I started Endeavor Ballooning after receiving my commercial pilots' license and it has "taken off" -- pardon the pun! We generally fly around the Roanoke area for about half the year, mostly during the spring, fall and winter months. For the remainder of the year I lease myself out as a "pilot for hire" to other balloon companies in need of seasonal assistance.
If you would ever like to know my exact whereabouts or schedule feel free to email me at:
endeavorballoon@gmail.com or call 540-992-0359
Again, Thank You for visiting, and I look forward to flying with you in the very near future!
Other things I enjoy doing are song writing and playing music with my band, attending a local college (for now), anything pertaining to the outdoors, making movies (www.youtube.com/user/spectresham), reading, archery and hunting, video games, and serving the Lord any and all of these ways. First meeting me, you may think I'm crazy, and you wouldn't be totally off base, but I do everything in my life for my Heavenly Father, even ballooning! Hope to see you soon when you fly with us!
Firstly, Ron is Jon’s father. He has been a part of the team and one of the founding members since Colin began flying years ago. Ron is married with three children and kindly provides us with one of our most used launch and landing areas. Ron prefers crewing for sport but occasionally joins us on our commercial endeavors. We’d like to thank Ron for all his time and friendship over the past several years.
The official bio for Jon is not available, as he's not given it to us yet. But that's okay. Jon runs his own DJ business here in the Roanoke area. He's not always available to join us on our flights, but if you get the chance to meet him (at any time) we suggest you ask him about this picture, taken in a local pasture after landing with "Llama" the Llama !
Well, I'd personally like to thank my mom and dad, Jim & Karla for taking such good care of me over the years. Without them I wouldn't be typing this or even running my own company. Dad still comes out and crews when we are short so you may have the pleasure of meeting him. Mom has been up multiple times locally as well as in Steamboat Springs over the summer.
Dad owns a car wash locally and also sells church furniture across the country. Mom is an occupational therapist and has recently joined the family in being "self employed" by doing home health. Prior to this she spent 13 years working at the nearby Lewis Gale Medical Center.
Madilyn, or "Moo" is Colin's prized 7 year Old English cocker spaniel. The Graham family often jokes about the fact that Madilyn and Colin are married. She has flown in the balloon on numerous occasions, only to fall asleep on the floor of the basket; Sheawakens rather rapidly when we land and wonders "what in the heck was that!?" ..
Devin Quesenberry - Crew Chief 2005-2007
Colin Graham - Senior Pilot
Hi, my name is Colin and I'm the senior pilot here at Endeavor Ballooning. I'd like to personally take the time to thank you for visiting us here on the web; we've strived to make our website both beautiful and "user friendly."
My history in ballooning goes back to 1985 when I saw one fly over my house, then in Georgia. Through my parents I befriended the pilot and became part of the ground crew. This went on for several years until I moved to Virginia and began taking flying lessons. Most people do not know this but balloon pilots are federally sanctioned by the FAA, the license is the same for a fixed wing aircraft, except rated specifically for balloons.
Jim & Karla Graham - Colin's Parents
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Madilyn "Moo" Graham
Official Endeavor Mascot
Madilyn by her nature is a very shy pup so it would be rare to see her with the team on a "normal flight". She gets too nervous. We leave her at the command center where her sister Maria can hang out with her.
Ron Foster - Senior Crew Chief- 2000- Present
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Jon Foster - Crew Member
Jon is one of our senior members who comes out for flights about every other time we fly. His schedule, with high school, his business and girlfriend do not allow for much more ballooning; but he is truly an asset to our team. Jon currently runs a Lawn Care Business, so if you’re looking for someone good, let us know, we’ll put you in touch with him.
Jon Potter - Senior Crew Member
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Lori is Colin’s self-proclaimed “other mom” and currently sits at the high throne of Senior Crew Chief of Southwest operations. She first joined our team during the 2005 Albuquerque Fiesta and has also served at events such as Gallup, NM, Alamogordo, NM and also during the 2006 Balloon Fiesta. Lori mostly enjoys the pleasure of sport- flying but has also assisted during some commercial operations. Many thanks to Lori for all she has done and we look forward to many more miles of highway together.
Lori Liebe - Crew Chief, Soutwest Operations
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Ian is Colin’s older brother, he has recently started crewing on some of our afternoon flights. He enjoys flying in the balloon more, but who doesn’t? Ian runs Windshield Solutions, a locally based Auto-Glass company with mobile service to any customer within 60 miles of the Roanoke Valley. If you are in need of any auto-glass services we suggest you call Ian at 540-397-4946.
Ian Graham - Junior crew member
Again, Scott doesn’t seem to want anything written about him. He’s a unassuming person and everyone seems to think he is from a different country due to his “accent”. Personally, we cannot hear it but our passengers sure do. Scott still joins us on occasion and once served as our full time crew chief for nearly three years. Scott currently attends a local community college and works part time at a nearby pizza shop.
Scott Lackey - Crew Chief 2002 through 2004
When mentioning Ron, you can't leave out the entire Scheve family, Sharon, Bryan, Eric, Mandy and Kristen. We first met in 2002 at the National Balloon Classic in Indianola, Iowa. They also assisted in the 2004 event as well, and we've yet to have the chance to return to this awesome event held in early August annually for the past 30+ years.
Ron and his family have been awesome friends every since our initial encounter and we've had the pleasure of stopping by and saying hello many times on our way through the Des Moines area. Ron is retired from the Firestone tire company and currently spends most of his time at a local winery he helped create.
We do look forward to seeing them all again and taking to the Iowa skies.
Ron Scheve - North Central Crew Chief
"We would also like to thank every single one of our crew members that we’ve met on our many thousands of miles across the nation. We look forward to working with you in the future.
Soft Landings and Gentle Breezes! "
We first came across Caleb at a Danville, Illinois balloon rally where he currently resides. Caleb is a volunteer firefighter and also serves as a treasured crew member for many of our friends around the Danville area. He is also very involved in the local hockey scene. Caleb also served under Lori during the 2006 Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. Caleb’s ambitions for the future are to be a surgeon, and we look forward to seeing him attain this goal.
Caleb Melton - Sr. Crew Chief, Midwest Operations
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May God Bless you & yours. - Colin
MEET OUR TEAM
Hi, my name is Devin Quesenberry. I'm currently the Crew Chief for Endeavor Ballooning. I first got into ballooning when our pilot, Colin, moved to our formally quiet neighborhood. At first I was skeptical of working with him, if you met him you would know why, but after smoothing over some bumps we have
become good friends. I spend most of my time on the ground, but I really do enjoy the serenity and the perspective that ballooning gives you from both the air and the ground. The main thing that makes ballooning so exciting for me, from the ground, is the rush you get when you are chasing along the local roads fetching the balloon and preparing for a safe landing.
TRAVEL SUPPORT TEAM
HOME SUPPORT TEAM
MORAL SUPPORT
MASCOT
©2008 Endeavor Ballooning - All Rights Reserved - Web Design by Diana
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Anthony is a new addition in 2008. He was born in Kingstown, Rhode Island and now resides in here in the Roanoke area.
Anthony is currently working toward a career in musical arts and studio productions. He is the proud member of a great local Christian metal band that plays at the area churches routinely. Besides crewing, Anthony enjoys hiking and sports!
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Anthony Iacovone - Junior Crew Member
Evan is back by popular demand, he originally started crewing with Devin in the beginning of 2004 all the way through the spring of 2006. He had a couple years off due to work restrictions but has once again joined up during the winter of 2008. He is a proficient student pilot and has probably flown more than any other
crew person, with over 30 flights. Evan works at a local Christian camp and enjoys the outdoors.
Evan Arney - Senior Crew Member
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Proudly at the helm of crew operations in our Rocky Mountain location is Dolly Chamness, also known as "Vice President of marketing and crew relations" for
Endeavor Ballooning West, currently our summer home on the range near Salida, Colorado. Dolly, Dennis and Rick have an absolute blast chasing through the Arkansas River Valley and anywhere else their wayward road warrior pilot may travel.
Check out the Endeavor Ballooning West web site at:
Rick Gaus, Dennis Chamness & Dolly Chamness
Colorado Crew - Inter-Mountain West Team
