OUR BOARD

Vicky Derksen- President
Vicky grew up under dark skies in the panhandle of northern Idaho where she remembers frequently seeing the Northern Lights and the trail of the Milky Way. She moved to North Phoenix in 1995 where the only remarkable thing she remembered seeing in the sky was Comet Hale-Bopp. She moved to Fountain Hills with her husband in 1997 where her two children were born, raised, and homeschooled. During their high school years, she taught naked-eye astronomy to a class of 18 teenage students in the local homeschool group. Vicky is a graduate of the inaugural class of the Fountain Hills Leadership Academy in 2016. She serves on the boards of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center and the Fountain Hills Cultural & Civic Association. She has also served as a Sister Cities Advisory Commissioner with the Town. She is the author of the blog Night Sky Tourist and is the host of the podcast by the same name.

John Craft- Vice President
John is a native Arizonan who returned to his home state 24 years ago and settled in Fountain Hills. He has a BS/MBA and devoted his professional life leading business and strategic planning in the health services industry. Since his retirement, John has been involved in numerous community civic and social projects, including FH Pickleball Club (co-founder), Vision Fountain Hills (co-chair), Leadership Academy (co-chair), Town of FH Strategic Planning Advisory Commission (7 years and 3 years as Chair), and volunteered at two Dark Sky Festivals. John’s motivation for joining FHDSA is driven by his ongoing interest in preserving our community’s natural environment which includes sustaining our International Dark Sky Community designation, and raising community awareness and support for the future of dark skies in Fountain Hills.

DJ Willard- Treasurer

Cynthia Magazine- Secretary
Cynthia moved to Fountain Hills in 2006 after years of contribution in other cities across the country. She worked in management at Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto, CA, Kaiser Permanente and United Health Care in Washington, D.C., and was a volunteer and board member for Habitat for Humanity. While living in Alexandria, Virginia, she founded the Habitat for Humanity ReStore there. Since moving to Fountain Hills, she became the co-founder and co-chair of the Fountain Hills Liberal Ladies, served as president of the Fountain Hills Friends of the Library, and graduated from Class 2 of the Fountain Hills Leadership Academy. She also formed and chaired a 20-member Political Action Committee, Save our Town, after creating a project for the Leadership Academy. Cynthia is also a Commissioner for the Strategic Planning Advisory Commission.

Scott Adams- Past President

Joe Bill- Co-Founder & Past President

Nancy Bill- Co-Founder

Ted Blank

Jeff Esposito
Jeff retired in 2017 after 38 years in the field of building technology automation. Originally from the Chicago area, his career opportunities allowed him to live in a half dozen US locations. Always interested in the night sky, each move (mostly west) seemed to give him a little better view of the stars and a rising interest in knowing more about them. But it wasn’t until he moved to Arizona that the heavens really opened up. So much that soon after arriving in Tucson in 2006, he made his first astronomy investment by purchasing a 6” SCT. Entertaining family and friends with the rings of Saturn or the moons of Jupiter is always great fun and Fountain Hills is the perfect place to do that. He and his wife Barb arrived here in 2012 and love living here and the town’s commitment to preserving the dark skies. Jeff is currently active with a number of local organizations and is especially excited to be a part of the Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association and the opportunity to continue the great work done to date but eager to be a part of future endeavors. Jeff also serves on the board of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center.

Lisa Miller
Lisa has dedicated much of her life to the education, inspiration, and entertainment of others about the natural world. As an avid birder and naturalist, Lisa understands the importance of maintaining dark skies for owls, bats, and other native wildlife. After moving to Fountain Hills with her young family in 1993, Lisa has fond memories of waking her daughters at 2 am and, bundled against the cold with hot chocolate in hand, watching meteor showers from the comfort of her own backyard. Lisa is thrilled to continue her conservation efforts as a member of the Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association to keep our sky dark for other children to experience and enjoy.

Dave Perry
Dave Perry has been a science and space buff his entire life. He started by looking through telescopes at an early age and building and flying model planes and rockets, to supporting high-tech companies building aviation and space products over a 30-year career. His experience also includes marketing and technical presentations to professional and public audiences on a variety of technical and marketing products. Dave now resides in Fountain Hills and is able to pursue a better understanding of the heavens and share that with others through stargazing nights and community programs. He has his own telescope and will be adding space photography to his repertoire. He was recently selected as a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador.

Tony Pistilli
Staten Island NY native Tony Pistilli began his interest in astronomy during his university studies, graduating from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in 1973 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering & Applied Mechanics and later a Master’s in Business from Rensselaer Hartford in 1980. After his wife Sandy bought him a telescope—a Criterion 6” Newtonian Reflector with Clock Drive— he began exploring the night skies in Vernon, CT on COLD, minus 20-degree nights, shooting his first photos of the planets. Tony’s career path next moved to Phoenix with an assignment to help America West Airlines build its maintenance program and manage its fleet expansions into the Pacific and European markets. During this time, Tony’s love for astronomy grew. Upon retiring to Fountain Hills in 2007, Tony picked up his 10” Orion Newtonian Reflector and began serious viewing of our Dark Skies, and converted his home to Dark Skies standard lighting. Tony has always been an active volunteer in his communities. Here in Fountain Hills, he volunteers with Junior Achievement and the Boys and Girls Club and is a current and past president of the Rotary Club of Fountain Hills. Tony is also a “Purple Jacket Navigator” at Sky Harbor Airport and a member of Mesa’s Commemorative Air Force. Tony also serves on the board of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center.
PAST BOARD MEMBERS:
- Peter Atkinson
- Debbie Clason
- Clayton Corey
- Mark Derksen
- Craig Gimbel
- Don Harvel
- Jackie Miles
- Jerry Miles
- Kim Robertson
- Jay Schlum