Connie Melby Nemes

The summer after my sophomore year at Northern Arizona University, I got a summer job with Motorola in the travel planning department, and my boss made an offhand comment about me being a candidate for a stewardess. I applied with TWA and American, was accepted by both, and chose American because someone told me that TWA stood for “ travel with American”!

My first base was Buffalo in September of 1969 (yes, I survived Buffalo Betty), and then I moved to LGA, ORD, MIA, and retired out of IMA in 2003. In that time period, I served on one of the first employee Assistant Programs and was also on the APFA Safety committee.

I treasure the memories of my almost 35 year flying career, but I’m so proud to be an active member and officer holder in my dynamic Southwest Florida Kiwi chapter. I have been a volunteer reading tutor in one of my KIWI chapter charities, Fun Time Early Learning Academy, for 8 years. I will be teaching a class on Zentangle at another of our charities, The MS Center of Florida, this coming October. Zentangle is an art form that everyone can do! It is my relaxation and meditation, and the results can be beautiful

Our official motto of the SWFL Kiwi chapter is “I Love Us”. I’ll expound on that to say “ I love everything Kiwi”!
I have been married to Michael for 54 years. He is the man who still gives me goosebumps and makes me laugh every day!