Our Team. Your Aviation Family.

Introducing our Vertical Vision team: a group of flight instructors and administrators who prioritize your journey in aviation. With expertise and passion, our instructors guide you to new heights.

Founder / CEO

A man standing in front of a white airplane with the Vertical Vision Flight Academy logo on it. The man is wearing a black shirt with the same logo.


  • Ed has a zeal and zest for life. Becoming a pilot has been on his bucket list for decades, but when his oldest son took his girl to move several states away it became too much to put off any longer. What began as flight training for himself continued into the formation of Vertical Vision Flight Academy when he saw that things could be made better by not only implementing the best technology available across the board but more importantly by putting the student and the company’s people at the center. Ed is a strange combination of an extroverted people person, engineer, tech nerd, philanthropist, psychologist, DIY’er, and adventurer all thrown into one. He owns businesses in aviation, real estate, and performance diesel automotive, but also enjoys dabbling in financial investments. He loves things that go fast and is always down for an adventure. He holds his Second-Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and has a deep appreciation for martial arts. Traveling to dozens of countries throughout his life has led to a wide love of people and an even greater desire to serve others. Before being bit by the entrepreneurial bug, he led a widely diverse life in the corporate world, the most prominent of which was being able to build and hone the operational and security standards by which not only the Powerball and MegaMillions lottery games perform nationally, but also how lotteries across the globe do the same. Serving the community and giving people another voice to see that their goals can readily become their reality regardless of their past fuels him. He may or may not have been called the human manifestation of the Energizer Bunny(TM) on more than one occasion. While he obtained his undergraduate degree in business administration with a concentration in computer science and holds multiple technical certifications, his far greater life growth has been through his interactions with the world around him. Ed is humbled to offer up Vertical Vision Flight Academy as a different experience, a truly different way to do flight training, and even a deeply different way to…be.

Chief Flight Instructor

Man standing with arms crossed in front of a plane tail with 'Vertical Vision Flight Academy' logo and text.
Gold Seal Icon for a vertical vision flight academy instructor showing her outstanding performance in student passes

  • Omer Marciano is our Chief Flight Instructor. Originally from Israel, he moved to the United States in 2020 to complete his aviation studies with El Al’s Israeli Airline Academy at Aviator College of Aeronautical Science in Florida. There, he earned his full range of flight certifications (CFI, CFII, MEI) along with an Associate’s Degree in Aeronautical Science.

    Since joining Vertical Vision in 2022, Omer has been a dedicated member of the instructional team, guiding students through every stage of their training with professionalism and a focus on safety. Beyond aviation, he is a proud veteran of the Israel Defense Forces and holds a black belt in Krav Maga, reflecting his discipline, resilience, and commitment to excellence. His long-term goal is to fly across the globe as a cargo pilot, operating the largest aircrafts in the world.

Flight Instructors

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  • Born and raised in Iowa and originally from the Quad Cities, Hunter’s passion for aviation began after a family vacation that first sparked his fascination with flight. Since then, he’s been all-in—and has completed all of his flight training right here at Vertical Vision Flight Academy.

    Hunter hopes to one day own his own airplane and travel the country with family and friends, exploring new places and sharing the freedom of flight with the people who matter most.

    Outside of aviation, Hunter enjoys spending time with friends, trying new restaurants, reading, watching movies, and listening to music. Whether he’s in the hangar or out with friends, Hunter brings a positive energy and a genuine love for learning everywhere he goes.

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  • Rob, a native of Indianola, IA, started his flight journey upon graduating high school in 2017. He joined the University of Dubuque’s flight program and chose to continue his flight journey as a Certified Flight Instructor. That is when he found Vertical Vision Flight Academy and joined our staff in early 2024.

    Rob’s favorite aspect of being a CFI is watching other people experience the same feeling he got when he first learned how to fly an airplane or passed a checkride. In his free time, Rob enjoys the outdoors with golf, hunting, and fishing.

A smiling woman with long brown hair in front of a small white airplane with the logo for Vertical Vision Flight Academy on its side and her shirt. The background shows a cloudy sky and another small airplane parked nearby.
Gold Seal Icon for a vertical vision flight academy instructor showing her outstanding performance in student passes

  • Meredith completed the airline career pilot program with ATP in Kansas City and finished with her CFI, CFII, and MEI instructor ratings. Throughout her time here at Vertical Vision Flight Academy, she has achieved her FAA Gold Seal.

    One of her favorite aspects of being a CFI is watching her students progress and helping them hit major aviation milestones.

    In her time off from flying, Meredith enjoys staying fit, traveling and spending time with friends and family.

A man smiling at the camera standing next to a small airplane on a runway. The man is wearing a black jacket with a logo that reads 'Vertical Vision Flight Academy'.


  • Milton Ventura Toro, another one of our career track students, began his PPL training with Vertical Vision in March of 2023, completed his CFII in October of 2024, and added his CMEL and MEI within a matter of 3 weeks. With a love for teaching, learning, and flying, Milton is one of our most worldly flight instructors, speaking English and Spanish, and has traveled to multiple countries throughout his life.

    Born and raised In Honduras, Milton grew up enjoying simple things like traveling to new places, watching movies, playing sports, and spending time with family and friends.

A man standing in front of a small aircraft in an indoor hangar, wearing a black polo shirt with the Vertical Velocity Aviation Academy logo, a lanyard with a badge, and a wristwatch.

  • William Klees was born in Mississippi, but grew up in rural southern Iowa. He was homeschooled through 12th grade, and later graduated from DMACC, Mercy College, and Iowa State University. He is a former police officer, and worked in various units including Uniform Patrol, Rapid Deployment Force, Gang Suppression, and Honor Guard. He is an NHTSA certified Drug Recognition Expert and National Registry EMT.

    William began his aviation career at Vertical Vision in 2023, and upon completion of his Commercial and CFI/CFI-I ratings remained with the company as an instructor. He enjoys training Judo and jiu jitsu, lifting heavy things, cooking, music performance, and learning foreign languages.

    He believes that as a pilot, police officer, and certified forklift operator, it is his legal duty to have a moustache.

  • Brandon is one of our home-grown instructors who completed all of his flight training right here at Vertical Vision Flight Academy, progressing from his first lesson through his advanced certifications. His journey gives him a unique perspective when working with students, as he understands exactly what it takes to succeed in the program from day one.

    His interest in aviation developed from a young age, growing up around F-16s while his dad served in the Iowa Air National Guard.

    Some highlights of Brandon’s training include building time on cross-country flights, with memorable experiences flying over Lambeau Field and along the Kansas City skyline during long cross-country trips.

    Outside of aviation, Brandon enjoys fishing, going to concerts, staying active in the gym, and cooking new recipes for family and friends.

A man wearing glasses and a navy blue polo shirt with a logo stands in front of a white aircraft with the logo and text 'Vertical Vision Flight Academy' and 'Tegna' on its nose.


  • Casey is one of our home-grown instructors who started here for his PPL and continued through his CFII! A Des Moines native, Casey has been an aviation nut since he was a young lad. He participated in the Civil Air Patrol as a teenager and can name just about any airplane he sees in the sky.

    Casey’s passion is vintage aviation and he would love, one day, to be seen flying a P-51 Mustang or even a WACO YMF-5 biplane around the skies of the Northern Planes.

    Motorcycles, video games, travel, hiking and enjoying the outdoors are what Casey does when he has more than 5 minutes outside of an airplane.

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  • Davis began his flight training in Iowa at the University of Dubuque. He is originally from San Diego, California but has lived in many different states across the nation.

    He enjoys meeting new students and reaching important aviation milestones with them. He’s always thrilled when he sees a students pass their private checkride because it’s such a huge milestone and gateway to their future success.

    Outside of flying, Davis enjoys hanging out with friends and family, watching the LA Chargers, and going on random adventures like driving 10 hours overnight on a whim to get meet up with friends at Airventure in Oshkosh, WI.

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  • Colben began his flight training in Tennessee before bringing his journey to Vertical Vision Flight Academy to complete his Instrument through CFII ratings. Since joining us, he has continued to elevate his skills and gain real-world experience every step of the way.

    In pursuit of valuable cross-country time, Colben flew an aircraft from Iowa to California to build hours toward his Commercial ratings and expand his experience beyond the Midwest. He has a true passion for travel and thrives on new adventures—whether it’s exploring a new city or planning the next big flight.

    When he’s not in the cockpit, you’ll likely find Colben spending time with friends or in the gym. His discipline, adventurous spirit, and strong work ethic make him a great fit for aviation and a valued member of the team.

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  • Bailey is an Ankeny, Iowa native and pursued her love of aviation with ATP Flight School in Jacksonville Florida. She completed the airline pilot career program with her CFI, CFII, and MEI ratings.

    Nothing makes her more proud to be an instructor than when her students progress past challenging benchmarks.

    In her off time she loves being with her family and friends, going to concerts (Kenny Chesney is her favorite so far!), snowboarding, and traveling any chance she gets.