The aviation and airport industries encompass a wide range of career paths and opportunities related to air travel and transport, from airside and landside jobs to work in terminals and even off-airport jobs like publishing.
According to a 2024 New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) economic report, New York airports support more than 454,000 aviation related jobs, and aviation jobs are high paying and outperform many jobs in other sectors of the economy.
This month, Metropolitan Airport News focuses on women in the aviation industry, including women-owned businesses in and around the New York metropolitan area airports. We asked each of these featured women questions about their careers, their work in their respective areas of the industry, women in leadership, and sustainability, and here we offer their one-on-one insights in their own words.
In sharing their experience and passion for the aviation and airport industry, their work honors the women who have come before them and, today, carry their legacy into the 21st Century.
This year’s 2026 Leadership Insights cover photo shoot took place at the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI), located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens. NYSCI is New York City’s premier hands-on science center with more than 450 interactive exhibits, a 3D theater, and a science playground. Founded during the 1964-65 World’s Fair, NYSCI focuses on STEM education through “Design, Make, Play” for all ages.
Leslie Bresnaider, LCB, CCS
National Director of Customs Brokerage & Compliance – Savino Del Bene U.S.A.
Leslie Bresnaider is a licensed U.S. Customs Broker and logistics executive with more than 30 years of experience navigating the complexities of international trade. She currently serves as National Director of Customs Brokerage and Compliance at Savino Del Bene USA, where she leads high-performing teams, drives operational modernization, and ensures regulatory excellence in an increasingly complex global environment.
>> Read More from Leslie Bresnaider
Deborah Ann Brown
Business Manager, ARFF, JFK Airport – Port Authority of NY & NJ
Debbie Brown has been employed in the aviation industry for almost 20 years. She joined the Port Authority of NY & NJ in 2017 and has recently taken on the role of Business Manager at JFK Airport’s Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) Division. Throughout her career, her enthusiasm for serving others through civic, private and professional settings started off at a young age.
>> Read More from Deborah Brown
Gursonia Clair
Data Engineering Manager – Kubrick Group
Gursonia Clair is a Data Engineering Manager at Kubrick Group, where she has worked for over four years across multiple industries, including insurance and aviation. Originally based in the UK, Gursonia relocated to New York City in 2024. She holds a BSc in Biomedical Science and an MSc in Chemistry and Drug Discovery, bringing a scientific and analytical foundation to her work in data consulting.
>> Read More from Gursonia Clair
Donna Draghi-Lemay
IT Products and Systems Director, The New Terminal One at JFK
Donna Draghi-Lemay is a seasoned aviation and technology executive, currently serving as Director of IT Products and Systems for The New Terminal One at JFK, where she helps drive the technology vision for the next-generation international terminal opening in 2026. Previously, Donna held senior leadership roles in IT at JetBlue Airways for over fifteen years, overseeing airline IT operations and complex enterprise systems.
>> Read More from Donna Draghi-Lemay
Catherine Gonzalez
Deputy Director – Cradle of Aviation Museum
Catherine joined the Cradle of Aviation Museum in 2012 after completing college. For many years, she worked in the Education Department charged with supporting the education mission of the museum through activities and curriculum for school-aged children in aviation and STEM.
>> Read More from Catherine Gonzalez
Dawn Kelly
Founder & CEO, The Nourish Spot Inc.
Dawn Kelly is the award-winning Founder & CEO of The Nourish Spot Inc., a family-owned, certified MWBE and ACDBE fresh juice and wellness bar she launched in Jamaica, Queens in 2016 with her two children, Owen and Jade Duncan. What began as a reinvention, following her departure from a successful 30+ year career in public relations and marketing, has grown into a trusted community hub for health, healing, and economic opportunity.
Denecia Marshall
Academic Internship Manager/Industry Employment Specialist – York College / CUNY
Denecia Marshall, M.A., Ed.M. has prepared students for successful careers in the Aviation Industry since 2023. She serves as an Academic Internship Manager/Industry Organization Specialist at CUNY York College where she specializes in career launch readiness, leadership development, and professional identity for aviation students. Her work emphasizes bridging the gap between academic preparation and industry expectations through experiential learning, career coaching, industry exposure, and leadership skill-building.
>> Read More from Denecia Marshall
Sonjay Murray
Customer Service Agent – Delta Air Lines
Sonjay Murray brings a strong background in community engagement, public service, and customer advocacy to her role at Delta Air Lines. She earned both her Bachelor of Arts in sociology and her Master of Social Work from Syracuse University, academic experiences that shaped her people-centered approach to service. She began her career with Girl Scouts of the USA as a Membership and Community Development Liaison for the Northeast region, working with diverse communities to expand access and engagement.
>> Read More from Sonjay Murray
Lucia Oswald
Vice President, Business Development – Global Elite Group
Lucia Oswald is the Vice President of Business Development at Global Elite Group, Inc., an aviation security company located in Garden City, NY. Lucia joined Global Elite in 2008 and has held various positions within the company, including Director of Operations and Vice President of Operations, before taking on her current role. With over 45 years of experience in the aviation industry, Lucia has also worked for TWA in both the U.S. and Europe, as well as for Spirit Airlines, Jet Airways of India, and Maxjet.
>> Read More from Lucia Oswald
Kathleen Pettit
Corporate Director of New Business Development, HHM Hotels
Kathleen Pettit is a distinguished hospitality executive with over 30 years of experience driving growth and excellence within the New York market. Currently serving as the Corporate Director of New Business Development for HHM Hotels, Kathleen oversees a sprawling portfolio of over 230 properties. Her career is defined by a unique blend of high-level sales strategy and a ‘people-first’ leadership philosophy that consistently exceeds guest expectations.
>> Read More from Kathleen Pettit
Jaclyn Randazzo
Controller – The ARK Import Export Center
Jaclyn Rodriguez is the Controller for JFK International Airport’s animal health, reception, and quarantine center at The ARK at JFK. She oversees all accounting functions, including bookkeeping, financial reporting, budgeting, and risk management/assessment alongside management. Jaclyn partakes in operational work with all departments, having specific oversight of the Equine Import/Export Operations.
>> Read More from Jaclyn Randazzo
Catherine Romano
Director of PAX Services – ASAK Solutions
Cathy Romano is a seasoned Executive Manager with over 30 years of experience in the aviation and ground handling industry, specializing in delivering exceptional customer service and operational excellence. Renowned for fostering strong client relationships, Cathy has a proven ability to lead high-performing teams, resolve complex challenges, and ensure customer satisfaction at every touchpoint. With a customer-first mindset and expertise in service delivery, Cathy is dedicated to creating seamless, world-class experiences for clients and stakeholders alike.
>> Read More from Catherine Romano
Dianna Rose
Principal – Dianna Rose & Associates
Community cultivator Dianna Rose embodies growth, resilience, and intentional impact across every space she touches. A devoted woman of faith, mother, and visionary entrepreneur, she remains deeply rooted in Southeast Queens while expanding her influence across sustainability, infrastructure access, and inclusive economic advancement. Proudly balancing family, purpose, and leadership, she continues to model what mission-driven entrepreneurship looks like in practice.
Elisabeth Sailer
Chief Commercial Officer – LaGuardia Gateway Partners
Elisabeth Sailer serves as Chief Commercial Officer for LaGuardia Gateway Partners, the manager and developer of the new LaGuardia Terminal B, where she leads the commercial strategy for Terminal B, working closely with commercial partners and overseeing revenue development, guest experience, and marketing. She brings more than 20 years of international experience in airport management, commercial revenue growth and business development, with a longstanding tenure at Munich Airport Group, including her most recent role as Chief Commercial Officer at Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport.
>> Read More from Elisabeth Sailer
Katarzyna “Kasia” Sek
Director, Operation Planning & Implementation, Vantage Group
As Director, Operations Planning and Implementation, Kasia is a key member of Vantage’s Operational Readiness and Transition (ORAT) teams, currently supporting facility design and phasing activities at JFK Terminal 6. Kasia provides oversight for all JFK Terminal 6 ORAT planning and implementation initiatives, a role she also held at LaGuardia Gateway Partners during the transition to the award-winning Terminal B. Kasia’s additional airport specializations include security, health and safety, and passenger services.
Natasha Lelia Turner, ACE
Project Manager, JFK Redevelopment – Port Authority of NY & NJ
With a strong foundation in aviation education, operations, and community engagement, Natasha is committed to driving impactful outreach, education, and business‐inclusion initiatives within the aviation sector. Natasha earned a B.S. in Aviation Management & Pre-Law from CUNY York College and an M.S. in Aviation & Aerospace Technology from Purdue University Polytechnic Institute, where her research on NTSB-reported aircraft and helicopter incidents, aviation forecasts, and operational safety received academic recognition.
>> Read More from Natasha Turner
Darci Williams
Senior Analyst, Ground Experience Product Development – JetBlue
As Senior Analyst of Ground Experience Product Development at JetBlue, Darci Williams helps shape how millions of customers experience the airline before they ever leave the ground. From the moment customers enter the airport to the time they step onboard, Darci builds the details that define JetBlue’s signature experience, including her contributions to the redevelopment of the airline’s flagship Terminal 5 at JFK Airport.
>> Read More from Darci Williams
