Get to Know Me
My parents are my heros. They nurtured my artistic side and introduced me to music at a very early age. Looking back, I recognize that I was very blessed to be able to explore and develop my creativity so early on. More importantly, I was given the opportunity to experience what is commonly known as the “state of flow” often. Even though I would not learn this concept until many years later...the state of flow is exactly what I was encouraged to achieve on a daily basis and for that I am forever grateful.
My favorite things to do as a kid included; 1) painting/drawing/sculpting, 2) riding around on my Schwinn eating carrots, and 3) listening to my parents' records on the floor of their room (favorites being Michael Jackson Thriller, Blondie, The Police, Led Zeppelin, Gary Myrick and the Figures etc.)
Sadly, the carrots never helped my eyesight...but that's what Lasik is for, right?
When I was in 1st grade, my career aspiration was to be the lunch lady because "she's the one who gets all the quarters". I stumbled into sales as a Brownie in the Girl Scouts. I sold so many boxes of Thin Mints that I won the most points in my troop.
In high school, I aspired to be a fashion designer and would draw new designs almost every day. I kept them secretly and neatly tucked away in a big binder. It was whenever I was drawing or creating that I would enter into a state of flow. When I graduated from Desert Mountain High School, I had over 350 fashion designs and wore my own designs for my prom and senior pictures.
When I entered the professional work force, I worked my way up fast and broke sales and service records in retail (luxury cosmetic & product sales), finance (wholesale mortgage lending), and consumer services (commercial laundry services and sustainable hydration).
While on the climb, during my full time sales career, I always took on additional jobs in other industries which offered me an escape socially, mentally and creatively. They helped me to make friends in my community & kept me sharp conversationally; allowing me a mental break from the pressure. I called these my "fun jobs" and they were a combination of work in the service industry, hospitality, promotional work, makeup artistry and catering services. It was here that I learned the majority of my intuitive service skills and sales is where I learned how to be a highly organized, polished professional.
I was good at sales and it felt good to be at the top earning awards but while I was engrossed in my work; I let my creativity fall to the wayside and I always felt a sense that something was missing. One day, I looked back and realized that after all of those years spent chasing quotas; all I could remember were a brief collection of memories...a short vacation every year, a missed family reunion there. Several relocations and relationships later I decided to retire from sales and create a more balanced life by pivoting into a career with purpose that I was truly passionate about.
In 2017, I was introduced to the aviation industry and began taking flying lessons in a Piper Tomahawk. I was completely hooked after my first lesson and completed my solo flight in March, 2017 after 13 hours of flight training. I couldn't wait to get into aviation any longer, so I pulled the trigger and invested in myself; completing my corporate flight attendant certification program in July of 2017. It was the best decision that I ever made.
Early on, I set a goal for myself to fly exclusively for a Part 91 owner operation. My first month after graduation, I was thrilled to pick up my first charter flight; a day trip up to Ontario, WA to view the total solar eclipse. The aircraft was packed to capacity; full of young tech professionals in good spirits on their way to view and document the show.
The trip went by like a complete blur. I remember how my service training kicked in like second nature; allowing me to focus on safety and aircraft catering aspects, which were still new to me. I noticed how quickly the galley became familiar and on the second leg, my fingers were beginning to find the right drawer latches all on their own. I felt in control. I felt confident. I had entered my state of flow once again!
In a snap, it was over. Sitting in my car afterwards; I realized that I had a huge smile across my face, tears of joy were welling up in my eyes and I felt a huge sense of accomplishment and excitement for what was to come.
It was in that moment that I knew that I had found my passion and purpose in aviation.
Shortly after my first flight, I hit the ground running. I interviewed and was selected as the preferred contractor for a part 91 client with whom I flew with exclusively for several months until his relocation. This client took me into the international flying field where I learned my way around several large cabin jets, several new countries and learned a lot about international flight pitfalls and procedures.
A year after my initial training, I was blessed to achieve my original goal and was hired on as Lead Corporate Flight Attendant for a brand new part 91/owner flight operation. This incredible opportunity took us all around the world and allowed me to really dive in and learn more and more with each and every trip. It was a wonderful experience to be able to develop a relationship with my owner's family and to create a custom flight experience for them from the ground up. I honed my skills and used every resource at my disposal to provide a seamless experience to my owner; caring for him and his lovely family, his colleagues, guests and our crew. I had found my passion and my purpose.
Since then, I've learned so much but I still continue to learn new things with each trip!
In 2020, I've been taking advantage of my downtime during lockdown by strengthening the connections with my friends and family, reigniting my artistic passions and investing into my community as well as back into myself through continued learning! Masterclass has really helped me to escape and I love learning from people that inspire me, including; Thomas Keller, Gordon Ramsey and Ru Paul. I signed up for a welding class with my hero/my Dad that was a real eye opener! Seeing that arc hit the steel was incredibly empowering. Who knew I'd have so much fun with a plasma cutter?
When the salons closed I taught myself how to do my own mani/pedis using dip powder; so now I can easily do my own sets as well as nail repairs at home as well as on the road! This really comes in handy in aviation as I am constantly breaking my nails on those drawers and cabinets. Another memorable experience was the street art stencil class that I took with SF street art legend Jeremy Novy where I cut and spray painted my own red rose stencil (modeled after the Ingrid Bergman's I have growing in my backyard).
In July, I started volunteering with NorCal Business Aviation Association by revamping their website and have since taken on the role of webmaster at large. I began a blog here on my website to share resources with my local community as we as the aviation industry. Some of the topics I've covered so far include COVID-19 testing in aviation, the California wildfires and most recently; Hawaii travel guideline changes. My latest exciting adventure includes completing teacher training for my favorite fitness class: Inferno Hot Pilates! Now I can design my own sequences and can burn fat on the road, anywhere I go. No excuses! ;)
I stay sharp by entertaining at home and on the road; practicing new recipes & techniques every chance I get.
My favorite things to do as a kid included; 1) painting/drawing/sculpting, 2) riding around on my Schwinn eating carrots, and 3) listening to my parents' records on the floor of their room (favorites being Michael Jackson Thriller, Blondie, The Police, Led Zeppelin, Gary Myrick and the Figures etc.)
Sadly, the carrots never helped my eyesight...but that's what Lasik is for, right?
When I was in 1st grade, my career aspiration was to be the lunch lady because "she's the one who gets all the quarters". I stumbled into sales as a Brownie in the Girl Scouts. I sold so many boxes of Thin Mints that I won the most points in my troop.
In high school, I aspired to be a fashion designer and would draw new designs almost every day. I kept them secretly and neatly tucked away in a big binder. It was whenever I was drawing or creating that I would enter into a state of flow. When I graduated from Desert Mountain High School, I had over 350 fashion designs and wore my own designs for my prom and senior pictures.
When I entered the professional work force, I worked my way up fast and broke sales and service records in retail (luxury cosmetic & product sales), finance (wholesale mortgage lending), and consumer services (commercial laundry services and sustainable hydration).
While on the climb, during my full time sales career, I always took on additional jobs in other industries which offered me an escape socially, mentally and creatively. They helped me to make friends in my community & kept me sharp conversationally; allowing me a mental break from the pressure. I called these my "fun jobs" and they were a combination of work in the service industry, hospitality, promotional work, makeup artistry and catering services. It was here that I learned the majority of my intuitive service skills and sales is where I learned how to be a highly organized, polished professional.
I was good at sales and it felt good to be at the top earning awards but while I was engrossed in my work; I let my creativity fall to the wayside and I always felt a sense that something was missing. One day, I looked back and realized that after all of those years spent chasing quotas; all I could remember were a brief collection of memories...a short vacation every year, a missed family reunion there. Several relocations and relationships later I decided to retire from sales and create a more balanced life by pivoting into a career with purpose that I was truly passionate about.
In 2017, I was introduced to the aviation industry and began taking flying lessons in a Piper Tomahawk. I was completely hooked after my first lesson and completed my solo flight in March, 2017 after 13 hours of flight training. I couldn't wait to get into aviation any longer, so I pulled the trigger and invested in myself; completing my corporate flight attendant certification program in July of 2017. It was the best decision that I ever made.
Early on, I set a goal for myself to fly exclusively for a Part 91 owner operation. My first month after graduation, I was thrilled to pick up my first charter flight; a day trip up to Ontario, WA to view the total solar eclipse. The aircraft was packed to capacity; full of young tech professionals in good spirits on their way to view and document the show.
The trip went by like a complete blur. I remember how my service training kicked in like second nature; allowing me to focus on safety and aircraft catering aspects, which were still new to me. I noticed how quickly the galley became familiar and on the second leg, my fingers were beginning to find the right drawer latches all on their own. I felt in control. I felt confident. I had entered my state of flow once again!
In a snap, it was over. Sitting in my car afterwards; I realized that I had a huge smile across my face, tears of joy were welling up in my eyes and I felt a huge sense of accomplishment and excitement for what was to come.
It was in that moment that I knew that I had found my passion and purpose in aviation.
Shortly after my first flight, I hit the ground running. I interviewed and was selected as the preferred contractor for a part 91 client with whom I flew with exclusively for several months until his relocation. This client took me into the international flying field where I learned my way around several large cabin jets, several new countries and learned a lot about international flight pitfalls and procedures.
A year after my initial training, I was blessed to achieve my original goal and was hired on as Lead Corporate Flight Attendant for a brand new part 91/owner flight operation. This incredible opportunity took us all around the world and allowed me to really dive in and learn more and more with each and every trip. It was a wonderful experience to be able to develop a relationship with my owner's family and to create a custom flight experience for them from the ground up. I honed my skills and used every resource at my disposal to provide a seamless experience to my owner; caring for him and his lovely family, his colleagues, guests and our crew. I had found my passion and my purpose.
Since then, I've learned so much but I still continue to learn new things with each trip!
In 2020, I've been taking advantage of my downtime during lockdown by strengthening the connections with my friends and family, reigniting my artistic passions and investing into my community as well as back into myself through continued learning! Masterclass has really helped me to escape and I love learning from people that inspire me, including; Thomas Keller, Gordon Ramsey and Ru Paul. I signed up for a welding class with my hero/my Dad that was a real eye opener! Seeing that arc hit the steel was incredibly empowering. Who knew I'd have so much fun with a plasma cutter?
When the salons closed I taught myself how to do my own mani/pedis using dip powder; so now I can easily do my own sets as well as nail repairs at home as well as on the road! This really comes in handy in aviation as I am constantly breaking my nails on those drawers and cabinets. Another memorable experience was the street art stencil class that I took with SF street art legend Jeremy Novy where I cut and spray painted my own red rose stencil (modeled after the Ingrid Bergman's I have growing in my backyard).
In July, I started volunteering with NorCal Business Aviation Association by revamping their website and have since taken on the role of webmaster at large. I began a blog here on my website to share resources with my local community as we as the aviation industry. Some of the topics I've covered so far include COVID-19 testing in aviation, the California wildfires and most recently; Hawaii travel guideline changes. My latest exciting adventure includes completing teacher training for my favorite fitness class: Inferno Hot Pilates! Now I can design my own sequences and can burn fat on the road, anywhere I go. No excuses! ;)
I stay sharp by entertaining at home and on the road; practicing new recipes & techniques every chance I get.
Personal Travel: Pre-FA Life
PARIS
BALI
PUERTO RICO
CARRIBEAN
AUSTRAILIA
FIJI
SPAIN
