Airline Dispatchers Federation.
Representing the professional interests of the Aircraft Dispatcher.

** ADF APRIL MEMBER SPOTLIIGHT **

theresa


For the month of April, we would like to spotlight Theresa Smith.
On March 18, retired Flight Dispatch Instructor, Theresa Smith, was presented with the Leo D. Hollis Master Aircraft Dispatcher Award at the Women in Aviation International Conference.
This is the most prestigious award issued by the FAA to Aircraft Dispatchers. The award recognizes individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 40 years while performing the duties of an Aircraft Dispatcher. 
The award was presented to Theresa by Scott Stacy, Aviation Safety Inspector – Dispatch, Safety Standards, Air Transportation Division – AFS 200 and Gary Zeman, Director – Flight Dispatch.
Theresa is only the fourth recipient of this award and the first woman to be honored. The first to be honored was Leo D. Hollis himself, and the third honoree was United’s own Gene Cameron.
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I started in 1978 as a dispatch clerk, aka “weather clerk”. Back in the day, we had 3 dispatch offices, down from six. We would distribute papers to the dispatchers and put together the flight plans and weather packages for the crews at the airport. I had an opportunity to complete the in-house dispatch training course, facilitated by DENTK.
I was the third female dispatcher at United Airlines. Women were not considered capable of doing the job. Once you were accepted as an assistant dispatcher, you worked one on one with the Dispatcher. As the dispatchers retired, you would move up by seniority from an assistant dispatcher to a dispatcher.
There were many turbulent times that we had to deal with, the fuel embargo in the late, 70’s, deregulation, Patco strike, IAM strike, Alpa strike, ESOP, Bankruptcy and let’s not forget the fire at Elk Grove Villiage. But there were also good things that happened. United was a domestic airline when I started, we did fly to Hawaii and the Caribbean. We started flying to Japan and China and expanded our reach by purchasing PanAm’s European and South American routes. With Gene Cameron and Bob Roeder’s work, we moved away from DC10’s and DC8’s and starting operating ETOPS and Polar operations. Making United more competitive. We went from 3 airport dispatch offices; IADDD, ORDDD & SFODD to a single office at Elk Grove Village.
I always raised my hand, in hopes to make things better. I was part of the original Workload committee, so many of us worked together with the DEC to leave the IAM and join PAFCA. I was a Union Stewart for both the IAM and PAFCA. I worked with Mary Ceglarek to set up the Department Summer picnics in Busse Woods. I worked with Patty Nicosia to host the Retirement Parties, this included, securing the Wings to the plaques for each retiree. We would have up to 200 people attend these parties.I worked with Nick Summers to get the wonderful pictures he took to give to the Retirees for a short time.  Patty Nicosia and I worked with a group of Flight Officers to develop the Domestic Policy and the Single Segment Operation. I worked with the Heather Read, the Scheduling Manager to get everyone scheduled for Sabre Flight planning and Single Segment Dispatching, as well as work as an ADI to teach Sabre and SSD. After the merger with Continental and the move downtown, I wanted to continue to challenge myself. I became an FDI and worked with Mike Beck to fix the problem that prevented us access to CASS. Flight Operations always monitored and maintained control of CASS until Nathan Polderman and myself requested and were granted control over CASS for Dispatchers.
I learned so much over the years in the different projects I was fortunate to be involved with and hope I made a difference in a good way.


Congratulations Theresa!
***Each month ADF is looking to highlight a member. If you are interested in becoming an ADF spotlight please send us a a picture, and in a few sentences, why you love your job as a dispatcher. If selected, we will post on our social media sites.

ADF Spring Business Meeting Announcement:
Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2022
Time: Meeting 1300-1700 Eastern
Location: Holiday Inn & Suites ATL Airport North
We would to see you there!





adf


 
 

ADF has dedicated March 7 - March 13 #ADFwomenofaviation week

Throughout the week we will be spotlighting various ADF #women in #aviation members, and sharing their stories.

Keep checking back throughout the week and social media chanels to see and read their stories.




Monday March 7: Takira 'TK' Vasser - Flight Dispatcher American Airlines


Takira TK Vasser



Tuesday March 8: T Kimmee Sorensen - GOC Specialist Aircraft Dispatcher FedEX
Kimee Sorensen

Wednesday March 9: Carol Charter  - Aircraft Dispatcher / System Operations Manager, Delta Air Lines

Carol Charter

Thursday March 10:  Juanita Bailey - Regional Operations Coordinator, American Airlines

Juanita Bailey

Friday March 11:  Jaclyn Gillspie - Flight Dispatch Instructor - United Airlines

Jaclyn Gillespie

Saturday March 12 :  Kim Zaruba- Flight Dispatcher - United Airlines


Kim Zaruba

Sunday March 13;   Andrea M. Georgiou, Ph. D. - Associate Professor/Flight Dispatch Coordinator, MTSU Aerospace.

Andrea M Georgiu


Please congratulate the following recipients of the ADF 2021 Scholarships:

A big thank you too Jeppesen, IFOD and TAS dispatch schools for making these possible.


 
Will Adams – IFOD  Scholarship
Will Adams

Will is from Bedford Tx, and graduated from Western Kentucky University, with a bachlors degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Business emphasis


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Hyun Kim – Jeppesen
Scholarship



Hyun Kim

Hyun has a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Biology and previously worked as an airline management employee. In his spare time, he enjoyings traveling and seeing the world.  He has volunteered in the past at local hospitals in his hometown and has tutored elementary school students with math

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 Umer Tariq – TAS  Scholarship

Umer Tariq



Most recently I worked as an Aircraft Fueler at Menzies Aviation -  Pearson Intl Airport, Toronto, Canada. Previously worked at Air Canada as a Ramp Agent.

My dream of becoming a pilot had to be abandoned owing to financial difficulties by my family. However, as the famous saying goes, if one follows something from the core of one's heart the universe conspires in one's favor. But in the bat of an eyelash, it all started making sense when I was offered my first part-time job at Air Canada as a ramp agent. Having always been mesmerized by the well-oiled machine which is the aviation industry, I found a way to my passion via a profession, for which I am greatly thankful.


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