|
 |
Driving Instructors
EFFECTIVE DATE 7.03.08
|
Joseph L. Byers - Level 2 Instructor |
| Joe received his B.S. degree in criminal justice from California State University at Los Angeles. He attended graduate courses in public administration at the University of Colorado in Denver. After two years in the U.S. Army as military policeman stationed abroad, he spent the next 28 years as a postal inspector with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Denver Colorado, Washington D.C. and Phoenix, Arizona. While living in Washington, D. C. he was an instructor for three years at the U.S. postal inspection service career development branch in Potomac, Maryland where newly appointed postal inspectors and postal police officers received basic law enforcement training. Joe was also responsible for establishing and supervising an internship program for Arizona State University students who did internships with the postal inspection service in Phoenix, Arizona. |
|
Kathleen Ryan - Level 1 Instructor |
| Kathleen has 12 years of experience working with children and adolescents in a variety of settings including seven years in the public school system. She has experience in special education as well as working with cross categorical special needs students. Her goal is to individualize instruction to meet and support all students. She places a high emphasis on establishing rapport with students by creating a safe learning environment that facilitates the students’ learning process. |
| John Leja
- Level 2 and Behind the Wheel Instructor |
| John recently joined DrivingMBA in November, 2006 as one of our Level 2 instructors. John has extensive experience as a consultant in the computer software IT industry. After 33 years in the IT industry, he decided to change his career and obtained a commercial driver's license and became a commercial truck driver. In 2005, John relocated to Mesa, Arizona and became a professional driving instructor certified by the Arizona Motor Vehicle Department certified to teach behind-the-wheel instruction, permit class instruction and driving skill testing. John joined DrivingMBA because he truly believes in the value of teaching defensive driving techniques to new drivers utilizing state-of-the-art simulators. |
| Katherine Killin
- Chandler Site Manager, Level 1 and Behind the Wheel
Instructor |
| Katherine Killin has joined DrivingMBA as one of our Level 1 instructors. She holds a commercial driver's license certified by the Arizona Motor Vehicle Department as a driving instructor/examiner for over seven years. She is a behind-the-wheel instructor. She was a driving instructor for a valley driving school for four years and a Mesa school bus driver. She has recognized the benefit of simulation in the driver's training process and is truly excited about joining the DrivingMBA team. |
| Michael Colp
- Level 2 Instructor |
| Michael Colp is one of our Level II instructors. Originally from Massachusetts, he moved to the valley in 1972. After high school he joined the US Army and eventually the Phoenix Air National Guard. While in the Air Guard, he was attached to the fire protection group. In this role he functioned as an instructor. While in this role he saw firsthand the importance training and preparedness make. He earned his BA from Arizona State University. Mike was a project manager for a large telecommunications company. Currently, he is working on his PMP certification. Upon hearing about DrivingMBA, he was convinced that this was the way to teach defensive driving. Mike believes that "for many new drivers this is their first "taste" of adulthood. Without the proper tools it might be their last". |
|
Thomas Chapman - Level 1 Instructor |
| Tom first attended college to acquire a B.S in Kinesiology. He worked as a personal trainer and coach and decided he wanted to focus more on working with kids. Currently Tom is working on finishing his B.S in Elementary Education through NAU. Tom is a record holder in discus at Saguaro High School. He placed 2nd in Regional for Javelin in 2003 and ranked 2nd in the nation for Javelin for Jr. Colleges in 2003. He joined the Driving MBA team because of the unique technology AND because of the teens. "It's exciting working with new people everyday". |
| Art Eckstat
- Level 1 and Level 2 Instructor |
| Art Eckstat is a retired automotive and aerospace engineer with multiple engineering and business degrees including an earned doctorate. Art has been teaching defensive driving classes for over 8 years in Arizona with the goal of making our roads safer for everyone. He joined DrivingMBA for the opportunity to further this goal by teaching and evaluating defensive driving techniques to both new and experienced drivers utilizing our state-of-the-art simulators. Art also serves as a consultant and expert witness in engineering, business, and product liability matters. He was honored as a Contributor to Aviation History at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in 1997. |
|
Bill Raney - Level 1 and Behind the Wheel Instructor |
| Bill was born in upstate
New York in a small town on the shores of lake Ontario.
He enjoys water sports and has been active in all types of
athletics. He was drafted twice by Major League
Baseball in the 70s, but chose to finish college. He
has an A.A.S. in Forestry and Recreation Management and a
B.A. in Education. He was also a professional driver
for over 25 years hauling a variety of products and supplies
in a big rig. Bill has been teaching and coaching since
1978 and provides private baseball coaching instruction to
young athletes. Bill and his wife Christina have four
children and were recently blessed with their first
grandchild. |
| Elizabeth Balla
– Level 1 and Behind the Wheel Instructor |
| Elizabeth Balla comes to DrivingMBA with 27 years of experience as a driver education teacher in New York City. She was born in Romania and came to the United States in 1974. While in Romania she studied graphic arts. She lived in New York for 34 years and studied liberal arts. Elizabeth owned her own driving school in New York for 10 years. She came to Arizona in 2007. Her main goal is teaching SAFE driving habits and attitudes, that can save lives. |
| Janet Deckkers
– Level 1 and Behind the Wheel Instructor |
| Janet was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She home schooled her 3 children and taught Sunday School for 18 years, and Awana's for 6. Janet has opened and managed 2 successful businesses. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Janet is a Level 1 and on-road driving instructor for DrivingMBA. |
|
Deborah Fahey – Level 1 and Behind the Wheel Instructor |
| Debby was born and raised near Chicago, Illinois. In Illinois she worked as an Executive Assistance at an insurance company and in a circulation department of a local newspaper. She then went on to become one of the first females to attend Washburn Trade School as a Journeymen Carpenter, and then worked for an H.V.A.C. contractor in the accounting department for16 years. In 2004 she moved to sunny Arizona. In Arizona she started a business with her mother and husband, flipping houses. In 2008 she joined the team at DrivingMBA. My 22 year old daughter could have and my 12 year old son will, benefit from the great programs offered. |
|
