Leadership Team
A considerable amount of time and effort have been invested in organizing this event, and carefully selected individuals will provide the management team necessary to make this event a success. Both volunteer and full time paid professionals have been selected based on past performance in organizing similar events. Numerous organizations and individuals have signed on to manage a variety of departments based on their areas of expertise. In addition, an executive committee has been organized, and the following individuals have signed on as the founding members of Victory Days:
Paul King – President and Executive Director. Paul has been a resident of Indianapolis for over 40 years. As a pilot and World War II aviation enthusiast, he is a long time member of the Indianapolis Aero Club and Commander of the Indiana Squadron of EAA Warbirds of America. He has worked with the Indianapolis Air Show to coordinate event symposiums, including the Black Sheep Squadron, Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds. Paul is president of the Pro/Group Inc. and Renaissance Group, LLC – an Indiana real estate brokerage and general contracting company.
Margaret (Peg) Sharkey – Administrative Assistant. Peg is a resident of Avon, Indiana. She has over 30 years of experience as an administrative and executive assistant in a variety of corporate organizations. Peg excels in areas of project management, event planning, organization and implementation, client relationship management, customer service, goal planning and time management. Peg’s combination of great enthusiasm and administrative skills are a wonderful asset for Victory Days.
Darrel Zeck - Communications Director. Darrel grew up in Michigan where he began flying at the age of 15. He has a special place in his heart for WWII veterans, aircraft and history. His great uncle was a B-17 navigator in the 100th Bomb Group during WWII.
After attending the University of Michigan, Darrel served in the United States Air Force in Command and Control and special operations. He spent several years working as a contractor for the Department of Defense, working for the airlines and also as a crew chief in the airshow business. Darrel, his wife Lisa and three children have lived in Terre Haute for twelve years. He is currently the Director of Public Affairs for Mayor Bennett and the City of Terre Haute. He owns and flies a 1946 Taylorcraft.
Diana Streevey King, MS, LMFT – General Manager, Website and Program editor. Diana grew up admiring the men and women of WWII, as her father and two uncles all served in WWII. Her father and Uncle Al took part in the D-Day invasion, and her Uncle Dick served in the Pacific theatre while her Aunt Nondas kept their familiy together at home. A licensed therapist, she works at Eli Lilly and Co. in the Neuroscience Business Unit. A diehard history buff, Diana has worked as an editor in a variety of endeavors, including newspaper and a library of psychoeducational materials.
April Christle – Volunteer Coordinator. April has a deep personal interest in Victory Days, as her father was in the Navy in the Pacific Theatre during the war. A resident of Terre Haute for 40 years, she worked with the Terre Haute Air Show/Fair for the past six years, starting out on the Ramp Patrol, moving to the Souvenir Chair and, for the last two years, as Volunteer Chair. April reports she was hooked on aviation when she met her husband, Marc, 11 years ago.
Marc Christle – Volunteer Coordinator. Marc is another Victory Days volunteer whose father served in the army in the European Theatre during WWII, including surviving the Battle of the Bulge. He tells us his father was a Forward Observer for a cannon battery and counted himself lucky to be able to drive a jeep much of the time!
Marc served in the U.S. Air Force in the space command, and he worked with United Airlines as a supervisor in reservations. He now works with Sony DADC in Terre Haute making Blu-Ray disks. Like April, he started volunteering with the Terre Haute Air Show/Fair for the past six years, starting out on the Ramp Patrol, moving to the Souvenir Chair and, for the last two years, as Volunteer Chair. As you can see, this is a couple who enjoys working together.
Jason Sharkey – Director. Jason is a resident of Lebanon, Indiana, and has been a pilot for 15 years – attending and participating in numerous air shows. Jason owns a World War II aircraft and is an avid historian of that era. Jason has provided both the vision and historical expertise necessary to make Victory Days a reality. He is a regional sales manager for a New York based manufacturer of high precision gauges.
Rodney Davis – Director. Rodney has participated in WWII reenactments for over 10 years and is one of the original developers of the Victory Days concept. In addition to his work with Victory Days, Rodney is an officer of the Commemorative Air Force and the Warbirds of America. Between 1983-1991, he served with the U.S. Air Force Aircrew Life Support Specialist with the rank of sergeant. Currently employed as a clinical applications specialist with Philips Healthcare, Rodney is a pilot and owner of a WWII Stinson L-5 aircraft.
Stan Adkins, M.D. – Safety Director. An Indiana native and former Air Force physician, Dr Adkins founded Columbus Internal Medicine Associates. He also served as Chief of Staff for Bartholomew County Hospital and chaired numerous committees. Other positions he has held include VP of the National American Heart Association, Chairman of the North Central Regional Heart Committee, President of the Bartholomew/Brown County Medical Society and a lecturer in Computer Applications in Medicine for the University of California and University of Chicago medical schools.
Jan Sheets – Director of Re-enactors. She has a personal passion for preserving history from the World War II era and has experience as an educator, re-enactor and event planner. Previous partnerships include the Indiana Historical Society, WW II Victory Museum, Indiana State Museum, Native Sun Productions (the History Channel) and WFYI (public television). Jan is the Chief Information Security Officer for Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana.
Greg Mahler – Financial Director. Greg is a Certified Public Accountant and managing partner for Mahler & Company CPA’s, with 32 years of accounting and financial experience. He is an active high-time pilot and flight instructor and has played an active role in the Indianapolis Air Show for the past six years. Greg is responsible for the development and growth of the corporate flight line sponsorships. He also owns and operates a 1942 warbird, Vultee BT-13A Valiant.
Dennis Schell – Legal Counsel. He is a former Air Force officer who flew F-15s and is an active member of the Indiana wing of the CAF. He is a private pilot and avid historian of Air Force history. Dennis was formerly an attorney with the law firm Barnes and Thornburg, one of the most elite and respected firms in Indiana, and has recently started his own law firm.
Jeff Thomas – Advisory Member. Jeff is a member of Thrivent Financial and holds a Masters in Business Administration. He is the owner of The Thomas Group, LLC, a diversified business specializing in real estate investment and management. Jeff has served as director of performer hospitality for the Indianapolis Air Show and is a pilot with an instrument license.
Linda Sparks – Marketing. For over 25 years Linda has been working, writing and speaking in the arena of business development Through the use of creative client discovery, strategic planning, project team development and proactive account management Linda develops solutions for clients to assist them in achieving their business goals. The Indianapolis Air Show is one of those treasured not-for-profit projects. She served as both Promotions Coordinator and Sponsor Coordinator from September 2002 through October 2005. 2005 was a banner year to retire on. Outcomes, which were extremely high for such a mature event, included a 53% increase in ticket revenue, a 26% increase in ticket sales, and a 38% increase in corporate sales, all leading to a record donation to Riley Hospital for Children of over $250,000.
Jerry Jerome - Entertainment. Jerry graduated from the US Navy School of Music, Washington DC. During his naval career he served on 7 different naval vessels touring and performing with a Navy Band in Europe and Asia. From 1960 to 1990 he pursued other interests in business. He resumed his musical career in Indianapolis performing with the Indianapolis Municipal Band, the Indianapolis Symphonic Band, the Indianapolis Chamber Winds, the Barton Rogers Dance Band and the Greater Greenwood Community Band of which he is past president. Jerry is Director of Stardusters Music, starting in 1993 as the Stardusters Big Band. The Stardusters Jazz Orchestra is a 17 piece big band specializing in the music of the big band swing era. The band plays some of the original arrangements as they were performed during the big band era. The band also feature the vocal stylings of Janice Jaff, and Joe Girard. The band is especially known for its portrayal of the WWII Glenn Miller Orchestra performing in WWII Army Air Corps uniforms and playing the unique Miller sound. Jerry is a resident of Bloomington IN.
Cynthia Collins - Radio Program and Entertainment. Cynthia received her BFA in Theatre from Ohio University. She has worked in professional theater throughout the US and Europe, both on-broadway and off-broadway. Cindy relocated to Indiana from New York in 2005. She is a co-founder / co-producer for Actors Theatre of Indiana, a non-profit theater company. Along with professional engagements, Cindy teaches Musical Theatre Dance Workshops to young dancers at various dance studios in Georgia and Indiana. Cindy is one of the three “Sister’s of Swing”. Cindy resides in Westfield, Indiana.
Don Farrell - Radio Program and Entertainment. Don Farrell is a BFA graduate with honors in Music Theatre from the University of Cincinnati, College – Conservatory of Music. As a director and choreographer, he has dozens of shows to his credit both on and off Broadway. He has performed on the concert stage since 1988, including guest soloist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for concerts in Columbus and Lebanon, IN.
Rusty Richards - Aircraft Chairman. Rusty learned to fly in an Aeronca Champ on a small grass strip in IL. He attended the University of Illinois, taking flying courses as electives, and left with a degree in Agriculture. A couple of years later, Rusty went into the Air Force, flew B52s and T38s, and served as a flight instructor. When he was discharged from the Air Force, he was hired by Delta Air Lines, and he is currently a pilot flying Boeing 757s and 767’s.
Rusty hopes to bring several Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP’s) to Victory Days to honor them for their service. He is also inviting warbird owners to bring in several different types of aircraft from WWII. Rusty also hopes to have a B17, B25, C47, P51, P47, among others, in the military aircraft exhibit. Rusty’s vision is to honor those who served in WWII.
Bill King – Director of Hospitality. Bill has had an illustrious career in the trade show industry, the travel industry and in event planning. For more than 40 years, he served with RCA as “Manager of Sales Promotion,” now Thomson Consumer Electronics, in making arrangements for world class events that hosted thousands. Bill served as the first Board Chairman of the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Bill is also a pilot and owner of a Bonanza 35C. A long time member of the Indianapolis Aero Club, Bill writes their monthly newsletter. He is also a member of the Warbirds of America, Indiana Squadron 3, and has worked for many years at the Indy Air Show.
Kathie Riley -- Victory Days Webmaster. After graduating from design school, Kathie moved to Indianapolis from Detroit where she worked in high-end 3D graphics doing selling, supporting and training for clients to help them create "art to part." She then moved onto web design, and 7 years ago went out on her own to have more creative freedom and offer more to her clients. Her Grandfather served in WW II and received the "Purple Heart".
