Board of Directors

Angel Flight East is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors whose interest in Public Benefit Flying is surpassed only by their energy and enthusiasm. Since its founding in 1992, AFE's board leadership has developed and refined policies, and assisted greatly with the resource development needed to keep this organization moving forward.

David Prutzman, President
Fran Sheppard, Vice President
John O'Toole, Treasurer
Ann Lokay, Secretary
David Altman
Joseph Case
Matthew D'Annunzio, Esq.
Denise M. Day, Esq.
Cynthia Haenn
Jeffrey S. Kahn, General Counsel
Ed Kwoka
Joe McArdle
Kurt Schaedel
Robert J. Smith Ph.D.

David Prutzman, President

After serving four years of active duty in the U. S. Marine Corps, Prutzman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1977 from the Pennsylvania State University.

Upon graduation, Prutzman began his corporate career as a Marketing Representative for International Business Machines Corporation. Over a 15-year period, he has held various sales and mangement positions in IBM's large account mainframe division.

In 1995, following a two year assignment with AT&T's emerging voice and video technologies, Prutzman joined Insurance Value Added Networking Service (IVANS) as a Divisional Vice President. Before launching his own business in 2000, Prutzman completed his corporate resume as an International Account Developer for J.D. Edward's Inc., where he developed and marketed international supply chain solutions to several large U.S. based companies.

He recently founded Sundance Properties, LLC, an east coast property management and investment company. He earned is private pilot certificate in 2001, instrument rating in 2002, and began volunteering for Angel Flight East in 2004. Prutzman continues to be an active pilot; balancing (and merging) his business interests with his passion fo flying. Dave and his wife, Barbara, currently reside in eastern Pennsylvania.

Fran Sheppard, Vice President

With over 10 years of experience in the promotional products industry, Fran brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to Angel Flight East. She joined the organization as a volunteer in 2002 and fell in love with the mission and the passion of the people involved in the organization. She served as co-chair of the 2007 Wings n' Wheels...New n' Old event and has chaired the Monte Carlo Night event. Fran joined the board in 2006 and will use her energy and team building skills to enhance AFE's ground volunteer corps, the Earth Angels.

Fran has a Bachelor of Business Adminstration - Marketing and Management, from Nichols College and lives in Rydal, PA with husband Hal and their three children: Lindsay, Danny and Jenny. She enjoys spending time with family and friends.

John O’Toole, Treasurer

John A. O’Toole, CPA, MBA, CCIFP joined the AFE Board of Directors as Treasurer in September 2005. He is a Principal in the Construction Group of LarsonAllen Weishair; CPA's in Blue Bell and brings to us over 25 years of financial management experience. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Villanova University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Drexel University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), and the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA).

John also volunteers on various board positions, to include the Elmwood Park Zoo, the Friends of Erik, the Aero Club of Pennsylvania, and the Philadelphia Aviation Country Club. He is a student pilot and is a partner in a Piper Archer based at Wings. He and his wife, Virginia, reside in Norristown, PA.

Ann Lokay, Secretary

Ann Lokay became a member of the Board of Directors of Angel Flight East in May 2007 after a tenure of fourteen years with the organization as an Earth Angel volunteer. Her various roles with AFE included adminstrative assistance, event planner, public speaker, sponsor chair and co-chaor for numerous fundraising activities.

Ann has been the Center Manager for Amercan Executive Centers in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania for the past eighteen years. In her role as Center Manager, Ann has the sole responsibility for human resources, operations and sales for $1,000,000 per year executive suite business.

She holds a Liberal Arts Degree from Dalhousie University in NS, Canada: with post graduate courses in marketing, finance and human resources. She is a member of the Philadelphia Aviation Country Club, the North Penn Chamber of Commerce and an active leader in the Episcopal community of St. Martins in Radnor, PA.

David Altman

Dave Altman is well-recognized and respected in the aviation community. His valor during World War II was acknowledged when he received a Purple Heart Award during World War II . In 2003 he was awarded The Distinguished Volunteer Pilot Award by the National Aviation Association. He has flown for Angel Flight East since its inception in 1993, and has completed more than 200 missions. He has proved himself indispensable to Angel Flight East by accepting difficult missions, time-after-time.

Dave is a retired general contractor and developer. He lives with his wife of more than 60 years. They have five children, 12 grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Joseph Case

Joe Case is the currently the General Manager of the Philadelphia Aviation Country Club and the Manager and Steward of the Pennlyn Club. Joe has more than 20 years of experience as a restaurateur providing fine dining with his personal touch.

Joe was instrumental in re-locating Angel Flight East to its current home at Wing’s Field. Joe shares his passion and commitment for Angel Flight East educating everyone with whom he comes in contact, from staff to patrons. His enthusiasm and dedication to Angel Flight’s mission have opened doors and given wings to countless flights.

Joe is the proud father of three daughters. He and his family currently reside in Lower Gwynedd Township.

Matthew D’Annunzio, Esq.

Matthew D'Anunnzio has served as a member of the Board since 1999. Matt lends his expertise regarding legal issues, fundraising and foundation grant development. He is a partner in the law firm of Blank Rome, a national law firm with principal offices in Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, D.C. He is a trial lawyer who focuses his legal practice on complex commercial litigation, including corporate, real estate, employment, breach of contract, insurance coverage, banking, business, fraud, bankruptcy and business competition matters, as well as major plaintiffs' litigation, including medical malpractice.

He is a member of the American, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations, the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and a member of the Yale Alumni Schools Committee. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and a graduate of Yale University. Matt resides with his wife Mary Kate and their son in Center City.

Denise M. Day, Esq.

Denise is a partner in the law firm of Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, Branzburg & Ellers, LLP, concentrating her legal practice in commercial real estate and finance. She is a 1985 graduate of Temple University and a 1989 graduate of the Temple University School of Law.

Denise’s passion for helping others brought her to AFE, where she has been a director since 2004. Denise, her husband and two sons reside in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.

Cynthia Haenn

Cindy’s first contact with Angel Flight East was through her employer’s sponsorship of Vintage Aircraft Day in 2006. She was AFE’s contact for Millennium Wealth Management and got to know some of the staff as planning began for the 2007 event. After learning more about AFE’s mission, she wanted to be more personally involved, and soon became a volunteer “Earth Angel,” taking an active role in the planning and production of Wings ‘n Wheels 2007.

A Penn State grad, Cindy’s early career in hospitality management later evolved into administrative management as she worked to balance her family and career life. She and her husband, Ken, make their home in historic West Point, PA, and are the parents of 3 adult daughters and a teenage son. When she’s not working on Angel Flight events, Cindy enjoys being a parent groupie for the North Penn Marching Knights, and serves as the financial secretary for Christ Lutheran Church in Kulpsville, PA.

Jeffrey S. Kahn, General Counsel

Jeff Kahn is an attorney concentrating in civil litigation, aviation and business law in the Philadelphia area. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Temple University in 1973 and his law degree from Boston University School of Law in 1976. Jeff is admitted to practice before State and Federal Courts in Pennsylvania as well as the Supreme Court of the United States.

Jeff is one of AFE's founders and previously served as president. Jeff is also a director and treasurer of the Air Care Alliance, which supports public benefit flying organizations such as AFE throughout North America. He is past president of the Aero Club of Pennsylvania and continues to serve as a director. Jeff serves as Vice President and is on the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Aviation Country Club at Wings Field. He is an active pilot and lives with his wife Lauren in Blue Bell, Pennsylvnia.

Ed Kwoka

Ed Kwoka is the president and founder of Network Management Consultants in Burlington, New Jersey and Plymouth Meeting, PA. With over 15 years experience in technology, Ed has been maintaining computer networks across the Delaware Valley. As a Microsoft Certified Partner, he enjoys providing excellent customer service. Ed has served on the Board of Directors for Kiwanis of Burlington and is a member of the Greater Burlington County Chamber of Commerce.

Ed has been flying off and on over the past 15 years and is currently working towards his instrument rating for the helicopter. He started flying missions for Angel Flight East in early 2002. An experienced IFR pilot with commercial and multi-engine ratings, Ed takes great pleasure in helping people and is often found assisting with missions at the last minute in his Piper Seneca II. Many of his passengers have written to him, sending updates and pictures.

Ed lives in Burlington Township with his wife Sandy and sons Steven and Alex. While he enjoys boating, wakeboarding and playing games with his family, his passions have always been flying and travel. Ed and his family are currently building a Rotorway helicopter at South Jersey Regional Airport. He can often be found at Northeast Philadelphia Airport or in the skies doing aerobatics in his Citabria.

Joe McArdle

Joe McArdle is a marketing specialist at Prudential Fox and Roach in Devon, PA. With over twenty-two years experience in the real estate industry, Joe has excelled in his field and has numerous sales awards. With his experience in marketing, media, and project management Joe has been able to energize Angel Flight East’s media and public relations initiatives.

While Joe’s interests are many, he is keenly involved with different aspects of aviation. He enjoys flying airplanes, helicopters, ballooning, skydiving and para-planing. His love of aviation brought him to Angel Flight East where he is currently a Director on the Board. Joe resides in Marple Township, Delaware County.

He obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration: Marketing Major from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Joe has also continued his education with Graduate Studies at Harvard University.

Kurt Schaedel

Kurt Schaedel hailed from the Lehigh Valley region of Eastern Pennsylvania before enlisting with the US Navy in 1976. During his 30-year Navy career, he experienced nearly every aspect of Navy Aviation beginning as an aircraft mechanic, flight crew member, and field maintenance and operations manager. He served aboard ships and shore bases among a myriad of deployed locations world-wide with multiple type aircraft. Later, earning a BS in Aeronautical Engineering and then a MS in Program Management, he continued his career as an officer with complementary aviation assignments in engineering and logistics support of key, Navy airborne programs at the Headquarter and National-level ranging from the infamous Grumman F-14 "Tomcat" fighter to the new Boeing C-40 "Clipper" transport.

Commander Schaedel completed his final Navy assignment as Commanding Officer of an aircraft component repair and overhaul facility near New Orleans, LA where he was in charge of 300 Navy, Marine and Civilian personnel. Soon after retiring in late 2006, he joined the Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) where he works in business development for DOD customers out of NGC's, Herndon, VA-based Technical Services as a life-cycle optimization and engineering expert.

Kurt has been involved in various community volunteer endeavors over the years. He brings a deep passion for aviation and a genuine desire to help others to the organization that he sees as the perfect blend of both, Angel Flight East. He is married to the former Ms. Lisa Lalan of Wisconsin and they have three children ages 3, 4, and 21. They currently reside in his original hometown of Schnecksville, PA.

Robert J. Smith Ph.D.

Bob retired as a Polymer Chemist with the Rohm and Haas Company in 2007. He had been with the company since 1980, working at the Spring House (PA) Technical Center. He was the Process Support Manager for the Architectural and Functional Coating business overseeing a group of approximately 15 chemists and engineers supporting 30 manufacturing plants around the globe. He was the Global Project Leader responsible for installing statistical process control systems in these plants. His graduate work was at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) in the area of Physical Organic Chemistry.

Bob began flying in 1999 and holds Instrument, Commercial and Instructor ratings for single engine airplane and Private rating for glider. He currently instructs full-time with Montgomery County Aviation at Wings Field.

Bob has been an Angel Flight pilot since 2005 flying over 20 missions. He flies a Piper Archer in which he has co-ownership. In addition to AFE, Bob volunteers over 150 hours a year at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum in Reading and supports Habitat for Humanity as a volunteer construction laborer.

Bob and his wife Karen have two children and live in Upper Salford township in Montgomery County.