This page contains information about our crew. They are the reason we call this a "Balloon Team" and without them we'd never get off of the ground.
Maybe you have what it takes to join the team...Read on...
Being part of a Hot Air Balloon crew is sometimes a lot of work, but always a lot of fun. A good balloon crew must be able to work together as a team and follow instruction. The rewards include good fun, good friends and occasional free Hot Air Balloon rides. Crew members are sometimes invited to travel to and participate in the many balloon events we attend each year. If you would like to become involved in Hot Air Ballooning, feel free to contact Cheers Over California any time.
David has always been fascinated with all
things flying and dabbled in the usual things like rockets,
radio controlled airplanes and cleaner bag balloons, but
never seemed to be able to get the real stuff to happen.
David was first introduced to ballooning in the spring of 1999 when he was asked to crew for a local balloon pilot. He was so captivated that four months later he bought his first balloon, Cheers. For the next year, David worked toward his Private Pilot Certificate, receiving it in July of 2000 after his check ride at Stead Airport in Reno, Nevada. Knowing he'd only just begun, David continued on with his training, receiving his Commercial Pilot Certificate one year later, in July, 2001 with a flight at Prosser Reservoir near Truckee, California.
David has flown in balloon events in California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Arizona. He has developed a knack for coordinating and conducting highly successful musical balloon night glows at California and Oregon events.
Shelly
came to the Cheers family in November of 2000. She was brought
out for her first experience in ballooning by a crew member.
Shelly went for her first balloon ride that day and was an
immediate hit with the pilot. Dave and Shelly became best
friends and were married in the basket of Cheers on August 4th,
2002.
Shelly is a natural "People Person" and loves getting out and meeting new people and giving them the chance to discover the joy of the "ballooning experience." At ballooning events, she can always be found mingling with spectators and offering them an opportunity to come over and get involved.
Shelly is constantly looking for new ways to promote "Cheers" and the team, through business introductions and creation of media opportunities. She is also frequently seen with a camera and is responsible for about 99% of the pictures taken for the team.
If you spot Shelly on the field, make sure to stop and say hello.
Frank
Nedza and Sheryl Mayhew came out for a ride with us
in Lodi, CA in July of 2008. Since then Frank
has been very active working as a primary crew
member and team photographer. Frank has
travelled with the team in support of both "Cheers"
and our RE/MAX program to events throughout California and to
Nevada for the Great Reno Balloon Race.
Nicolas
York is from Reno, NV and professes to be our
"biggest fan." He may be right too. Nic
comes out to the Great Reno Balloon Race every year
and joins our team flying for Harrah's Reno. Always full of energy and ready to go, Nic loves to
learn new tasks and we make sure he does.For all of his efforts, so far (December 2009) we have not been able to get Nic in the air, but we are working to change that soon.
If you are at the Great Reno Balloon Race and spot Nic around our balloon, stop and say hello.
Jeff
Vollmer is Shelly's brother and has been crewing on
and off with the team since 2004. In addition to
numerous RE/MAX events in California Jeff has
traveled with the team to events in Nevada, Oregon
and Arizona.UPDATE: We lost Jeff unexpectedly on October 31st, 2009. He was only 48 years old and his passing was a great loss to his family, friends and our team. We miss you Jeff.
We have created a tribute page for him at: