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.
Below is a listing of the Officers and Staff Moderators that help operate and manage KawaNOW.
Officers
Robert "Trip" Hilliard
KawaNOW #00001
KawaNOW Founder and President/Global Administrator
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.
Since 1998, 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 Dallas, Texas. He works as a
Webmaster/Web Technologist for Trinity Mother Frances Health System in Tyler, Texas and makes his home in Lindale, Texas. Trip and his wife Kathy have three children and five grandchildren.
Jeff "Socwkbiker"
Platz
KawaNOW #00002
KawaNOW Vice President-Global Operations/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".
Todd"Toddf1" Frasier
KawaNOW #00003
KawaNOW Vice President-USA Operations/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. This is why Todd is a perfect fit to run KawaNOW in the USA. Todd is one of the original members of KawaNOW and because of his knowledge in mechanics
and parts, he is an excellent Garage Moderator. Todd lives in Greensboro,
North Carolina and owns a black, 2006 Nomad.
Steve "Ringadingh" Dzuryk
KawaNOW #00027
KawaNOW Vice President-Canadian Operations/Staff 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 Steve has become VP with KawaNOW over our Canadian operations. 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.
Staff Moderators
Amy "Kawgirl" Neal
KawaNOW #00007
KawaNOW USA Promotions/Rally Moderator
Greenville, North Carolina
Email: lifizgud@kawanow.org
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.
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.
Mitch "Cajunrider" Brignac
KawaNOW #00482
KawaNOW Riding/Travel/Trips Moderator
Schriever, Louisiana
Email: mitch@kawanow.org
Mitch was born and raised in Central Louisiana and lives and works in Schriever, LA., just Southwest of New Orleans. Cajunrider works for Enterprise Products Company at the North Terrebonne Gas Processing Plant as a Shift Supervisor.
Mitch has been married for 35 years and has 3 boys and 1 girl. Mitch, and his wife Darlene love to travel on their Kawasaki Nomad. And for this reason, Mitch is a perfect fit to be the moderator over the Riding/Travel/Trips board on the KawaNOW Forum.
Working 7 days and 7 nights per month on a 28 day rotating schedule with 5 weeks of vacation gives Cajunrider plenty of time for riding and keeping up his home and 2 acres. He and Darlene love taking day long and overnight trips. Mitch and Darlene always look forward to getting together with the KawaNOW members and meeting new ones. Cajunrider's favorite hobbies are family, riding, and deer hunting, pretty much in that order.