Desert Flying Club Meet the Team

Meet the Team

Club Board of Directors:

Kevin Kirkendall

President

Kevin Kirkendall is a Certified Public Accountant, Forensic Economist and Certified Fraud Examiner. He founded and continues to operate Kirkendall Consulting Group which specializes in litigation consulting in economic damages relating to commercial damages, fraud and wage loss matters. Kevin has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Utah State University and an MBA from Idaho State University. Kevin and his wife, Deana, are in the process of raising their 6 children which takes most of their spare time. As a relatively new pilot Kevin is gradually introducing each of his children to aviation as time allows. Together Kevin, Nathan and Brendan founded Desert Flying Club in July of 2015.

Nathan Whittacre

VP / CFO

Nathan Whittacre is the Founder and CEO of Stimulus Technologies; originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1988, making it his new hometown. With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science, Nathan founded Stimulus Technologies in 1995 with a goal to provide high technology solutions for his customers. His passion for innovation, analyzing hard issues, creating solutions and fixing problems has created a portfolio with a wide variety of Information Technology skills. When Nathan is not helping his customers or narrating stories of his missionary work in Peru, he enjoys spending time with his wife and five children, camping, running, biking, volunteering at church and flying his airplane.

Darcy Wood

Membership Director

Darcy completed his B.A. in theatrical design at California State University Fullerton, and began his career working on the stages and film sets of the Greater Los Angeles area. His accomplishments allowed him to land a coveted position in the stunt rigging department for Franco Dragon's 'Le Reve', where he worked behind the scenes to safely put on over 3,000 performances of the water spectacular. Today, Darcy supervises trade show installations all over the US, and runs a rope access company, providing maintenance and access solutions to the Las Vegas area high rises. He looks forward to helping Desert Flying Club grow a local community of pilots centered around the joy and challenge of aviation!

Mark Thome

Board of Directors Member

Mark “Thunder” Thome is a Veteran of the USAF encompassing 22 years of aircraft maintenance and many hours of backseat time in multiple fighter aircraft. Assignments included Technical School Instructor, The USAF Thunderbirds, 4477 th Red Eagles, and Red Flag Maintenance Liaison. Retired from the Air Force in 1999 and retired from the Clark County School District in 2014 after teaching AFJROTC at Palo Verde High School. Has been involved in General Aviation since 1985 and has a Private Certificate, seriously considering an Instrument Certificate.

Joe Forti

Board of Directors Member

Joe Forti has been a pilot as long as he’s been an Air Traffic Controller. After attending the University of North Dakota, he joined the FAA in 2014 and currently works at McCarren Intl Airport in the tower serving as his second assignment. He was also assigned to Falcon Field in Mesa, AZ for a year and a half as his first duty location. He currently has a private certificate and enjoys flying all across the desert southwest. Aside from aviation, Joe is an avid snow skier making multiple trips to Salt Lake City every year and enjoys hockey, baseball, and golf.