloon activities: Morning Launch

Laurie's ballooning experience started with a camera around 1986. She was very interested in photography and balloons. Through a friend, Laurie started crewing for a local pilot and eventually became regular crew for him. Over the next four years Laurie traveled extensively to every balloon event we could. It was this pilot who encouraged Laurie to get her pilot's license. In 1991 with the help of Laurie's dad, she purchased her first balloon and got her license. Laurie never tires of sharing the sport with new people and has made some great friends over the years.

Hometown: Escondido, CA
Balloon activities: Morning Launch

Matthew grew up around ballooning in Upstate NY and moved to Southern California in the late 90s to pursue a teaching degree. While in college he worked as crew and pursued his pilot's license. Matthew received his license in the early 2000s and has been flying commercially and for pleasure in San Diego ever since. Matthew has also been a teacher for 25 years and currently teaches 3rd grade.

Hometown: Geyserville, CA
Balloon activities: Morning Launch & Night Glow

David grew up around the sport of ballooning. His aunt has been flying balloons for over 40 years and she sparked his interest at the age of two. At age 11 David started crewing for balloons, and at the age of 14 he received his student certificate. David is now a commercial pilot flying passengers over the Sonoma County wine country. He enjoys sharing this one of a kind experience with others and creating a lasting memory they’ll never forget. David really enjoys flying Tigard. It is one of the most beautiful places he's flown.

Hometown: Albany, OR
Balloon activities: Morning Static Display

Tim has been ballooning for forty years, having owned five envelopes and near the end of the fifth log-book. He has enjoyed flying in places like Boise, Walla Walla, Albany, Albuquerque, Madras, Prosser and Pendleton to name a few. These places gather balloonists and extend their arms in hospitality into their communities. The result: Many active, tiring yet refreshing weekends. Tim has also been involved in ballooning safety through acting as a safety officer for various balloon events, including the Tigard Festival of Balloons, organizing safety seminars, managing the Balloon Federation Association Safety Seminar Program and as a FAA Safety Team Representative.

Hometown: Seattle, WA
Balloon activities: Morning Static Display

Jessica fell in love with ballooning while teaching in Gallup, NM. After returning home to the Pacific Northwest, Jessica continued her ballooning journey and received her private pilot license in 2022. Her husband/crew chief, Ryan Geib, is also a pilot. Their balloon “Sunny Rainbow” is a 1991 Aerostar RX-8 with a very unique as it is a CWE basket built by Raven Europe.

Hometown: Redmond, OR
Balloon activities: Morning Launch & Night Glow

Darren went on his first balloon flight in 1989 and was introduced to a form of flight that captivated him from the start. In 1993 he received his commercial LTA license and started Big Sky Balloon Co. He currently manages a corporate balloon program for RE/MAX International in the Pacific Northwest region and also operates scenic balloon flights in Central Oregon. Darren has flown balloons around the country and internationally while accumulating over 3000 flight hours. “I love to share with people the great experiences that come from flying hot air balloons and their unique ability to totally excite and captivate people always keeps it fun and exciting for me.”

Hometown: Albany, OR
Balloon activities: Morning Launch

Jack’s first stab at piloting was when he was 6 years old. It was a small “line controlled” airplane with a 13-inch wingspan. At age 18 Jack started flying “real” airplanes. Over the last 25 years, he has logged over 6,000 hours flying various aircraft. Jack also flies helicopters, gliders, and hot air balloons. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and is a flight instructor. He is also a Designated Pilot Examiner for airplanes and balloons. In 2017 Jack’s wife, Sallie, started Willamette Valley Balloons to provide scenic flights for passengers and to travel to balloon rallies. Jack now works for her on his days off.

Hometown: Yamhill, OR
Balloon activities: Morning Launch

Koh is predominantly a sport flyer, but also provides instruction. Koh enjoys aerostat construction with his first effort an AX-5. One of his other joys in LTA aviation is working on, executing and helping others with the technical and operational aspects of long distance, long duration and high-altitude flights. It has been Koh’s pleasure to be the launch master for 5 world record flights. Weather, meteorology and forecasting are also areas of constant interest to Koh. Since mid-2007, Koh has been the engineering consultant and engineer of record for Firefly Balloons. The people you meet and become involved with are a great reward and asset for participating in this sport.

Hometown: Rio Rancho, NM
Balloon activities: Morning Launch

Nestor has been involved in ballooning for over 20 years and has been a private pilot since 2023. He is scheduled for his commercial rating completion by the end of March 2025. Nestor was the Crew Chief for the Wells Fargo Balloon Team until program was disbanded in 2019. He is a current board member and Crew Chief for Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon and also helps with the Chick-fil-A ballooning team and assists with training for Airborne Heat Ballooning (part 141 school).

Hometown: North Bend, OR
Balloon activities: Morning Launch

Robert bought his first balloon August 1995 (Rock Springs, Wyoming) and received his Commercial Certificate April 1996 (Park City, Utah). Robert attended on average 10-12 events annually for the first 10 years after receiving his certificate. In 2012 Robert created his hot air balloon company – High Plains Drifter Hot Air Balloons, LLC based out of Miles City, MT. He primarily flies in the western US.

Hometown: Albany, OR
Balloon activities: Morning Tether

Eric grew up around single engine fixed wing planes as a kid, but always marveled at hot air balloons gracefully coloring the sky. Many years later, his wife took him out to crew for a balloon. She had been crewing for many years. It was exhilarating, but yet, peaceful. The pilot encouraged Eric to become a pilot as well. The next year Eric purchased his first hot air balloon. With many thanks to his family and wonderful crew, in 2018, Eric received his private pilot certificate. In 2022 he got his commercial certificate. Eric can't believe that now he gets to help gracefully color the sky.

Hometown: Enumclaw, WA
Balloon activities: Morning Tethers & Night Glow

Hometown: College Place, WA
Balloon activities: Morning Launch

Ballooning became a family affair back in 1997 when the Whites found themselves at a balloon landing site during their hometown Walla Walla Balloon Stampede. Devin and family were put to work that day and remained loyal crew for many years. Today Devin is one of three pilots in his immediate family and loves to share his passion for lighter-than-air flight with communities throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Hometown: Albany, OR
Balloon activities: Morning Tether

Chris took his first hot air balloon ride in 2007 and was immediately hooked. He purchased his first balloon the following spring. He got his private license in September 2008. Chris flew his second balloon during 2010 and achieved a commercial rating in October. In the spring of 2011, he built his first balloon, the original Heaven Bound. In 2021, he built his second balloon, a cloud hopper called Rising Star. In 2024, Chris finished his third balloon, also named Heaven Bound. He also enjoys teaching ground school and hands-on instruction for ballooning and has trained two student pilots so far. Chris lives in the Albany area and is the Balloonmeister for the Northwest Art and Air Festival.

Hometown: Covington, WA
Balloon activities: Morning Tethers & Night Glow

Mark has been ballooning since 1977. He became a pilot in 1980 and flown in 45 of 50 states including Alaska. Mark's favorite place to fly is Lake Tahoe, CA. He has been a corporate balloon pilot for 10 years flying balloons for Freixenet Champagne, Ray-O-Vac Batteries, GM Goodwrench Service and Energizer. Mark completed for Nationals 1996, finishing as Rooking of the Year. Mark is currently flying sport balloons in Washington state.