Connect. Engage. Inspire.
“At WAI, we strive to encourage, empower, and educate all those whose interests, lives, and work involve aviation and aerospace without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental abilities, or point of view. We know with certainty that our shared passion for aviation transcends any differences among us.”
Our Team
melissa tarkett - president
Melissa has over 20 years of progressive experience in Aviation Business Management, including FAA Repair Station Operations, FBO Operations, and Team Management. Melissa is Bilingual (English/Spanish) and has worked with various clients all over the US, as well as those based in Southern California and Mexico. Her dynamic experience has played an instrumental role in reviving the San Diego Chapter of WAI. As President, it is her mission to provide many outreach and networking opportunities for the chapter. She is passionate about STEM and education. While volunteering her time to WAI San Diego, Melissa is completing her Bachelor of Science in Business Management at San Diego State University. She lives in Bonita with her husband and young daughter.
jacquelynn houston - vice president
Jacquelynn will never forget the day her mom woke her up from a nap to tell her that she just had an interview for a job at Delta. Jacquelynn had just returned from a weekend-long student council event where she vividly remembers being so envious while one of the speakers was going on about her world travels. She remembers the longing she felt to travel, but being a sixteen year old, it felt like a very far away fantasy. When her mom got the job, Jacquelynn felt like the timing was all too perfect, and she was over the moon excited to get flight benefits! She went on day trips whenever she got the opportunity and she quickly realized that it didn’t really matter where she was going, she just enjoyed the way she felt when she was on an airplane.
After graduating from San Diego State during COVID and realizing the only thing she knew fueled her heart was traveling, Jacquelynn decided to take a big leap and start flight school. Looking back on it, she truly had no clue what she was getting herself into. Lucky for Jacquelynn, she quickly fell in love with the world of aviation. The people, opportunities, and experiences it has brought to her in the past three years has been nothing short of magical. She truly could not imagine what her life would be like without it.
Jacquelynn is curretly a flight instructor out of CRQ and she also serves as VP of the San Diego Women in Aviation chapter. These have been two of her proudest accomplishments in life. She recently read a journal prompt that asked “How would you spend your days if money wasn’t a factor?” and Jacquelynn had the epiphany that she was doing something right when she knew she would still spend her days the same.
paige poudrier - secretary
Paige Poudrier grew up in Mission Viejo California. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelors Degree in Child Development and Special Education. After graduation she moved to San Diego to work with children and adults with special needs doing Behavioral Therapy. During Covid, she flew out to Illinois to watch 5 boys and on the flight met a female pilot. The pilot inspired her to switch careers and was her biggest supporter and mentor through her career change. After her first flight she fell in love with flying and went from a student pilot to a commercial multiengine pilot in a year. When Paige is not flying she spends time volunteering as the secretary for Woman in Aviation, rollerblading, trail running and traveling to new places. You will likely find her with friends, talking to strangers, or borrowing other peoples dogs or kiddos (with permission). She is looking forward to working with students to achieve their goals, share her love and passion for aviation and together grow as pilots and people.
AUBRE HUNTER - TREASURER
Aubre is a flight instructor out of Montgomery Airport, who enjoys sharing her love of flying. Originally flying as a hobby, her love grew quickly and during the pandemic she moved to San Diego to fly full time and change her career. Prior to flying, she managed an office while working towards her MBA in management. Aubre hopes to bring her management knowledge to Women in Aviation and to strive towards helping the organization promote, support and encourage women in aviation positions.
shana hoernke - outreach
While looking for a part-time job in 2013 so she could also care for her mom, Shana stumbled upon a "customer service" position. Her first day included a pop-up trip to Mexico and the plane landing at KCRQ without proper Landing Rights. Needless to say, she went back the next day, and every day since. Shana is now with her 3rd charter company as a Senior Charter Specialist. She is excited to be with WAI San Diego as the Outreach Chair. Shana is looking forward to working with the community and local companies to bring WAI SD the exposure it deserves so they can continue to give back to those seeking a career in aviation.
MADISON BOYLAN - FUNDRAISING
Madison “Maddy” Boylan was raised in Illinois and is a graduate of the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), where she attended Naval ROTC. After flight training, she reported to Naval Air Station North Island for training on the S-3B Viking as a naval flight officer. After seven years in the service, Maddy left to pursue a civilian aviation career, teaching basic aerobatics and tailwheel before getting her first airline job with Mesa Airlines flying the Beech 1900. She would move to Skywest, where she flew for 24 years, finishing as a captain on the EMB-175. In 2022, Maddy left Skywest for American Airlines, where she is currently a first officer on the Airbus 320 based out of LAX.
Lily roberts - membership
Lily was born and raised in Arkansas where she grew up on a cattle farm. She took an early interest in aviation and made her first solo flight on her 16th birthday. After college, she earned her Flight Instructor Certification and also attended law school while working for the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics. Lily moved to San Diego in 2018 to pursue her career as an airline pilot. Today she flies the ERJ175 as a First Officer for SkyWest Airlines. She lives in Bonita with her husband and their young son.
kristin lackey - scholarship
Kristin is the Brand Manager at Sonoma Aviation, where her passion for aviation and expertise in branding converge to create dynamic strategies and initiatives. Kristin has her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Management, complemented by a Professional Certificate in Branding from the prestigious Kellogg School of Management.
Kristin’s love for aviation began at a young age, a passion ignited by her first flight experience at an EAA Young Eagles event in her hometown in Illinois, where her grandfather proudly served as the local chapter president. This early exposure to the world of aviation left a lasting impression, steering her professional path toward the aviation industry. In her spare time, Kristin enjoys spending time with her three daughters at the beach or hiking in the mountains. She loves CrossFit, taking road trips and volunteering at her children’s school.