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Funda Kelsay

Funda and her husband Roger own and operate Premier Jets, Inc./Lifeguard Air Ambulance; a Company that specializes in worldwide air medical transportation. Funda is a Board-member of Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum, an IRC 501c(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing ‘living history’ experiences, science education and historical tours covering the World War II and Cold War era. Funda is also involved in management and marketing of Premier Space Systems (PSS) in Hillsboro. PSS is developing a re-useable, mobile nano-satellite launch capability utilizing various former military aircraft as launch platforms. Funda joined the Board of the Hillsboro Community Foundation in 2013 when former HCF Board member Don Suhrbier piqued her interest in the organization. She believes that HCF is the perfect place for her to continue to serve the community by giving back a small dividend for all of the opportunities that she has been afforded.

 

Born and raised in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, Funda has roots in several small, family-run businesses.  She started her own business career at Basak Insurance Company, a State owned insurance group, while attending Hacettepe University as an undergraduate student.  Funda received her B.S. degree in Business Administration in 1993 and remained at Hacettepe University after graduation when she entered their MBA program.  In addition to her studies, Funda worked as a research and teaching assistant in the Accounting and Finance Department of the Business School.

 

Upon completion of her academic requirements, Funda moved to Istanbul to work for Interbank in their International Loans Department.  In 2010, she received her MBA from Hacettepe University after defending her thesis on “Transformational Leadership and Emotional Intelligence.”

 

While in Turkey Funda also attended the Ankara State Conservatory where she received formal training as an opera singer.  She is fluent in Turkish, English and German.

 

As a Hillsboro Rotary Club Rotarian for 19 years, Funda has served three terms on its Board of Directors and one term as President, (the Club’s youngest President and first foreign-born).  She then chaired the Hillsboro Rotary Foundation Board in 2011-2012 and currently serves on their Board of Directors.

 

Funda and her husband have two children, Kyla and Conrad and reside in Hillsboro.  In her free time, Funda enjoys travel, tennis, is an avid reader, preferring history and biographies, and practices riding her motorcycle on ‘safe’ country roads.  She is an FAA licensed pilot and currently holds a Private Pilot License.