| Chris Fitzgerald - President |
 | - Born Melbourne, Australia. Technical Assistant, Aeronautical Research Laboratories in Melbourne. Participant in the world's first hovercraft race. Production Manager, Fitzgerald and Sons Pty. Ltd., Melbourne. Recipient of International Rotary Foundation Award for Technical Training, and the Society of Automotive Engineers' O'Shannessy Prize for The Best Paper. Student of Farnborough Technical College, U.K. in Aeronautical Engineering. Trainee Engineer, British Hovercraft Corp. Graduate of Victorian Institute of Colleges in Mechanical Engineering. Research Mechanical Engineer, Readymix Concrete Australia, Ltd. Entrepreneur In Residence, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Indiana. Former member of the Australian Society of Automotive Engineers. Member of the Canadian Air Cushion Society and the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute. Founder of the Hoverclub of America, its president from 1984 - 1986, and its Treasurer from 1986-1998. Co-author Light Hovercraft Design. Presented several papers to the Canadian Aerospace and Technology organization. Co-author of Hovercraft Technology, Economics, and Applications. Originator and promoter of national and international hover rallies since 1976. Active hovercraft racer and winner of numerous racing awards. Enjoys reading and tennis. |
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| Eric Whalin - Assembly Supervisor |
 | - Born Charleston, IL. U.S.A. Undertakes mechanical assembly projects and hull foaming development. Eric has a background as a supervisor in the plastics injection industry. In his spare time, Eric enjoys building and racing automobiles. One day he hopes to race hovercraft. |
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| Mark Dial - Fiberglass Supervisor |
 | - Born Champaign, IL .During high school and university studies at Indiana State University, Mark worked at Neoteric doing wooden and later fiberglass hovercraft construction. He graduated with a degree in business and continued to work for Neoteric until 1989.For the next 10 years he worked at Hyster Fork Lift Trucks in Danville, IL as a system parts analyst.In 1999 he attended Indiana University and graduated with a Master's degree in Instructional Systems technology in December 2000. Mark is now supervisor/manager of fiberglass manufacturing. |
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| Rob Wilson - President, Neoteric Engineering Affiliates, Pty. Ltd; Australia. Technical Director, Neoteric Hovercraft, Inc. |
 | - Born Melbourne, Australia. Served four-year apprenticeship in Automotive Electronics and gained an Automotive Technicians Certificate, Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria. Graduate in Mechanical Engineering at Footscray Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. Engineer intern, Steelweld Cranes Pty. Ltd. Project Engineer, REPCO Engine Technical Centre, Pty. Ltd. Product Development Engineer and Technical Director, Fitzgerald and Sons Pty. Ltd. Experienced in hovercraft design and CAD. Co-author of Light Hovercraft Design. Member, Australian Society of Automotive Engineers and Hoverclub of Australia. |
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| Matthew L Dupin - Fiberglass Fabricator & Foaming Machine Operator |
 | - Matthew Dupin is an eager employee who tackles a host of tasks from sanding to fitting skirts. He worked for Columbia House Record Club in Terre Haute before joining Neoteric. He is also going to school at Indiana State University where he is working on a degree in Mathematics Education. He builds and races dirt track derby cars as a hobby. |
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| Daniel Ream - Fiberglass Fabricator, Painter, and Glass Component Assembler |
 | - Danny is a painter and an assembler at Neoteric, and has been working here for twenty years in a part time capacity, but more recently as a full time employee. Prior work experience has been as an automotive paint technician for Ford Motor dealership in Terre Haute. He is also a member of the Indiana Air National Guard, and enjoys working with airplanes in his spare time. |
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| Thiam Huat Ho - Fiberglass Fabricator & Gel Coat Applicator |
 | - Thiam Huat Ho is an assistant in the Fiberglass department at Neoteric. He is formerly from Malaysia where he managed a gasoline station for a number of years before operating his own business selling telephones. He is most enthusiastic about building hovercraft. |
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| Barbara R Johnson - Office Manager |
 | Barbara is the Neoteric office manager performing general office duties including bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll. Barbara enjoys reading, baking, and candy making when not managing Neoteric's office. She attends Way of the Cross Church. |
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| Suzanne Overton - Fiberglass Fabricator & Glass Cutter |
 | - Suzanne is involved in fiberglass lay up as well as Hovercraft assembly including instrumentation and electrical harness building. She came to Neoteric with a broad background in writing and graphic design, which has enabled her to do detailing as well as applying decals. In her spare time, Suzanne is an established portrait and mural artist. |
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| David Atkins - Design Engineer |
 | - Born Melbourne, Australia. Graduate, Melbourne Institute of Technology in Industrial Design and Teaching. Recipient of Victoria Student Award, Design Institute of Australia. Designer, Australian Consolidated Industries Ltd., Crown Corning, Sydney, Australia. Owner of Design consulting company, David Atkins Design, Pty. Ltd. Major clients include Telecom Australia, and several government agencies. Design professor, Melbourne Institute of Technology. Member, Design Institute of Australia. One of David’s activities is the design and manufacture of fine jewelry. This is based on exotic metal alloys with unique Australian motifs. See http://www.davidatkins.com.au. |
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| Tristan Linck - Company Scientific Advisor |
 | Born Grand Junction, CO, USA, Tristan has completed three years towards a BS in
Physics at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Working at Neoteric writing curriculum guides for the DiscoverHover program, a
program sponsored by Neoteric and intended to facilitate the teaching of fundamental physical principles and their
application to hovercraft. Some interests include fencing, board games, books, and hiking. |
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| John Tabor - Machinery Assembler |
 | John started his working life as a loader, then moved into industrial painting of railroad freight cars and later grain blending machinery. He has also run FMC Wicketer machines in the plastic bag industry. John joined Neoteric in 1998, left for a few years to work in an industrial waste water treatment plant but recently returned as an assembler. In his spare time John plays guitar in a band. |
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| Brooke Miller - Hovercraft Assembler |
 | For 5 years Brooke ran plastic injection molding and assembly machines.This included assisting with supervision and inventory control, stocking and ordering. She is also experienced in computer operation. More recently Brooke has worked as a bank teller. When time permits she indulges in craft work, ceramic painting, scrap booking and cross-stitch. |
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| Ralph Weas - Business Manager |
 | Ralph Weas, of Indianapolis, Indiana, brings to Neoteric a diversified business background with extensive management, sales and customer service experience in the oil, collections and fast food industries. He graduated from Indiana State University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Ralph's interest in hovercraft began years ago when he had the opportunity to ride on a 36 passenger British Hovercraft SRN-6 at Expo '67 in Montreal, Canada.
In his more than 25 years as a member of the Hoverclub of America, Inc., Ralph has at various times held the position of President and Vice President. He has served for many years as Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors, as well as a race official. As an attendee of the first World Hovercraft Championship in Germany in 1987, he was a member of the Unites States delegation that was instrumental in founding the World Hovercraft Federation. Ralph has played leading roles in the organization of two World Hovercraft Championships in the United States, for which he also served as Chief Scorer. In 1982 in California, Ralph participated in the production of the first television commercial, for Labatts Beer, featuring sport hovercraft.
Ralph has closely followed the evolution of the light hovercraft industry, including several visits to large hovercraft operations in Europe, and now assumes a leadership position at Neoteric, where his responsibilities will include sales, policy development, purchasing and personnel management. A former long distance runner, his hobbies, in addition to hovercraft, include Formula One racing. |
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| Keith Maxwell - Component Assembler |
 | After spending 13 years as a security officer, Keith brings that experience as well as 20 years of mechanical and electrical skills to Neoteric. His hobbies include cars and radio-controlled vehicles. |
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| Chad G Steimel - Chief Engineer |
 | Chad has an AS in drafting and design and recently graduated from Indiana State University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology. He is currently working on technical data systems at Neoteric. His hobbies include drums, motorcycles and guitar. |
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| Jeffrey E Short - Production Organizer / Inventory and Maintenance |
 | Production Organizer Jeff Short has experience as a Chief Warrant Officer, performing small boat operations, search & rescue, drug & alien interdiction, marine environment protection, boating safety, and navigational aids deployment with the US Coast Guard. He has a Bachelor of Science in Insurance and Risk Management from the Indiana State University School of Business. He enjoys hunting, fishing, bicycling, tennis, and walking and is an avid boating enthusiast. |
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| Leon D Clark - Fiberglass Fabricator |
 | Leon is originally from Mississippi and has experience in welding. He enjoys fishing, all sports, movies, and playing the saxophone. |
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| Virgil Rodgers - Welder and Metal Worker |
 | Virgil is an experienced welder and machine operator originally from Casey, Illinois. He enjoys fishing and sports. |
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| Steve Stafford - Test Pilot and Law Enforcement Liaison |
 | Steve Stafford of Bedford, Indiana has spent over 20 years with the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department.
He has over 15 years of hovercraft experience, including many Search and Rescue missions for numerous agencies, including the Indiana State Police, the FBI, and contract
work with the DEA using hovercraft for marijuana eradication.
Steve is a graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and a certified SCUBA diver.
Hobbies include hovercrafting, railroads, & spending time with his family. |
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| Levi E Wingler - Fiberglass Fabricator |
 | Levi is experienced in a variety of trades. He served in the US Air Force as a power production journeyman in Iraq and Kuwait. He enjoys working outdoors and maintains vehicles and rental property. |
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| Matthew R Waldroup - Fiberglass Fabricator |
 | Matthew Waldroup recently returned from a stint in Iraq with the US Army National Guard, where he served as Chief of Base Security and drove fuel tankers. He has completed a B.S. at Indiana State University in Automotive technology management. he also studied Manufacturing Packaging Technology. Hobbies include rebuilding cars and broken machinery. |
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| Ryan M Pfister |
 | Ryan has experience in telecommunications as an installer and supervisor before coming to Neoteric. He enjoys riding his motorcycle, camping, the arts, learning new things, and spending time with his family. |
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| Neil A Murtagh |
 | From Peterborough, England, Neil comes to Neoteric with experience in mechanical fitting, machining, and machinery maintenance. He is a Mustang enthusiast and is currently restoring a 1968 Fastback. He also has an extensive film collection. |
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Welcome to Neoteric – The Original Light Hovercraft Manufacturer
