Caption: (left to right) Glen Whittaker, Sue Harrison, & Steve Krietemeyer

Our volunteers are the lifeblood of Wings of Hope. Whether they are in the hangar working on planes or in the front office managing administrative and financial tasks, we depend on them to do missioncritical work that keeps our wings in the air and our operations running smoothly.

Steve Krietemeyer
POST-FLIGHT TEAM

Steve Krietemeyer flew planes before joining Wings of Hope, but his journey to becoming a pilot started in an unlikely place: “In high school, I had a summer job pumping gas at a gas station.”

A regular customer suggested Steve check out a job pumping gas at the airport. “One thing led to another, and I learned to fly there,” he said.

Steve went on to work at that FBO (fixed-base operator) as a chief flight instructor, an FAA examiner for the flight school, and a charter pilot. His aviation career eventually landed him at Peabody Coal (now Peabody Energy) flying the corporate jet.

“I went to work for them on my 40th birthday and worked for them for 25 years,” said Steve.

That’s where Steve met Dick Horowitz, who also flew for Peabody and recently retired as Wings of Hope’s Chief Pilot.

“Dick retired from Peabody about a year-anda-half before I did,” said Steve. “When I retired, Dick got after me to fly for Wings of Hope.”

Steve had decided his flying days were over but, in 2012, he joined Wings of Hope as a volunteer on the Turn & Taxi Team, which was tasked with periodically starting and moving donated aircraft which, at that time, numbered in the dozens.

“We had about a half dozen people and, about once a week, we would start several airplanes and run them up and down the runway,” said Steve. “You’ve got to exercise airplanes, just like cars.”

When a dedicated turn-and-taxi team was no longer deemed necessary, Steve joined the Post-flight Team which checks out each Wings of Hope plane when it lands after a patient mission.

“Without a post-flight system, if there’s a problem, it may not be caught until the next day when the flight crew is getting ready to fly again,” said Steve. “That’s not the time to do it. You need to catch it the night before.”

After each flight lands, the Post-flight Team asks the pilots if they noticed any issues on the flight.

“If something needs attention, we’ll make the mechanics aware,” said Steve.

If there were no issues on the flight, the Post-flight Team completes the pre-flight checklist to prepare the plane for its next flight out.

Steve said he volunteers at Wings of Hope for two reasons: “It’s a good organization — they do a good thing — and it’s a chance to make 47 years of aviation background of some worthwhile use.”

Sue Harrison
VOLUNTEER FULFILLMENT

February 2026 will mark 10 years since Sue Harrison began volunteering at Wings of Hope.

“I retired 10 years ago,” she said. “I was looking for something to do, and I found Wings of Hope on Volunteer Match.”

Almost immediately after retiring from a career in commercial lending, Sue started volunteering as a receptionist at Wings of Hope.

“I didn’t necessarily love being a receptionist, but I stuck around because they needed me,” she said.

Longtime volunteer Bernie Schmidt knew Sue wanted to get more involved, so he asked her to join the Volunteer Fulfillment Team.

“That got me going,” said Sue.

Sue said she has loved being part of Volunteer Fulfillment, especially working with “all the wonderful people.”

“Every one of them, I just love,” she said. Not only does she love all the volunteers, she wants to make sure they’re having fun. Sue was instrumental in starting the Fun Committee, which is dedicated to putting on special events for volunteers throughout the year, such as happy hours, bakeoffs, chili cookoffs, and daily treats during National Volunteer Week. The committee also hosts monthly birthday celebrations for volunteers and staff, including cake, at the Wings of Hope hangar meetings.

“It’s fun, and I get a lot of satisfaction when events turn out well,” said Sue.

Although volunteering at Wings of Hope has been her longest retirement gig, Sue also volunteers at Girls on the Run and the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition. She and her husband have two adult children, three grandchildren, and frequently travel to their home in Florida.

“Family, friends, I work out almost every day — I’m busy,” said Sue.

And she has no plans of slowing down.

“I can’t stand to be idle.”

Glen Whittaker
eBAY TEAM

Glen Whittaker joined Wings of Hope as a volunteer selling donated goods in the eBay department about three years ago, but he had known about the nonprofit for more than a decade.

“My first experience with Wings of Hope was about 15 years ago when AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) was having a pilots’ safety seminar here,” said Glen. “While I was here, I learned a little bit about the organization and thought, ‘These guys look like they’re doing some very worthwhile work.’ I like the mission of providing medical air transportation to patients, so when I retired, I contacted Wings of Hope. I’ve been working here ever since.”

Glen retired after 43 years at Boeing where he worked in ground support equipment designing test equipment for F-15 and F-18 fighter jets. He also has his private pilot’s license, but aviation isn’t Glen’s only interest.

“I’m a wildlife photographer,” he said. “I like being out in the natural environment and seeing the different types of life forms that are out there.”

His hobby takes him around the world.

“I’ve traveled to Africa several times,” said Glen. “I’ve been to Botswana, Zimbabwe, Madagascar.”

Glen has even been known to take photos of Wings of Hope volunteers working in their “natural habitats,” including the Garden & Grounds Team beautifying the landscape surrounding Wings of Hope’s headquarters.

Glen said he enjoys the people he volunteers with and working in the eBay department.

“The whole idea of the eBay department is to bring in revenue to support the organization,” he said. “Every dollar we earn helps support Wings of Hope.”

Although Glen has been selling personal items, such as photography and computer equipment, on eBay for 20 years, he enjoys the challenge of selling donated items on eBay for Wings of Hope.

“Part of the fun is when we get items that have been donated, sometimes we don’t even know what these things are. We have to research them,” he said.