CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS - VOL. 5
Ann “Ki-Ki” Justiz
CURRENT POSITION
Chief Visionary Officer at AL22D®
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Kodiak 100
FAVORITE QUOTE
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
FUN FACT
I love to fly but I am deathly afraid of aircraft turbulence.
Meleny Gomez
CURRENT POSITION
Management and Program Analyst
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Any aircraft that can safely take me to a tropical beach
FAVORITE QUOTE
Querer es Poder!
FUN FACT
I am 5’ 9” and usually the tallest Latina in the room.
Elsy Citlaly Hernández
CURRENT POSITION
Resident Engineer
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
The Voyager
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Aprovéchame que si llegué ayer me puedo ir mañana.”
– from Shakira’s song “Gitana”
FUN FACT
I’m renovating a 1959 Airstream during my free time.
Daisy Saenz
CURRENT POSITION
A320 First Officer
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
My personal Cherokee 180 named Kenny.
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Without suffering, there is no happiness.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh
FUN FACT
I raised chickens and consider chickens the perfect pet.
Carlimar Collazo-Torres
CURRENT POSITION
Data Analyst FAA Compliance and Airworthiness Division Aircraft
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Douglas DC-3
FAVORITE QUOTE
“She was unstoppable, not because she did not have failures or doubts, but because she continued on despite them.” -Beau Taplin
FUN FACT
I once turned recycled newspaper into a first-place winning fashion statement.
Erika Elcira Szillus
CURRENT POSITION
A320 First Officer
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Airbus A350
FAVORITE QUOTE
“What is delayed is not denied.” – Old Proverb
FUN FACT
I own a female cockatiel named Nordo, an abbreviation for “no radio,” typically used for aircraft flying without a radio. She doesn’t talk so she just flies around aimlessly and chirps.
Gleice Bialli
CURRENT POSITION
Fleet Projects Administrator | Delivery and Redelivery
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
BOEING 737 MAX
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Whoever you are, no matter what social position you have, rich or poor, always show great strength and determination, and always do everything with much love and deep faith in God. One day you will reach your goal.” — Ayrton Senna
FUN FACT
I made the first speech regarding aircraft delivery and redelivery in “Women’s in Aviation Brazil,” sponsored by AMAB, an event to support and motivate women to learn more about Brazilian aviation.
Beth Ramirez
CURRENT POSITION
First Officer for Republic Airways
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
C-130
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Our community blooms when we plant trees under whose shade will never sit and will never meet those who will.”
FUN FACT
I have three Cockatiels!
Jessica Montiel
CURRENT POSITION
Airbus A320 Captain at a US major airline
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Boeing 787
FAVORITE QUOTE
“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” -Leonardo DaVinci
FUN FACT
I love to travel and have visited six of the seven continents. I’m missing Africa and can’t wait to visit.
Kirby Ann Quiles-Brown
CURRENT POSITION
Equal Employment Specialist
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Gulfstream G800
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Even if you are afraid to do it, do it with flaming fear.”
– Angela McCollough
FUN FACT
I love rollercoaster but afraid of heights.
Agnes Carmen Carbonell
CURRENT POSITION
Senior Network Operations Control Compliance Program Manager
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
757
FAVORITE QUOTE
Keep moving forward; never backwards, not even for a
running start!
-Agnes C. Carbonell Miranda
FUN FACT
I secretly dream of owning my own aviation-themed bar,
“Plane Crazy.”
Gabriela Segovia
CURRENT POSITION
Certified flight instructor at 1500 hours and waiting for the next step flying jets.
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Airbus A320
FAVORITE QUOTE
“To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try.” – Rosa Parks
FUN FACT
I love paddle boarding and once taught a lesson on it for an interview.
Nicole Soares
CURRENT POSITION
Aerospace Engineering Student and U.S. Navy Midshipman
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Nothing like the inexorable march of the hands of the clock.”
FUN FACT
I have the A-4 Skyhawk tattooed on my arm, along with a collection of space tattoos.
Jossie Ann Mo Velez
CURRENT POSITION
Private Pilot and University Student
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
WC-130J
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Your attitude will indicate your altitude.” – John C. Maxwell
FUN FACT
I received the first volume of Latinas in Aviation through a
WAI raffle!
Juliana Louise
CURRENT POSITION
Fleet Projects Specialist
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Embraer Praetor 600
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Everyone has greatness in them. You do. That girl over there does. That guy to the left has a little. But in order to really bring it out, you have to own it. You have to embrace it. Believe in it.”
– Shonda Rhimes
FUN FACT
My mom was a huge fan of Madonna, and my middle name is in her honor.
Olga Isabel Pérez
CURRENT POSITION
Aerodrome Air Traffic Controller / TV Producer of Quiero ser piloto / Project Manager of SARA
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Boeing 787
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Fail again. Fail better.” – Samuel Beckett
FUN FACT
I don’t know how to ride a bicycle.
Irene Lopez Velasquez
CURRENT POSITION
Flight/Ground Instructor and Airline Dispatcher
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Stearman and A380
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Some of us have great runways already built for us. If you have one, take off. But if you don’t have one, realize it is your responsibility to grab a shovel and build one for yourself and for those who will follow after you.” -Amelia Earhart
FUN FACT
I am incredibly fortunate to have flown a Ford Trimotor and have it logged in my logbook.
Raquel Leonor Ysasi
CURRENT POSITION
Retired Federal Aviation Administration Supervisor Flight Data Communications Specialist (SFDCD)
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Gulf Stream
FAVORITE QUOTE
“If You’re looking for that one person who will change your life forever. Look in the mirror” -Ernest Holmes
FUN FACT
Although, I worked for the Federal Aviation Administration for over 37 years, the majority of my family had no idea what I actually did. Most just assumed that I worked at an airport.
Thaina Nogueira Rodrigues
CURRENT POSITION
Commercial Pilot ANAC / FAA
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Cessna 170B PT-AVP, my family airplane
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” -Psalm 91:1
FUN FACT
I am afraid of getting stuck in the elevator.
Schedir N. Illoldi
CURRENT POSITION
International Training Program Manager, Office of International Affairs, FAA
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird”
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Well-behaved women rarely make history.”
– Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
FUN FACT
Long before aerospace, I was a storyteller—publishing award-winning fiction in my teens in Mexico, including a hero tale called “¿Tomás o Freak?” that became an illustrated graphic story.
Vanessa Jiménez
CURRENT POSITION
Senior Digital Design and Media Production Specialist
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Boeing 747
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Up in the clouds on my way to unknown things.” — Wasted Rita
FUN FACT
I hiked to the summit of Mt. Fuji in Japan with my husband and got a half-sleeve tattoo to commemorate the adventure. It was one of the best and worst experiences we’ve had together.
Nicole Marie Aragon
CURRENT POSITION
Base-Licensed Aircraft Mechanic
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Beechcraft V35B
FAVORITE QUOTE
“I know my value. Anyone else’s opinion doesn’t really matter.”
– Agent Carter
FUN FACT
I have a rock collection; I have been collecting since first grade.
Sofie Feregrino
CURRENT POSITION
Cabin Crew Trainer
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
A380 and B747
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Aspire to inspire.”
FUN FACT
My little sister called me “The queen of the air.”
Krystel Boy
CURRENT POSITION
Lead Program Manager – TechOps Field Safety & Investigations
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
A320
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.”
-St. Catherine of Siena
FUN FACT
I changed the tire of a Boeing 757 before I ever changed the tire of a car.
Patricia Navarro
CURRENT POSITION
Airway Transportation Systems Specialist
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Blue Angels
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston S. Churchill
FUN FACT
I love riding bicycles just to feel the wind breeze in my face.
Yarisse Adorno Oyola
CURRENT POSITION
Certified Flight Instructor (CFI, CFII)
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
B737
FAVORITE QUOTE
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
FUN FACT
I danced for 10 years, and my favorite was ballet.
Aixa Torres-Maysonet
CURRENT POSITION
Program Manager CASS at Envoy Air
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Any plane I get to get on when non-revving Embraer 175
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Soy el eco del pasado que viene a despertar a la mujer del porvenir.” “I am the echo of the past that comes to awaken the woman of the future.”– Ana Roque de Duprey
FUN FACT
Both my brother (he’s a flight attendant) and I work for airlines and were hired on the same day.
Patricia León Tomich
CURRENT POSITION
Captain B737
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Boeing 737
FAVORITE QUOTE
“I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me.” – Phi 4:13
FUN FACT
I can spell backwards better than my husband can spell forwards!
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