I’m still riding the high from an incredible moment recently. I was nominated for a spot on the list of Top 100 Women in Aerospace & Aviation to Follow on LinkedIn 2025! This award that truly caught me by surprise. Ask Derek about my reaction, and it’ll probably include the phrase, “Holy Guacamole!” While I… Read more »
Each year, Derek and I head to Big Sur, California, for Hipnic, an annual music festival (and our wedding anniversary!!) featuring one of my all-time favorite bands: The Mother Hips. Over the last decade-plus, Hipnic has been my “Christmas;” my big event of the year. Not only is it a great way to connect with… Read more »
By Ilona A. Munzer, President & CEO, Alder Airfield Services As I travel around to different aviation conferences across the country, the conversation around AI continues to evolve. I overhear many folks finding themselves caught between two extremes: those who want to automate everything and those who understand that some decisions simply can’t be left… Read more »
When I was very young, my immigrant parents taught me to stand up for people who don’t have a voice. Today, I can pass that on in other areas of my life where we believe true safety can only happen if we take care of one another. That philosophy extends to all of our workers.… Read more »
By Ilona A. Munzer, CEO, Alder Airfield Services I love stepping out onto an airfield jobsite. What looks and sounds like chaos to you, is a sort of choreography to me. When everyone from the crews to the leadership is doing their part, there is a method to the madness. And that method is what… Read more »
Construction projects might be vast and varied, but all of them have one critical component in common: the safety briefing. This is when we get together to talk about the importance of wearing good, quality steel-toe boots, about where flaggers will go, and we do everything to prevent incidents, including human trips, slips and falls. … Read more »
While pilots, air traffic controllers and airline personnel are visible faces of the aviation industry, there is another critical layer beneath them: the construction and maintenance workers who build and sustain airport infrastructure. This group includes people we hire at Alder, including day laborers, skilled tradespeople, as well as part-time and full-time operators, inspectors and… Read more »
Mental health might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about airfield safety or flagging operations, but maybe it should be. For too long, workers in the trades have been expected to “tough it out” no matter what they’re dealing with personally. But it’s what’s going on inside a person’s… Read more »
For most of us, work is a necessity. Bills exist. So we show up, clock in and get the job done. But what happens when just thinking about work drains your energy? It’s totally normal to feel frustrated sometimes, but staying stuck in that negativity makes everything harder. The good news? You can shift your… Read more »
The aviation industry thrives on precision, collaboration, and safety, particularly within the AOA. Every movement in the AOA, from taxiing planes to ground crews operating equipment, requires undivided focus and clear communication. Surprisingly, one key to enhanced safety might lie in a small but powerful part of the brain known as the Reticular Activating System… Read more »