Meet our board of directors.

Jessica Walker, Founder

  • Founder

    Jessica's life has been dedicated to community outreach, education and aviation. From a young age, Jessica has been involved in aviation soloing on her 16th birthday. Jessica received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the University of Alabama. While attending she served as the Vice President of the Student Government Association, President of the Senate, student liaison for the Riverfront Masterplan Steering Committee, and worked with several philanthropic organizations in the City of Tuscaloosa and the Capstone. She is a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. Jessica is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham receiving her Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Jessica has served many nonprofits and organizations across the country as her husband frequently changed duty stations as a fighter pilot. She served as the President of the Fallon Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors for the Churchill County Economic Development Authority, and the Military Liaison for the National Championship Air Races. She is currently the Vice President of Sanders Aviation and Sanders Flight Training Center and the Founder of Operation Aviation Foundation whose mission is to educate underserved and underrepresented youth about the field of aviation. Jessica currently serves on the University of Alabama’s Board of Advisors for the Department of Community Affairs.

    She is married to MAJ William Walker, First Officer at FedEx Express and F-15 pilot for the Bayou Militia based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They have one child and reside in Jasper, Alabama.

  • Board Member

    Anne graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1986. She was an active duty member of the Air Force until 1993, and during that time she flew KC-135s in both Desert Shield and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 1996 she joined the Alabama National Guard and flew in support of the Kosovo Conflict as well as the post 9/11 Afghanistan build up. Beginning in 1998, she flew Boeing 727 and McDonnell Douglas MD-11 both internationally and domestically.

  • Board Member

    Joette Kelley Brown is a 1992 graduate of Walker High School. Joette received her Bachelor of Science in Management in 1997 from the University of Mississippi.

    Joette is the President and CEO of Kelley Health Holdings. Kelley Health Holdings is a family-owned organization which began in 1978. They have companies in the skilled nursing and long-term comprehensive health care space with over 246 beds. Kelley Health Holdings specializes in short-term and long-term skilled nursing, rehabilitation services, and customized patient care.

    Through her leadership of Kelley Health Holdings, Joette holds several executive roles. She is the President of Ridgeview and Ridgewood Health Services and the Vice President of Southeast Hospice. She leads over 400 employees in the operation of these businesses providing specialized short-term and long-term skilled nursing, rehabilitation services and individualized patient care.

    Joette serves on the Board of Directors for Synovus Bank. She serves on the Finance and Educational Committees for the Alabama Nursing Home Association. She is an active leader at the First Methodist Church in Jasper serving on the finance committee and as a small group youth leader. She is a graduate of Leadership Walker County and Leadership Alabama. She was selected by her Leadership Alabama peers to serve on Leadership Alabama’s Commission on Race and Equity.

  • Board Member

    With more than 37 years of experience and three degrees from the Capstone, Dr. Kathleen Cramer is a loyal advocate of the student experience.

    Though retired, Cramer served as senior associate vice president for Student Affairs and as director of student life for many years.

    She’s also served a two-year term as president of The University of Alabama Retirees Association, project manager for the Tuscaloosa Sexual Assault Forensics Center and interim dean of students prior to her current role as interim vice president for Student Life.

    Cramer has received several honors throughout her career, including being recognized as a Pillar of the Profession by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, and being named one of the top 31 graduates from the 20th century at UA.

    She was executive vice president of the Association of Fraternity Advisers and was named to UA’s Student Affairs Hall of Fame.

    She is an active community volunteer, and she is the sustaining adviser to the Tuscaloosa Junior League.

    She and her husband, Craig, have eight grandchildren.

  • Board Member

    Anthony Tisdale grew up in Fallon, Nevada and always had a passion for aviation. Anthony earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Nevada, Reno. Anthony went on to graduate from BYU Law School with a Doctor of Jurisprudence. While in graduate and undergraduate school, Anthony earned his Private, Commercial, Instrument, Multi Engine, CFI/CFII/MEI, and advanced/instrument ground instructor ratings. When not in college classes Anthony flight instructed and flew corporate aircraft. Anthony went on to become a pilot with the Air National Guard flying the F15C Eagle and the A10C Warthog. Anthony flies as a professional pilot for FedEx Express and owns/operates his farm in Fallon, NV. Anthony has also donated his time as a youth sports coach official, and as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office in Fallon, NV since 2012.

    Anthony loves flying and helping others attain the dream of becoming an aviation professional.