Following over five and a half years as the IAC editor for Sport Aerobatics and In the Loop, Lorrie Penner has announced she will retire from the IAC effective on January 31, 2025. Lorrie has been employed with the IAC since 2017 when she was first hired as the IAC Executive Director before transitioning to the editor position.
“Lorrie's breadth of experience, her deep knowledge, her dedication, her ambition, and her good humor will be missed,” said IAC president Jim Bourke. “On behalf of the IAC board of directors I want to thank Lorrie for all she has done for the IAC.
With over 20 years of experience as a volunteer for the IAC, Lorrie began her IAC involvement as a registrar for her local contest hosted by IAC 34 in Ohio. She was secretary for IAC Chapter 34 in Ohio for 15 years and served on and off as newsletter editor and webmaster for 18 years. She has helped organize her local chapter’s annual aerobatic competition for all of the years she has been involved with the chapter. Lorrie is currently serving as the IAC 34 Treasurer.
Her volunteer work on a national level with the IAC has been wide-ranging and extensive. Our secretary for two years, our achievement awards chair for ten years and website curator since 2011, volunteer coordinator for AWAC 2008, and she also served as assistant contest director of infrastructure at the 27th World Aerobatic Championships in Texas in 2013.
Behind the scenes, she regularly scheduled the forum speakers for AirVenture and the EAA Webinars for over a decade. Most recently, she has been the driving force behind the IAC Chapter Camping program at EAA AirVenture for the last three years.
Since 2017 she has been a major part of the U.S. Nationals planning and support system, first at Oshkosh as liaison with EAA and then at Salina as the Treasurer for the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships. Lorrie developed and implemented the LIVE stream concept for the U.S. Nationals.
In 2007, Lorrie along with her husband Gordon Penner was awarded the Frank Price Cup for contributing the most to the sport of aerobatics in a calendar year. In 2011 she was presented the Kathy Jaffe Volunteer Award for her outstanding volunteerism; consistently, unselfishly and eagerly accepting many responsibilities with tireless effort, efficiency and a smile.
Lorrie holds a private pilot’s license for both single-engine aircraft and gliders. As part of her crew duties at her glider club she tows gliders to altitude in a Piper Pawnee. She flies aerobatics recreationally and has earned the Primary Smooth IAC Achievement Award.
The job opening is posted to the EAA website HERE
The International Aerobatic Club is a non-profit membership with a commitment to safety and excellence in every aspect of our sport with fair play and sportsmanship at the forefront of our endeavors. The IAC offers sanction for regional competitions, provides judge training and certification, stewards the contest rule book, and hosts the US National Aerobatic Championships.
Learn more about the IAC at https://www.iac.org/who-we-are
