Santa at PWC Conference: “Our facilities should look like our communities”

At the 2023 Professional Women Controllers, Inc. (PWC) National Training Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, NATCA President Rich Santa gave a keynote address and spoke about the importance of diversity within aviation. The PWC conference was sponsored by NATCA and attended by many NATCA members. NATCA members also staffed a booth at the conference to network with other attendees.

During his address at PWC, Santa said, “Currently 15.5% of our controllers are women. Our facilities should look like our communities. Our towers should look like our families.”

Santa also spoke about NATCA’s efforts supporting controllers through advocating for programs and resources that help prevent burnout and make a healthy home life possible.

“We are working towards a system where you don’t have to choose between your family and your career,” Santa said. “We should support and provide resources that allow for balance.” PWC encourages women to enter the air traffic control profession, with a vision to achieve a balanced workforce that reflects the diversity of society and to provide support, training, encouragement, and camaraderie for air traffic professionals. Over the four-day conference, attendees listened to panels on important topics affecting air traffic control and attended breakout sessions on personal development.

Pictured, left to right: NATCA Meeting Planning and Events Representative Mindy Soranno, former NATCA Executive Vice President Patricia Gilbert, Shannon Lyman (Boston Center, ZBW), Michelle Dobao (San Juan ATCT, SJU), Jen McCoy (Tampa ATCT, TPA), Karena Marinas (Los Angeles Center, ZLA), NATCA President Rich Santa, Lauren Alexander-Farler (TPA), Lisandra Green (Atlanta Center, ZTL), Jennifer Malloy (Cleveland Center, ZOB), Mary Ann Hall (Houston Hobby ATCT, HOU).