Staff

While going to school to be a professional musician, I decided to try flying after dreaming about it all my life. About half-way through my first lesson I decided I had found my calling, and I’ve been addicted to airplanes ever since. I love everything about aviation, but flying bush planes in Alaska is hard to top. I’m over the moon to be back for another season here in the Last Frontier, and this time I’ll have my trusty Husky “Rudy” in tow. When I’m not flying, I still love playing music, going on motorbike adventures, and I’ve recently started trying my hand at film photography.

I started flying in 2003 out of Lake Hood Seaplane Base in Anchorage.  20+ years later, I am still flying around Alaska – bouncing on beaches, lakes and gravel bars.  There is no place like Alaska to go exploring with an airplane.  My day job as an Air Traffic Controller at Anchorage International and Lake Hood airports hasn’t taken me far from where I started flying.  Winters in Alaska are spent wrenching on airplanes, flying on skis, and traveling to warmer, sunny places.  I’m certified for SEL, SES, MEL, MES and instrument instruction and when I’m not flying for APEX, I spend quality time with my family – we fly, enjoy beach combing, camping and exploring new places.

I’m Lisa, a CFII and the accountant for the company. My path to becoming a flight instructor wasn’t exactly traditional—I earned all my ratings in just 15 months, driven by a determination to prove that it’s never too late to take off. Before aviation, I spent over two decades managing multiple businesses, making high-stakes decisions, and learning that there’s no substitute for grit and precision.

Flying, for me, is more than a skill—it’s freedom. It’s about pushing limits, mastering the unknown, and teaching others to do the same. My call sign, “Wild Dragon,” was given to me as a reminder of the resilience and fire it took to get here. I like to keep my instruction clear and straightforward, making sure my students leave each lesson more confident than when they started.

When I’m not in the air, I’m working on my property in Talkeetna, turning it into a retreat for those who need a place to reconnect and rebuild. It’s a vision that’s still in progress, but it’s one that keeps me grounded and inspired.

Whether you’re a seasoned pilot or just starting out, my goal is to help you build the skills and mindset to fly with confidence. Aviation has changed my life—I’m here to help it change yours.