Board of Directors

KAREN ATKINS

PRESIDENT

In her former role as Vice President of Sales at a Fortune 300 company, Karen is now solidly embracing her personal passions. She is well known for her brand of being a “Difference Maker”. In addition to serving the community, she has competed in the iconic Air Race Classic (ARC), as all-female cross country air race, and has published several aviation-related articles. She enjoys continual learning and has earned both her instrument and seaplane ratings. Karen is a mentor to young female leaders, and has served as a national judge for the Women in Sales North America organization.

JERRY YARBOROUGH

VICE PRESIDENT

Jerry is a retired U.S. Navy and Commercial Airline pilot with over 15,000 hours of total flight time. Jerry and his wife Debbie have lived in Fernandina Beach since the summer of 1996. They raised their three children here on Amelia Island. Jerry has a strong desire to give back to the community and influence the Nassau County Middle and High School Students into STEM related aviation careers.

ALLYSON MANGOLD

SECRETARY

Allyson is a current student at Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), majoring in Professional Pilot Technology. She currently holds her Commercial license and is working on her Flight Instructor rating. Allyson enjoys teaching the youth at her church along as well as being the chairman for the First Coast 99s. Her ultimate aviation career goal is to become an airline pilot.

MELISSA DRAHZAL

TREASURER

Melissa has combined her corporate background in accounting and desire to give back to the community, along with her husband's passion for aviation, to serve as FoFA's Treasurer since 2019. Melissa, her husband Matthew, and their dog Rusty, have made their home on Amelia Island since 2017 and enjoy claiming the Fernandina Beach Airport as the home base for their Grumman Tiger airplane.

David Rod

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

David is a retired commercial airline pilot with 25,000 hours in planes ranging from antique tail draggers to corporate jets and Boeing airliners. He has had a passion for flying since early childhood and loves to pass along that enthusiasm to younger generations. During his airline career he was able to give back by chairing the Pilot Occupational Health Committee for his

union along with many other volunteer positions. He has lived in Fernandina Beach since 2023.