Additional Event Information & Acknowledgement of Industry Sponsor(s):
We would like to thank the San Diego DronePro's: Desi Ekstein, Jim Bonnardel, Ron Barham, Wyatt Woosley
Desiree Ekstein, known better in the industry as Drone Diva Desi. Ms. Ekstein is an Adjunct Instructor of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), also known as Drones, at TCI MiraCosta College, in Carlsbad California. Desi has over 6 years of remote piloting experience, is an FAA Certified 107 Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) and a AUVSI TOP Level 3 pilot. She is also a Lead Representative FAA UAS/Drone Safety in San Diego California, and a UAS Safety Advisor for Women and Drones. Desi has commercial flight experience in a wide variety of industry applications and provides educational instruction for the Remote Pilot Part 107 exam. She also teaches UAS Operations at Elementary Science Institute (EIS) for the "Girls Take Flight" as part of a young female STEM program.
Jim Bonnardel is a FAASTeam Drone Pro. Owning and operating Radio Control Specialties, he is also the CTO at Birds Eye Aerial Dronesa and teaches sUAS Technologies at San Diego's Grossmont College. Jim is also the AMA's District 10 AVP, and the public liaison for the Silent Electric Flyers of San Diego. Jim has been a key player in the San Diego drone scene as the founder of the SEFSD RotorPlex, the first state-controlled land multi-rotor (drone) park, and his work with several local drone related companies as a UAS test pilot / beta tester. Jim is a lifelong expert Radio Control pilot who was first sponsored at the age of 6 by a major radio manufacturer and continues to compete in several different disciplines of RC. Jim has introduced products into the UAS aircraft market and sold patents for other technologies. Jim is a subject matter expert in UAS Mapping, Inspections, Surveys and Forensics and has over 2000 commercial hours flying sUAS in Utility, Construction and Land Engineering.
Ron Barham was the Building Superintendent for the San Diego Convention Center Corporation. He was responsible for the building infrastructure, automation systems, utilities, budgeting, capital projects and Engineering services throughout the 2.6 million square-foot Convention Center, included in his daily responsibilities is facility maintenance, capital improvements, special projects, CAD / City archives and mechanical, electrical & plumbing infrastructure. He also supported the Green efforts and manages all utilities at the San Diego Convention Center facility Mr. Barham was also accountable for a $5.6 million annual budget, was actively engaged in retro-commissioning and LEED EBOM efforts and directed a full time staff of 31 employees.
With more than 46 years of industry experience, he began his career with the corporation in the engineering department, assisting with the successful Grand opening of the facility in 1989. Ron is a commercial Pilot (FAA107), a licensed Thermographer, is a certified Building Operator (level II), has helped to author the National Electrical Code, hold a FMP certification, served on the Burn Institute’s Advisory Board, served on SDG&E’s major customer advisory panel, founding Board member and President of local Navy League and member of the Naval Institute and a US Navy Veteran.
Wyatt Woolsey of Lone Wolf Logistics, offers critical infrastructure training in UAS and their protocols and is an AUVSI TOP Operator Level 3 UAS service provider for the oil and gas industry. He is an ITC certified sUAS Thermographer and is Pix4D photogrammetry certified. Wyatt is also involved with other outreach programs for UAS safety and education.
