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Our
Staff
This page will provide a brief
introduction of Scott & Laurie Spencer with media information below
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As is the case with most companies,
our strength lies in the experience of our key people. We believe that
we have the best pilots and support crew in the balloon business, anywhere
in the world.
Our company is big enough to provide
the prompt services required by the diversity of our client base with a
quick response anywhere in the world, yet small enough to provide ongoing
personal service to our customers in the planning and execution of their
promotional activities.
We take a great deal of pride
in being innovative and forward thinking in our approach to finding new
ways to promote the products and services of our clients.
Scott Spencer – President, Director
Flight Operations
As President and Director of Flight
Operations, Scott's approach to the business is with a unique eye for the
potential that ballooning can bring to a corporate client.
Scott has an award winning approach
to the promotional and media opportunities that balloons provide his corporate
clients and is always working on something new. Scott's leadership of the
Lighter Than Air America family has grown the company into the nations
largest provider of corporate ballooning and promotional activity.
Laurie Spencer – Vice President,
Pilot
The undisputed 'better half' of
Lighter Than Air America specializes in the physical logistics of the company's
operations and special events. Laurie also maintains responsibility for
all the specialty clothing the company produces for its flight teams, events
and consumer retail programs.
With nearly 1,000 hours of flight
in hot air balloons, Laurie has earned a reputation as one of the nations
leading female corporate balloon pilots and remains the only female pilot
assigned full time duty on the Coke, Kellogg and Disney balloon programs.
In the area
below you will find detailed background information including various images
of Scott & Laurie Spencer.
To save
an image, simply "right click" and save to the file on your computer that
best fits your need.
Media Information
This area
will provide you with information and images on Scott & Laurie Spencer.
To save
an image, simply right click and “save to” the location you prefer.
| Scott L.
Spencer – Media Bio
Scott Spencer took his first balloon
ride in 1973 and has owned over 50 different sport and commercial hot air
balloons during his long career.
Spencer is recognized as being highly
responsible for the advent of ballooning as a sport in the Pacific Northwest.
Scott has always been dedicated to
the basic promotion of the sport to the general public as a family oriented,
fun filled activity.
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In 1976, Scott co-founded the Northwest
Ballooning Association and is a four time office holder in that organization.
Spencer remains the only NBA pilot to win back to back “Champion Aeronaut”
awards in 1978 and 1979.
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In his thirty-eight (38) year career
as a balloon pilot, Scott has logged over 6,000 hours of flight,
and says : “That’s an awfully long time to be standing in one place
going nowhere in particular”.
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Scott’s aviation background includes
airplanes, jets, sailplanes and helicopters. He spent eight years
as Vice President of marketing for Jet Helicopters, Inc. allowing Scott
a unique opportunity and insight into the world of corporate aviation.
The foundation of his ballooning companies are modeled from that experience.
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As President of Lighter Than Air America,
Incorporated,
the only ballooning operation in the United States that dedicates
its entire operations to corporate flight operations, Spencer continues
to break new ground with innovative ways to “expose” his clients logos
to the world.
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Currently, Spencer's companies own,
operate and maintain balloons for some of the highest profile companies
in North America including Coca-Cola, Kellogg's and the Walt Disney Company.
Regional client Wildhorse Resort & Casino is a Spencer favorite.
In 2005, the company added
the Disneyland Resort to their client list when Scott and wife Laurie were
honored by Disney to serve as pilot's for Disney's 'Happiest Balloon On
Earth' tour, a celebration of Disneyland's 50th Anniversary.
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Scott is best known in professional
ballooning circles for his “on site” work with the general public
during flight operations and promotional events for his clients and the
general public.
Spencer’s ability to promote
product and service is award winning and certainly justifies his reputation
as Ballooning’s “Aerial Ambassador”. Scott loves to involve
the public in his balloon flights and can usually be found telling children
and their parents all about the sport of ballooning before and after most
flights.
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Scott is a multiple award winning balloon
event producer, providing balloonists and the general public with some
of the finest ballooning events ever produced.
Spencer has produced nearly
fifty signature balloon events during his career. The most notable
being the “Coca-Cola Countdown to 2,000” which was viewed on
live television internationally and in the United States by 175 million
households.
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Scott created and founded the Le Societe
De Alzheimer ballooning organization in 1987 and the Northwest Aviators
Association, an FAA approved drug abatement program in 1990.
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Scott visits as many as fifty schools
each year, sharing ballooning and various timely messages with the school's
students after each flight demonstration.
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In August of 1989, Scott flew as passengers,
the first Soviet citizens (known) to fly in a sport balloon.
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On November 16, 1989, Scott made the
first in-door, non tethered balloon flight in Seattle’s King Dome.
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On April 10, 2006, Scott made the
first known inflation and launch from the floor of the Grand Canyon in
Arizona, USA.
Known to his friends as 'Scotty' or
'Admiral', the father of two adult daughters can be found in the constant
company of his best friend and wife, Laurie. (Laurie is an incredible balloon
pilot as well)
Scott is easy to spot on the launch
field by his trade mark sunglasses and often, a very large crowd.
Scott is an avid photographer. Scott
and Laurie own a Cabin Cruiser that they spend their free time on. In the
winter it is docked at Lake Mead Nevada and moved to Idaho in the summer
months. Scott looks forward to time at home with Laurie, his daughters
and their husbands and grand daughter Alexandra.
Scott says he has had four inspired
moments in his ballooning career.
The first came in 1995 when he was
named 'Pilot of the Year' by members of the Northwest Ballooning Association,
an honor that was repeated in 2000 making him the only two time winner
of that award.
The third was a flight operation
conducted in Disney's 'Happiest Balloon on Earth' from the floor of the
Grand Canyon and the fourth, hands down the most enjoyable flight ever
conducted was on July 17, 2006 at Disneyland as part of that 'Parks' 50th
Birthday.
February 2007 will mark Scott’s 38th
year of ballooning.
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| Laurie
Spencer – Media Bio
Laurie has been flying hot air balloons
for almost two decades and is regarded as one of the foremost female corporate
balloon pilots in the United States.
Laurie is the first female pilot
to fly a Disney or Coca-Cola hot air balloon.
Flying some of the most prominent
corporate logo's in the world Laurie has left a smile where ever she visits.
Laurie is comfortable in all the balloons the company flies for its clients
and does regular pilot duty in all of them.
Laurie also serves as Vice President
of the family ballooning business, Lighter Than Air America, where she
assumes responsibility for the smooth running of the office and staff.
In addition to flying for Kellogg,
Coca-Cola and Disney her duties include operations as the primary pilot
for the Wildhorse Resort & Casino balloon. Laurie also operates the
companies helium airships.
Laurie co-hosts and produces the
companies Special Events with her husband, Scott. She enjoys focusing her
attention on the logistical aspects of hosting the guest pilots during
these events.
With husband Scott, Laurie visits
as many as fifty schools each year teaching students the importance of
getting a good education. That's over 50,000 students a year that get to
enjoy a personal visit by Laurie and her Lighter Than Air America balloons
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Laurie is a confident interview when
doing television, radio, and newspaper interviews.
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