Meet KawaNOW's Staff

KawaNOW was started for the specific purpose of giving all Nomad owners a place to visit, sit back, ask questions and gain knowledge about their Nomads. We like to think of KawaNOW as a big living room with lots of Nomad owners present, laughing, talking about their Nomads, asking questions and riding their Nomads with a big smile on their faces.

With KawaNOW growing in membership and numbers, a staff of voluntary members has been appointed to help with the management of KawaNOW.

Officers

Robert "Trip" Hilliard
KawaNOW #00001
KawaNOW Founder and President
Lindale, Texas
Email: robert@hilliard.ws
Personal Website: www.hilliard.ws

Trip founded KawaNOW in June of 2007. He owns a 2005, black and silver Nomad and loves to take trips to Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and parts of Texas. His personal website located at www.hilliard.ws/kawasaki.htm has chronicled his extensive travel of the USA on a motorcycle.

Trip is responsible for the total operation of KawaNOW and takes pride in its vision and future direction. He founded KawaNOW to be a place where all Nomad owners can ask questions, gain knowledge and socialize about their Nomads.

For the last 12 years, he has had a motorcycle page on the web, answering questions and helping others with their motorcycle and motorcycle riding needs. This is what inspired him to create KawaNOW.

Trip is a native Texan, born and raised in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. He works as a Webmaster/Web Technologist for Trinity Mother Frances Health System in Tyler, Texas. Trip makes his home in Lindale, Texas and is married to his wonderful wife, Kathy. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Jeff "Socwkbiker" Platz
KawaNOW #00002
KawaNOW Vice President/Forum Administrator
Mesquite, Texas
Email: socwkbiker@kawanow.org

Being Vice President, Socwkbiker fulfills the job of being second in command of KawaNOW. Jeff is also a social worker, which affords him the means to network and communicate with the public about causes and events.

Jeff rides a black and silver, 2005 Kawasaki Nomad and will be working alongside Trip to help manage KawaNOW, its forum and website. "This is a great place for all Nomad owners to come and learn about their bikes", says Jeff. "And is worthy of being promoted all over so more nomad riders can experience what we have all experienced so far". Jeff is the moderator over the KawaNOW Nomad Garage Board.

Staff Moderators

Todd"Toddf1" Frasier
KawaNOW #00003
KawaNOW 1500/1600/1700 Garage Moderator

Greensboro, North Carolina
Email: todd@kawanow.org

Todd is no stranger to vehicle mechanics or motorcycle riding. His actual title at his work is Material Damage Manager. He manages the repair process both body and mechanical for the 3rd largest insurer in North Carolina. He deals with cars, motorcycles, boats, heavy equipment, farm equipment, RVs, ATVs...you name it. Todd teaches and manages the repair process for his new and existing folks (about 300) and also he has 14 specialists that report to him that do nothing but evaluate damages. Part of that is obtaining used parts and selling of the total losses that they have.

Todd actually helped develop a manual for insurers nationally, through a trade organization for motorcycle repairs. He had the help of Honda reps, Harley reps, and several other dealers and manufacturers , as well as tech schools that he has attended. Because of his knowledge in mechanics and parts, Todd is an excellent Garage Moderator. Todd lives in Greensboro, North Carolina and owns a black, 2006 Nomad.

Amy "Kawgirl" Neal
KawaNOW #00007
KawaNOW General/Promotions Moderator
Greenville, North Carolina
Email: lifizgud@kawanow.org

Amy has been a special education teacher for the past 19 years. The kids she teaches are fascinated by the fact that a teacher rides a bike. Kawgirl grew up in South Carolina but has lived in Greenville, North Carolina for the past 9 years.

Motorcycles had been a dream of hers since she was a kid and she finally got her endorsement in 1998. She bought her first bike in 2000. Kawgirl wanted to start traveling long distances and needed more comfort so she bought a beautiful 2002 black and red Nomad in 2006. What a ride! To Amy, KawaNOW has been a wonderful home to go to for info and fun in the motorcycle world. She talks about KawaNOW everytime she meets a Nomad owner and encourages them to check the website out.

Kawgirl enjoys being the moderator over the General/Promotional Board.

Steve "Ringadingh" Dzuryk
KawaNOW #00027
KawaNOW Canada/Lighter Side Moderator
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada

Email: ringadingh@kawanow.org

Steve is no stranger around motorcycles, he’s been riding since he was 14, and has had a wide variety of bikes over the years. He raced motocross for a couple years in the early 70’s, drag raced cars for a few years, and then raced snowmobiles professionally until 1985. He then served as Technical Director for a snowmobile drag racing organization up until a few years ago.

Steve is a good communicator. And he has a good head on his shoulders. That's why the KawaNOW Staff picked him to be the moderator over the Canadian Promotional board, and the Lighter Side board. Steve lives in Newmarket, Ontario with his wife and two kids, and works for the regional school board there. Steve also knows how to talk "Nomad". He owns a beautiful 2002, red and black Nomad with all the accessories. Steve will be planning future rally's and activities in the Canada region.

Scott "CactusJack" Hanks
KawaNOW #00105
KawaNOW Vendor/For Sale Moderator
Chandler, Arizona
Email: cactusjack@kawanow.org

CactusJack is originally from Salt Lake City, Utah and relocated to the Phoenix area in 1999. For the past 17 years, he has been employed in the IT industry and is currently a Senior Systems Administrator for a Fortune 500 company headquarted in Phoenix.

Scott is a former Marine, and served from 1977 to 1980. He started riding dirtbikes in the early 1970's and after a long break from riding to raise his family, started riding again in March 2007.

Scott has been married for 28 years to his wife Shelly and has 3 sons. Besides riding, his hobbies include playing the drums and woodworking.

Scott is the moderator over the Vendor/For Sale board of KawaNOW.

Mark "Markg" Griffin
KawaNOW #00176
KawaNOW Safety/Riding Moderator
Chandler, Arizona
Email: markg@kawanow.org

Mark has worked in public safety communications for 40 years. He is originally from Rapid City, SD and moved to Arizona in 1974. The last 23 years, he has managed the public safety radio and mobile data systems for the City of Chandler, AZ. Working with the Police and Fire departments has given Mark a unique perspective on safety and incident command. Mark has been riding motorcycles since 1970. Like many other riders he took a few years off to raise a family, now it is time to do some leisurely touring. Mark had his eye on the Nomad and his non-riding wife decided the 08 Red/Black was the ideal choice.

Mark wants to promote proactive thinking to encourage safety. Realizing that everyone is different, something safe for one individual may be dangerous to another. Everyone should always be mindful of personal limitations. Mark has been married to his wife, Norma, for 26 years and has one son, Peter. Besides motorcycles, he enjoys ham radio, computers, and owns a technical consulting business.

In Memoriam

Chuck "txcwdancer" Burt
KawaNOW #00310
Round Rock, Texas

Chuck's travel experience on a motorcycle was vast. His longest day ride was in 2005 - 1710 miles from Round Rock, Texas to Pocatello, Idaho -- 28 hours straight through. His longest tour was in 2007 - 8925 miles, 18 days from Texas to Grand Lake Co, North to Anchorage, Alaska down to Idaho then back to Texas. Chuck truely loved to ride!

Chuck was the Trip/Travel Consultant for KawaNOW but was taken from us by a motorcycle accident on July 22, 2008. Chuck was loved and respected by all who knew him. He will always live in our hearts here at KawaNOW.